Are you seeking professional help to secure your financial future? When your current situation is free of cash advances, and it contains limited credit card debt, you are in a good place to start looking towards the future. Unless you have a close friend, relative or are knowledgeable in the financial field yourself, you will want to find a financial planner to help guide you in the right direction.
Cash advances and credit card debt interfere with future funds.
Once cash advance and credit card debt is cleared and stabilized you can start putting money elsewhere you will want to seek out some professional help. Whether you are looking to get involved with stock trading, insurances, retirement or college funds, finding the right person to help is half the battle. How do you go about finding help? Without prior knowledge to fall back on, how can a person know that they are making the right choice in a financial planner?
- A title of “planner” needs no credentials to support it. If you want a real financial planner, expect to see evidence of proper training credentials. Is this person a Certified Financial Planner or Personal Financial Specialist? Ask for references and experience on the job.
- Know what you want from your planner. Are you looking for someone to advise you on the stock market or what retirement accounts to set up? Are you looking for comprehensive services which are tailored to fit each individual client?
- Don’t hire the first one you come across. I give this same advice to those looking for cash advance lenders or changing banks. Listen to friends or relatives and research on the web. Choose at least three professional planners to interview.
- Just because the planner comes with high references, your financial situation may not be similar. Address you goals and objectives and see what the planner can offer.
- Do you know how your planner will be paid? Do they charge a flat fee for advice? Will the planner receive a fee plus a small commission on the products they sell? Is the planner only receiving commission? Find out how it works before you hire.
- Check references and credentials. Ask to contact two or more clients to follow up on past performance. When you check credentials, there will be a record of any disciplinary actions taken against this person.
- The planner can only perform as well as you communicate your goals and objectives. Don’t hold back the questions or concerns about your financial future. When you are open about your finances, a planner will be able to advise accordingly.
- Be careful of planners who work on commission and are only focused on selling products. You want the plan to focus on benefiting your situation not the planner’s.
- Are you a risk taker or do you like to take the controlled moderate route? Where the money gets invested will take your tolerances into consideration. A good planner will take the financial cues from the client’s conversation. Answer all questions openly and honestly and voice all opinions as well as concerns.
Not everyone is ready to take the next step into planning for future finances. Many of us are still stuck in the current debt traps of cash advances and credit cards. Don’t give up on your financial future. Take care of the current debt as soon as possible. Your future finances will be rewarded for it.
