Wednesday, August 22, 2012

When You Need a Financial Planner

If you tend to handle your money well, you are likely good at planning your finances. You might not think you have any reason to hire someone to help you. If you suddenly had a much larger quantity of money to handle or a much smaller amount to allocate, you might decide that you need a financial planner.

If you ever realize that a financial planner is what you need to stay on top of your finances or get back on your feet, you will want to find one that has characteristics that make a good professional in this field.

The major consideration to look for is whether he or she is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). If they are not, it is almost like going to a doctor that has never gone to medical school. Whereas with the doctor it is your health you are putting into unstable hands, in the case of uncertified individual, it is your money being put into the wrong hands. Before hiring someone to help with your finances, make sure that they are certified.

It is also wise to go to an independent company. By doing this, you will not need to worry about the advisor having an agenda that does not help your cause. They will not try to sell you anything based on who they work with. Everything they do will be to help you as the client.

It is also important that the firm you hire use a method of comprehensive planning. This means that the firm you choose will help you in every area of your finances. Rather than looking at one problem area, they should consider every financial aspect of your life and help you to manage it. This might feel like an interference in your privacy. If you feel this way, you will want to make sure that the firm you choose is willing to protect your privacy and only look into those areas that you are comfortable with.