1 Starting with the MOST important one of all, "What is your exit

strategy?"
2 Do you use stops or stop-loss orders?
3 Do you experience slippage on stops?
4 "Why should I do business with you?" and then let him talk. Listen.
5 Does he have a personal trading account - Ask him to send you
copies of his personal account to see if he does know what he is
doing.
6 How long have they been in business?
7 What are their certifications and/or designation? (Stock Broker?
Fiduciary? Both?)
8 What are your fees?
9 How are you paid? How are you incentivized?"
10 What was is the portfolio track record since 2005 (by year)? Ask
to for a copy of his model portfolio for 2008.
11 What products do they invest in? (Mutual Funds, Stocks, ETF's,
Options, REIT's ...)
12 Are you technically oriented or rely primarily on fundamentals?
13 Are they actively in the markets over the Summer or do they go to
cash?
14 Is what they give you a real-time track record or is it hypothetical?
15 Assuming all trades were taken for the previous year, what was
the starting amount of the account and the amount at the end of
the year including commissions?
16 What was the largest single draw down (loss)?
17 What was the largest continuous draw down?
18 What mutual fund products do they invest in?
On average per year for last 10 years?
19a a. How many winning trades /
19b b. What was the average profit / year for last 10 years?
19c c. How many losing trades / year for last 10 years?
19d d. What was the average loss / year for last 10 years?
20 Do they ever let a winning trade or position go to a loss?
21 What's the process of getting my money out at any time?
22 How do you invest? What's your investment strategy? Take
research from Brokerage? Other?
23 Are the products they invest in loaded (commissioned) or charges
redemption fees?
24 Are the products they invest in charges redemption fees?
25 Do you trade / invest in products that have less than one year
track record?
26 Are you (financial adviser) allowed to withdraw money from my
account for any reason?
27 What is the minimum volume for a product traded?
28 Is anything being proposed a limited partnership?
29 What is the minimum size account?