I'm a Financial Advisor and have recently opened my own independent practice. I know that I need help so I've been considering either using a virtual assistant or hiring someone to work directly with me in my office. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how I might use/employ a virtual assistant?

Do you want specific hours, will work be full time, can the people work at their own pace

I know many that have had luck with people working from home, personally I have had nothing but bad luck, I tried using them in my insurance business, and they basically cost me money for phone expenses and money paid to them, and often did not do what I was paying them for. I latter used cell phones I purchases, so I could trace the calls they were making and receiving, and found most in what they called a 5 or 6 hour day did a hour worth of work. Perhaps I just hired the 10 or 12 bad people, but out of that I never had one that worked out well for me.

Can you explain what you expect this virtual assistant to do for you? I'm assuming that, by virtual assistant, you are referring to some person or service that will essentially be telecommuting, working for you from a remote location.

Patrick, if you can delegate much of your work and do not need to micromanage someone, you certainly can use a VA. If you are not sure about how a VA partnership works, visit this site: How to Find and Work with a Virtual Assistant (VA).

Partnering with a VA works, but you must be sure that you partner with the right person. I have worked with many of my clients for over 5 years!

Good luck, K

You can find lots of them at the WAHM.com The Online Magazine for Work at Home Moms message boards if you are still looking.