The market rally of 2009 helped Americans make up some the ground they lost in the crash. But to make the most of the ongoing economic rebound, many investors will have to tweak their game plans. SmartMoney magazine s December cover story, Refresh Your Financial Life, offers strategies for dealing with the shifting landscape.

This spring, Bob and Mary Goldman realized their ideas about strategy didn t match their adviser s. Their brokerage had invested their portfolio mostly in individual stocks in sectors like energy, health care and shipping. But as the market tanked, Bob, a real-estate investor in Solebury, Pa., found himself waking up at 3 a.m., worried about his portfolio, and going online at all hours to check the news. Eventually, the couple switched to an independent financial adviser who put them in a safer, conservative mix of stock and bond funds. It s a lot less sexy at a party when you can t talk about specific stocks, Bob says, but it s much more relaxing.

As the rebound prods investors back into the market, they re more than willing to jump ship. Clients will pull at least $100 billion in assets out of traditional brokerages this year, says Alios Pirker, research director for the Ait Group, and there s more competition than ever among advisers to capture that money. Charles Schwab and Fidelity are reimbursing transfer fees and offering some commission-free trades to new clients who set up portfolios through an adviser. Traditional brokerages are paying top advisers retention bonuses in an effort to keep them and their clients from departing. That puts clients in the position of heiresses in a Shakespeare play, picking and choosing among eager suitors.

Experts say consumers are more likely to find a compatible adviser if they ask themselves some broad questions first: Do I want an intensive financial makeover? Occasional hand-holding? Or just a one-time second opinion? Investors who need less face time can find planners who charge by the hour. Advisers with whom clients meet more often are more likely to get paid through commissions, retainer fees or fees of a percentage of assets under management. Due diligence matters, of course: Investors can check the disciplinary record of brokerage advisers on the broker check Web page maintained by FINRA, the industry-financed regulator, at www.finra.org/brokercheck.

Independent advisers who manage more than $25 million must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and their records can be searched at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. (Advisers with fewer assets are often tracked by state regulators.)

Observers of the industry say personal compatibility deserves just as much attention. Eleanor Blayney, consumer advocate for the Certified Financial Planner Board, which sets ethical standards for planners, suggests asking, How did you help your clients through the rough period?