Like many people, you may find the number of decisions that need to be made when it comes to investing your money overwhelming. With so many investment options readily available, determining the right investment path to help you attain your goals can be a daunting and time-consuming task. That’s why many people turn to an investment professional for help.

In order to make wise investment decisions, you need to have a realistic understanding of what it takes to plan for a comfortable retirement, fund your child’s education or save for any other financial goal you may have. Investing—putting your money to work in a combination of financial tools—is critical to helping you achieve a secure financial future. An investment professional can help you do this by understanding your goals, current and anticipated financial situation and values. Together, you can develop a plan to meet short and long-term goals.

A relationship with a trusted investment professional can help you make the most of your money. When you turn to someone with experience, objectivity and commitment to your financial future, the odds of reaching your goals are in your favor.

Who should you turn to?

Many investors rely on some form of investment advice from an investment professional. It may help to think of an investment professional as you would a doctor or lawyer. You automatically seek professional help for medical or legal matters. Then, why not rely on a professional for investment decisions that can make all the difference in your financial health?

Investment professionals are required to be properly educated, both before assuming responsibility and as an ongoing requirement to maintain their securities licenses.

Sharing your dreams

When choosing an investment professional, be sure to ask about their experience, areas of specialization, education and professional designations. You should also understand how they will be compensated. Various compensation plans include hourly fees, flat fees, commissions on investment products sold, a percentage of the assets they manage for you or a combination.

An investment professional can help you decide what kind of investor you should be by asking you questions about your financial goals and timeframe for achieving them. Examples of the type of questions you could be asked include:

	What are your financial goals?
	How much will they cost?
	Which goals are distant?
	Which goals are close?
	How much can you commit to those goals?
	How much risk are you willing and able to take?

Answering these and other questions about your lifestyle, expectations and plans for the future is the first step toward successful investing. Your answers will uncover unique characteristics such as your attitudes towards risk, your specific financial objectives and the amount of time you have to reach them.

Next, your investment professional can recommend the most appropriate combination of investments for you. This is called a portfolio. Your portfolio may be developed from a carefully selected mix of mutual funds, individual securities that include both equities for growth and bonds to help preserve your money and other more sophisticated types of investments appropriate to your financial lifestyle and goals.

What an Investment Professional can do for you

For a financial checkup, a complete evaluation of your investment needs, an investment recommendation or anything in between, an investment professional can help you make the right choices for you. In addition, they may save you time and stress by helping to make investing a clear, refreshingly simple process. As a result, you can dedicate more time to the other important things in your life.

Your Investment Professional should help you develop a long-term strategy to achieve your goals. Following is a list of some of the types of services your Investment Professional may offer:

	Develop an inventory of your financial goals and resources.
	Evaluate your current investments.
	Recommend a combination of investments to pursue your plan, using a proven strategy called asset allocation.
	Help you reduce taxes.*
	Help you with estate planning.*
	Give you a professional opinion and suggestion on decisions you’re making on your own.
	Review your investments to help make sure you’re on track.
	Guide you through the complexities and opportunities of investing.
	Serve as a resource as your financial situation changes and react to your ideas and answer your questions.

The Huntington Funds

Your investment professional can also introduce you to the Huntington Funds. Managed by the professionals at Huntington Asset Advisers, Huntington Funds can help put your money to work in a wide range of financial markets through the convenience, diversification and professional management of mutual funds. Making the right decisions about how to allocate your assets can help your portfolio pursue the highest possible returns consistent with your acceptable level of risk.

Funds whose investments are concentrated in a specific industry or sector may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than funds whose investments are diversified. In addition, the Fund may be subject to specific risks of the technology sector, such as obsolescence.

Turn to a name you can trust

If you have an important investment decision to make, turning to an experienced, objective, committed investment professional can mean all the difference in helping you make the right one.

Call us at 1-800-253-0412
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST

The funds are distributed by Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA) a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, Inc. and an affiliate of Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. the advisor to the Huntington Funds.

For more complete information on Huntington Funds download and view a prospectus now or call 1-800-253-0412 for a free prospectus. You should consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before you invest. Information about these and other important subjects is in the fund’s prospectus, which you should read carefully before investing.

Asset allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss.
Source: Determinants of Portfolio Performance, Brinson, Hood and Beebower, Financial Analysts Journal, July/August 1986; Explanation of Total Return Variation, Brinson, Hood and Beebower, Financial Analysts Journal, May/June 1991.

Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss.

*Huntington does not offer legal and/or tax advice and therefore individuals seeking guidance should consult with a qualified professional for such services.

©2010 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.