Your family deserves a qualified, responsible, and reputable financial advisor who will be managing your money based on your specific needs.

You’ll want to consider these tips when selecting a financial planner that will do his best to meet and exceed your individual needs. Your finances, as well as your personal security and peace of mind, depend on it!

Know What You’re Looking For

Most financial planners have a basic range of services they offer to clients, but some specialize or excel in certain areas. If these areas match the type of investments you’re interested in making, you’ll have a better match than other planners with less experience in those areas.

This is why it helps to know not only what financial planners do, but how they structure services accordingly to meet your needs, your budget, your expectations.

These are some of the major areas of personal finance that planners manage for clients:

• Retirement Planning – IRAs, 401K, Roth, and others
• Debt Management – Budgeting, saving money, emergency funding, early payoffs
• Insurance – Life, health, home, disability)
• Estate Planning – Mortgage, property, real estate
• Tax Planning
• Investment Planning – Stocks, bonds, securities, mutual funds

Create a List of Questions

It’s wise to have a list of questions prepared in advance of your initial interview with your planner to ensure the person will manage your finances with a level of competence and a rate of return that you’ll be comfortable with months and years later.

Keep in mind that some, but not all financial advisors are registered and/or certified with various agencies and organizations that adhere to stricter standards as professionals.

Though you will certainly have your own questions in mind, these suggested questions may be ones you’d like to include in your first consultation:

1. What are your credentials?
2. Do you hold any certifications or belong to any specific organizations like the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)?
3. How long have you been practicing as a financial advisor, and in what areas are you licensed to do so?
4. Do you have specific licensing with legal bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority?
5. Who is your ideal client and what are your strengths as a service provider?
6. How are you compensated, and what is your standard fee schedule?
7. Will I be able to review all transactions made, and how will our business relationship be structured?
8. Do you have a list of references or performance indicators from successful relationships with other clients?
9. Is there a record of any disciplinary or unethical practices in your history as a professional?

Gauge Their Business Personality

A final piece of the puzzle in finding a helpful financial advisor for your needs is to gauge the planner’s operating style and philosophy as a business associate.

During your conversation, you will likely be able to gather an initial impression of a particular planner’s approach and personality to his business and the style they prefer in making decisions for clients.

If at any time you feel uncomfortable or pressured into making a decision, feel free to end the conversation or leave the interview. The attitude a potential advisor shows during this all-important meeting can be enough to help you decide whether they are a good fit for helping reach your financial goals.

Finally, follow up their claims and expectations with some research of your own. A quick web search can sometimes provide details or testimonials on individuals that provide additional insight into their performance and reputation.

Learn more about our financial planning services.

One of the keys to living a fulfilling life is knowing where you’re going – financially, spiritually, and emotionally.

Having realistic goals motivates, excites, and pushes you forward to get the most out of yourself and from life’s experience.

When your financial life is in order and you’re en route to accomplishing financial goals that support your values and dreams, you’ll be a happier, more self-confident person as a result.

Begin fulfilling your own personal financial goals today by following these helpful tips:

1. Brainstorm ideas, without editing

Grab a writing pad and pen, then sit in a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed for about 30 minutes. Write down as many financial goals and dreams you have, as fast as you can write without editing. Just allow your thoughts to flow onto the paper freely without judging or trying to over-analyze what you’re writing. There will be plenty of time to edit and refine what you’ve written later on.

Think about financial difficulties that frustrate you now and financial dreams you’ve been afraid to pursue as you work on these possibilities. Consider what you’d do if it were impossible for you to fail at what you’re after.

Think about every aspect of your life as you brainstorm ideas…

• Would you like to own your own home?
• Do you dream of more personal freedom?
• Do you want financial independence?
• Would you like to help someone in need of financial assistance, maybe in your family or circle of friends?
• Do you want an unlimited supply of money for your children’s college education?

There are a world of possibilities, and you may never think of them until you do an exercise like this.

2. Now, prioritize your list

After 30 minutes you should have a page or two full of financial goals you’d like to achieve in your lifetime. Think about which of these goals is most important to you, then prioritize them accordingly.

Which ones sound the most exciting to you? Which ones give you a feeling of peace inside?

These are the ones that should migrate to the top of the list.

3. Next, write down all the challenges that stand in your way

Choose 3 to 5 financial goals that really excite you, then create a new page for each one. Write the end goal at the top of the page.

Then, list every reason you think you couldn’t achieve this goal at this moment. Write down every challenge that might stand in your way.

• This list of obstacles provides you with incremental steps to take that will quash your fear of failure. Refer to this list later, asking yourself how you could overcome each challenge on the list. What resources would help you reach your goal faster? Who can help? What information do you need that you don’t have currently? What are the next steps to take after that?
• There’s no sense denying that there will always be challenges on the road to financial goals. You can, however, think through those challenges to meet them head on, to overcome the limitations of each one. This is the mindset of those who accomplish the things they want most, and once you’ve adopted this attitude, nothing can stop you from reaching the goals you set.

