Don't make the mistake of choosing just any financial professional from the Internet. Your goal is to find a capable person in the financial services field who shares and respects your ideas for handling your money. It's a financial relationship you're forming.  Just remember that you're the party in control: This person should be working with you.

Begin by asking yourself just what you want a financial professional to do for you. You may want a comprehensive financial plan. Then you can choose whether to implement the plan yourself or to ask your financial professional to help you by coordinating the efforts of other professional advisors in putting your plan into action. Your financial professional can help you to select qualified professionals who can assist you in selecting mutual funds or annuities, buying stocks and bonds, or implementing other savings and investment choices.

Ask for referrals from people you trust: family members and friends, an accountant, lawyer, banker or insurance agent. Various financial associations can also provide you with the names of financial professionals in your area. You'll find a list of these organizations at the end of this article.

Qualifications and professional designations you should look for in a financial professional:

• Education. Don't be overly concerned if a financial professional has a degree in something other than finance or accounting, as long as the candidate has additional qualified training in financial services.
• State registration and licensing.   State insurance licenses and securities registrations are required to sell insurance and securities products. Check with your state insurance department and securities commission to determine if a financial professional is qualified and if any complaints have been filed. Check your state government website or your local telephone directory for contact information.
• Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®). Financial professionals who have earned this designation have at least three years of personal financial planning experience, have completed a CFP Board registered program, have passed a final certification exam, and complete Continuing Education requirements.  The issuing organization is the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Financial professionals who have earned this designation have at least 3 years of full-time personal finance or insurance experience, have completed core and elective American College courses, have passed final exams for each course, and complete Continuing Education requirements. The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA is the issuing organization.
• Personal Finance Specialist (PFS). Financial professionals who have earned this designation are Certified Public Accountants who are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, meet experience, education and Continuing Professional Education requirements, and must substantiate business experience in personal financial planning-related services. The issuing organization is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Financial professionals who have earned this designation have at least 3 years of full-time business experience, have completed core and elective American College courses, have passed final exams for each course, and complete Continuing Education requirements. The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA is the issuing organization.