Is it normal to be contacted at work by a third party retirement counselor?

[Anonymous]

I received a call at work about meeting with a counselor about federal retirement benefits, and assumed it was agency sponsored in some way. It turns out the person I met with is a volunteer/marketer (depends on whether I cite what he called himself, or what is on his business card) for a financial planning company. We had a nice chat, and I was interested, because we actually should meet with a financial planner at some point.

The company he represents is Metro Financial Group, LLC in Bethesda. This is their website: http://www.metrofinancialgroupllc.com/

Is anyone familiar with this company? I'm also curious about the strategy employed to contact me. Should I be suspicious of it?

[Anonymous]

I work at a law firm and this happens to me (and others) ALL THE TIME. Usually from Met Life people in NYC, who sell annuities. They always give me the line "we work with a lot of associates at [Law Firm Name]."

They're just looking for people who make good money, I'd assume. I met with them once and got mediocre financial advice.

[Anonymous]

OK, so this is a legitimate way to possibly meat an OK financial adviser?

The interaction felt just fine, but the way it came about is outside my experience.

[Anonymous]

*meet

[Anonymous]

If they can get the phone numbers they will cold call any middle level or upper level professionals, anyone who may have (or may eventually have) retirement or other investments. They want to either sell you insurance, sell you annuities, or manage your money. The person may be good, is probably relatively new.

[Anonymous]

No!!! Not a good way. Most of them are not getting paid by earning a flat fee. They will want to invest your money in a way where they will make money. I can't believe how many people at work have high fee annuities instead of just opening a Vanguard retirement account that is for the approximate year you retire (ex. Vanguard target retirement 2035). The fund gradually switches the percentage of stocks and bonds from more aggressive to less risky as you get older.

[Anonymous]

No, this is not a good way to get an adviser. They will most likely want you to roll everything into some account they have where they get a big commission for selling you the products, and then they will take 1% a year or something to "manage" your investments. This is a total ripoff.