When seeking financing, many individuals and businesses turn to the professional experience of a finance broker. The most traditional role of a finance broker is to search, locate and compare various financing options for their clients, enabling them to make a more informed financial decision for whatever their personal or business financial needs are. With so many finance brokers available to choose from, it is important to develop a set of questions that you can ask so that you can properly compare their features and benefits when making a final selection.

Here are 6 good questions to ask your finance broker:

1.How much are your fees?

While this would seem like a common question to many, individuals fail to request in writing the types of fees that the finance broker charges for the professional relationship. It is important to have these fees written down and broken out prior to initiating a relationship. You will want to be clear about any up-front fees, ongoing fees, fees if you decide not to accept any of the financing that they locate for you and fees for anything else at all. Spending time to clarify this information early will help you to avoid confusion and frustration in the future.

2.What kind of education and training does the broker have?

You will find a variance of both relevant education and training among the finance brokers that you interview. You will want to select someone with a proven track record in the industry of locating strong financial options for their clients. Ask questions such as how many clients they have worked with, what referrals they can provide from past clients, where they received education and what kind of training they specifically have had in the finance industry.

3.What finance companies do you work with?

Some finance brokers only work with a select group of financing companies as they provide the highest commissions. So, this could mean that the finance broker is not in fact providing the best available finance option for you, but in fact the best commission option for them. So, inquire into the methods they use to locate and sort finance options. And, when possible, secure a copy of their preferred lender list for review.

4.Who will be servicing the loan once it has been funded?

Some finance brokers provide ongoing client service once the loans have been funded while others do not. So, be sure to ask what their customer service plan is and who will be taking care of any questions or concerns after the loan has been funded. You don't want to be surprised down the road when you have a question or concern and are unsure of who to contact.

5.What references can you provide to me?

Just as in any business, comments and feedback from past clients can provide tremendous value to a new prospect when they are making the decision about whether or not to work with a professional. Printed testimonials, prior client references and information available online from previous customers can all provide answers to this reference question and should be taken into consideration when considering a new finance broker.

6.How do You Find Loans and Compare which are the Best Options for me?

Possibly the most important question is this, ?how do you find loans and compare the best options for presenting to me?? You will want to understand their process of evaluation and selection to ensure that you feel comfortable. Every finance broker will use slightly different systems when creating a recommendation list for you. You will also want to understand how they will present the options that they find to you. Are they going to present them in person, over the phone, in email form or through an online application? How will they handle if you want them to add additional recommendations to the list? What information about each lender will be provided? Will they provide a top recommendation choice or just a list of their top choices? Understanding the process used will enable you to make a more informed financial decision. And, it will allow you to select the finance broker that you are the most comfortable with.