Financial Planning
Section I / Section II / Section III

Professionals

How to choose a financial advisor, counselor or planner:

Professionals can have experience in many aspects of the profession

Titles used are financial planner, personal financial advisor, financial consultant, investment advisor, accredited financial counselor, credit counselor, consumer educator, and personal finance educator

• Find out the professional's experience and professional affiliations
  
  
• Check with previous clients, the Better Business Bureau, or the state attorney general
  
  
• Have the advisor provide full disclosure of the costs and benefits accrued from offering products compared to other products or services offered
  
  
• Ask to see a sample plan
  
  
• Find out how often plans are reviewed
  
  
• Know the compensation methods used
  
  
• Understand any contract you sign
  
  
• Inquire about professional conferences, memberships, etc. that the advisor participates in to keep current
  
  
• Choose an advisor with appropriate designations and certification s
  
  
• Know some of the professional credentials:

  Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  Registered Financial Consultant (RFC)
  Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
  Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC)
  Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
  Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)
  Personal Financial Advisor (PFA)
  Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
  Certified Credit Counselor (CCC)
  Certified Family and Consumer Science (CFCS)
  Certified Housing Counselors (CHC)
  Enrolled Agent ER (tax specialist)

Information is available from The Financial Planning Association, International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, http://www.certifiedfinancialplanners.org, and The National Foundation for Credit Counseling. See names in telephone book for investment advisors, financial consultants, planners and counselors.

Learn enough to ask questions of the professional. List your questions to ask at your first appointment.

Question the professional's compensation method or how he/she is paid:

Find out more information of names and addresses:

http://www.fpanet.org; http://www.nfcc.org/; http://www.incharge.org; http://www.myvesta.org; names in the telephone book for investment advisors, consultants, planners, and counselors. Consult the Institute of Certified Financial Planners

Financial Planning Section I / Section II / Section III Advance to Ability to Adjust Return to Investment