In your effort to locate the right financial planner for you, you need to meet with and assess candidates. How can you assess them though? It is important to ask about the type, length and breath of experienced possessed by any prospective financial planner. You will want to know how many years they have been active in the industry. It will also be necessary to learn which firms for which they have worked. You may wish to have the prospective planner articulate some of his or her previous experiences in the field, and what types of things they learned and how they will apply that knowledge to new clients. Should you be seeking a planner who will provide investment guidance, you may wish to find a professional who has experience in navigating clients through economic downturns.

The term “financial planner” means different things to different people and it is essential that you get clarification as to exactly what qualifications the candidate has. For example you can determine whether they hold such titles as Certified Financial Planner or Chartered Financial Analyst. Holding these titles is indicative of having successfully completed comprehensive examinations and illustrate a dedication to the profession. You should also establish what plans the candidate has for professional advancement course to stay abreast of changes in the field of financial planning.

Your next question should be about what the planner can offer you in the way of financial services. Planners are unable to offer securities or insurance products such as stocks or mutual funds unless they are properly licensed, but they are also unable to give advice about such investments unless they are registered with Federal or State authorities. You need to know what licenses, credentials and areas of experience your planner possesses, as there are some planners who can give financial planning advice yet are unable to sell financial products because they are not licensed to do so. Other financial planners are restricted and are only able to give financial planning advice on specific areas of training such as taxes or estate planning.

Your next question should be whether or not the planner works independently of financial product sponsors. Some planners work for discount or full-service stock brokerage firms, banks or insurance companies – this is what is known as financial product sponsors. It is important to know what type of financial situations or clientele the planner enjoys working with, so you know what to expect. For example, some financial planners will provide professional advice only in specific areas, yet others can create a multi-faceted plan that will bring all of your financial goals together under one umbrella. Be sure to choose a planner whose viewpoint in financial investments matches your own to avoid getting someone that is too cautious or too aggressive for your tastes.

You should establish the fees each candidate would expect. The planner’s fees will be determined by your needs but they should provide you with an estimate of potential costs based on the work you will be requiring. The potential fees would include the planner’s hourly rates, flat fees and any percentage they would expect in the form of commission on any products you purchase as part of their planning recommendations.

Licensing and credentials are a vital consideration when choosing a planner. It is not uncommon for financial planning professionals to render opinions and advice on securities products even though they do not possess the proper licensing to do so. Certain states may have no licensing requirements for such work, but in all cases, it is important to know if a financial planner possesses all relevant credentials for the work he or she undertakes. Licensing involves rigorous exams and continuing education requirements which must be met in order to maintain the appropriate credentials. It is important to be cautious and aware of the fact that licensed planners may really be nothing more than salespeople wearing the disguise of planner or adviser.

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