TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/03/12 -- To mark Financial Literacy Month, BMO Financial Group is releasing a series of financial tips throughout November. As part of 'Making Money Make Sense' and BMO SmartSteps, the tips are designed to help individuals and families save and manage their day-to-day finances more effectively.

BMO's Tip of the Day: Know what you need and consider a variety of factors when selecting an investment advisor.

BMO Nesbitt Burns offers the following tips when selecting an investment advisor:

Soft skills matter: Look for an advisor who listens to you and takes an interest in your specific life situation. That means extending the wealth management conversation beyond investments to include things that matter to you, such as insurance, estate planning, tax planning, business succession planning and/or education savings.

Contact is key: A good advisor will work with you to define and manage your service level expectations for contact. Regular contact - such as portfolio reviews, phone calls and face-to-face meetings to discuss information related to your overall financial plan - is essential.

Get the lowdown: 'Client service' should imply more than a financial statement. It should be followed up with meaningful conversations, either by phone or face-to-face. Also, ensure you have a clear understanding with your advisor of the fees you will be paying and the services you will receive to avoid any surprises.

Consider credentials: Choose an advisor who possesses well-known industry designations - such as Personal Financial Planner (PFP)®, Chartered Investment Manager (CIM)® or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)® - and is committed to ongoing continuing education.

"There is tremendous value in working with a trusted investment advisor given the myriad of financial options available to Canadian investors today," said Bill Brown, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns. "A financial professional who understands your financial goals can not only help you identify a suitable investing strategy that is unique to you and your needs, but can also greatly enhance your ability to succeed when it comes to managing your investments."

To learn more about BMO's investment advisors, please visit bmo.com/nesbittburns/.

"CFEE commends BMO's ongoing efforts to support Financial Literacy in Canada and promote ways in which Canadians can increase their competence and confidence when managing their personal finances on a day-to-day basis," said Gary Rabbior, President, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE).

BMO Financial Literacy Month Tips

November 1: Maximizing TFSA investments annually over 20 years can save nearly $30,000 in taxes.

November 2: Utilize Rewards to Squeeze the Most Value Out of Every Dollar You Spend this Holiday Season

For more on financial literacy, Canadians can visit the Government of Canada's Financial Literacy Month website, as well as BMO's Financial Literacy online resource.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $542 billion as at July 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.