Today I thought I’d talk a bit about where you can get financial advice and financial planning. Are your major concerns right now short term or do you have fundamental questions like how to meet your day to day needs or in a financial crisis? Do your want help creating a budget, or paying off credit card debt. You may find a financial counselor really helpful. If you’re a servicemember you may have financial counseling available right on post. You can also access confidential financial counseling from anywhere through the MilitaryOneSource website. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/interactive-tools-services/financial-counseling/ These trained professionals can answer questions, and also refer you to other services or programs that may help. And anyone can request help from an accredited counselor through the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education. https://www.yellowribbonnetwork.org/covid-19
If you want more help getting started and keeping motivated to save for your goals, reduce debt, and learn more about finances in general, you may find financial coaching useful. This really is the wild west and coaches may go by titles like money coach, financial life coach, certified money coach, more. Their focus is on motivating and educating. This field is mostly unlicensed and their advice is typically generalized to fit most people. Coaching can be a great way to get started and help with implementing, especially if you are looking for help for the first time. Coaches may have a background in other fields that make them good teachers and motivators. They may not have much specific financial training.
When you want or need specific advice and help with a range of financial areas, like taxes, retirement saving and investing, forming a business, investing in real estate, paying for education, balancing debt, insurance and more, a financial planner is your go to person. The gold standard for this is a Certified Financial Planner. Their work and advice i focuses on the interactions of many areas and help you identify your financial goals, develop options, form a plan, and implement the steps of the plan. Then work with you to make adjustments and adapt as your life situation evolves.
Several associations have great information and list member profiles you can browse with links to their websites. The Military Financial Advisor Association has planners with in depth knowledge of military life and benefits. Several like me also work with federal employees. http://militaryfinancialadvisors.org/about/
XY Planning Network members are dedicated to providing advice regardless of your age or assets, especially those of you in your working, not-yet-wealthy years. https://www.xyplanningnetwork.com/
The Garrett Planning Network specializes in providing planning by the hour. One of their members may be good choice if you only want to commit to a short time initially, or more want limited planning. https://www.garrettplanningnetwork.com/
And you can check out the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (or NAPFA). https://www.napfa.org/find-an-advisor#
When you meet an advisor or planner they should be able to explain things in a way you understand. Part of a planner’s job is education, but you should never feel you are being talked down to, pushed around, or ignored. There are more fish in the sea. Your experience and results are best when you feel comfortable and understood.