4. But first, create an emergency fund

If you’re prepared for bumps and detours on the road to financial success, you can dramatically increase your peace of mind, your sense of excitement, and the joy you receive from life.

Things may go wrong for you financially, but keeping one month’s income set aside as an emergency fund frees you from the financial stress you’re currently feeling.

• Commit yourself to using this money only in case of real emergencies as you plan your financial future. Keeping this fund intact keeps the train of your financial dreams on track for today and tomorrow. You’ll find yourself worrying less and less each day about your finances.

5. Focus on taking action, in small steps

Keep moving forward, put one foot in front of the other every day, and you’ll find this to be type of strategy that makes your financial dreams come true. Don’t hinder your progress by taking on too much too soon.

Focus on the end goal, and take one step at a time until you reach the financial destiny you’ve always wanted for yourself.

Finances are a frequent source of stress in many people’s lives. If you diligently follow these steps and put them into practice, your financial situation will change – it’s inevitable!

You’ll spend more time getting excited about your future and less time chasing your tail in search of an elusive dream you never seem to find. A healthy financial life earned through perseverance and hard work supplies peace of mind that is a well-earned reward.

Unfortunately, for most of us it’s just not that simple.

In fact, many of us don’t even understand where our money is going, until we begin to fully analyze our finances to discover our money drains. Only then can we hope to change our habits to save money without going broke or losing the things we have.

It bears repeating, then, that until you know where your money’s being spent, you’ll have little success knowing how much you can save and where the money’s going to come from.

In the video below, you’ll understand the importance of creating a personal budget and writing down each and every expense you incur each month. It’s sage advice for getting a handle on how to save money and still live within your means.

Watch and listen below!

Most people decide to relocate because they feel the move will increase their quality of life, one way or another.

If you’re not prepared for the financial burden associated with a big move, then you’ll benefit from a consultation with a financial planner.

To prepare yourself financially for relocation, use these helpful tips to ease the potential burden:

Have an emergency fund close at hand

If you’re considering an expensive relocation soon, you’ll need to include a set amount of money to put aside as an emergency fund.

Moving expenses are hard to estimate, because you never know what surprises may spring up at a moment’s notice.

• If your new place of residence isn’t ready on time, you might have to stay in a hotel for a night or two.
• There will be activation fees to restart or initiate services at your new residence.
• Consider selling big-ticket items you can live without, like computers, televisions, cars, computers, or antique furniture. These will become sources of quick cash that pad an emergency fund that gets you through the first few months in your new home.

Secure job offers before you move

If you’re moving to a new area, you’ll want to have a concrete job lined up at your new location first. There’s no need to create additional emotional or financial pressure as your savings begin to dwindle.

• Schedule interviews with potential employers before you begin your search for a new place to live. The sooner the better, since the likelihood of landing a job improves when you start sending applications before you arrive at your new residence.
• If you’re relocating due to a promotion or job change on the part of your spouse, you’ll need to revise your budget to live off a single income at first. Once you have a job of your own, you can add in the luxuries you were able to afford before the move, like dining out or entertainment expenses like cable or satellite TV.

Leave room for cost of living increases

Your new location may have a higher cost of living than you’re used to, so it’s important reserve additional funds to make up the difference, especially if you’re still looking for a job when you get there.

• Have at least three months’ of living expenses saved to use if you don’t have a job lined up already. In fact, it wouldn’t hurt to have two months worth of expenses saved for emergencies even if you’re already employed.

Visit the location first

Online services such as Craigslist and Rent.com make it tempting to rely on pictures of your listing and the surrounding area as an indication of what it’s like there. Avoid unpleasant surprises by taking a trip to see the area in person.

• A rental agent or landlord will show the most flattering photos of their properties, but that doesn’t give you a good indication of the size of the lot or complex, the surrounding traffic, and other important factors. You’ll need to see and experience your new location first-hand to really assess its value for you and your family.
• A site visit also gives you insight into the condition of the new living space and the surrounding neighborhood, as well as how trustworthy and friendly the neighbors are.

Determine a plan

Moving to a new area is always a little daunting at first, and since you won’t know many people there yet, you need to consider a plan to get acclimated to your surroundings.

Accepting a job offer for more money or better cost of living is great, but you won’t enjoy the savings much if you’re isolated from friends and loved ones.

In particular, moving to a new state can be an emotionally draining process.

• Create a list of hobbies and interests you have now, as well as the qualities in friends you appreciate most.
• Find places in that area like bookstores, coffee shops, churches, sporting events, and volunteer opportunities that will help you meet new people and become a part of the new community.

You may not be prepared to move right now, which is something you may discover by following these tips.

Even if you delay a major move for a few months and concentrate on a savings plan that prepares you for the road ahead, you’ll still be working toward the life you desire for yourself, one step at a time.

A few extra items every time we shop for groceries, one too many trips to the nearest department store for clothes, or deciding to live in a place we really can’t afford – these are just a few ways we keep ourselves in debt, when we don’t have to.

Or maybe we just don’t know enough about money management to realize the damage we can do to ourselves by ignoring where our money seems to go every month.

What we need to do is start asking the right questions to learn ways to save money that we’re not even considering.

We can formulate a plan based on carefully considered questions, that way our future can look a whole lot brighter.

The kinds of questions that are in our free report, called How to Save Money on Groceries and Everyday Living, are just the thing to get you thinking about your finances and how you can change them for the better.

Ask yourself…

• “Am I making enough money?”
• “Is my rent or mortgage more than one-third of my monthly income?”
• “How can I find more ways to save money each month?”
• “How can I educate myself on personal finances to know how to improve them?”

Download your money saving worksheet to start making decisions that will improve your financial outlook almost immediately, and get you motivated on keeping at a level you’ll be proud of by next month.

In this short video, Ben Stein speaks on behalf of the National Retirement Planning Coalition to introduce the concept of retirement planning in straight-forward, easy-to-understand terms.

Among the many helpful suggestions he offers, he encourages all people considering retirement plans to secure the services of a qualified financial advisor to help build investments and savings accounts that can greatly improve the financial futures of those willing to take the time to plan ahead.

Listen to this introductory video for an excellent review of why retirement planning is so important:

Unfortunately, financial concerns often get in the way of enjoying the kinds of weddings we’d like to have.

Even if you have limited finances, however, you can still plan a dream wedding on a tight budget.

It’s no secret that weddings can become expensive ventures that create long-term financial burdens. Use a little creativity and innovation, however, and you can easily plan a dream wedding without the five-figure price tag that’s stuck in your mind as the end result.

If you’re able to plan a dream wedding on a budget, your event will still be a fun and exciting occasion that you’ll remember for years to come. Here are some great tips for planning a dream wedding on a tight budget:

1. Limit the number of guests

Sure, it would be great to invite all your friends and family members around the world to your wedding. Be sensible, though.

For a meaningful and affordable ceremony, you may want to limit your invitations to those people closest to you.

• Don’t fret about this. In tough financial times, people will understand your rationale and will still wish the best for you.
• Make the most of the smaller group you can invite and treat them to a memorable celebration.

2. Choose an affordable location

This is one area where lots of newlyweds and their families spend lots of money securing the perfect location for their wedding and reception.

Remember, the event is special in itself, and a less expensive location will still produce a wonderful experience. The simplicity of less elaborate ceremonies can often become perfection by design.

• Does one of your mutual friends have a fabulous backyard you can utilize?
• Can you get married in an area of your local City Hall complex?
• Is there an attractive park nearby that would serve as a wonderful location for your wedding?

3. Create your own invitations

One of the easiest ways to save money on your big dream wedding is to create invitations yourself. Lots of websites carry the materials, accessories, and instruction to make your own personalized wedding invitations.

• This eliminates a significant expense in hiring a graphic designer and printer to make wedding invitations for you.
• Show off your talent for creativity by making beautiful invitations your guests will appreciate as a keepsake or memento.

4. Rent clothing instead of purchasing

This may be a point of contention for most women, since they’ll likely want to treasure the event by buying and keeping their own wedding dress. However, if that dress is going to end up in moth balls or tucked away in storage a few days later, it may be worth it to consider renting a quality wedding dress that suits your needs better right now.

• This also applies to bridesmaids’ dresses, tuxedos, and other clothing and accessories you might consider for a more elaborate wedding. The money you save could contribute to a better start for the new couple now.

5. Invite family and friends to participate

Your friends and family members may have talents that could be very useful in saving you money and allowing them to participate in your wedding.

• You might have a cousin who just completed a culinary degree that could provide the catering for less.
• Perhaps a best friend works at a flower shop close by, and can provide decorations for your wedding party and the event itself.
• Still in touch with the guys in the college band you were in together? They could be the perfect solution for entertaining your guests at the reception.

Dreaming of your big wedding shouldn’t be dominated by dreams of dollar signs, too many of them at that.

You can have the wedding you’ve always wanted at a price that won’t leave you with empty pockets when it’s over. Use your imagination and realize the opportunities and options available to you to enjoy your dream wedding on a tight budget!

A mortgage payment is much more involved than paying rent. It’s a long term commitment to pay a fixed rate mortgage for 15, 20, or even 30 years.

Plus, there’s homeowners’ insurance, property taxes, and in some cases, loan insurance and homeowners’ association dues tacked on to increase the amount you’ll need each month just to live comfortably in your new home.

That’s not counting utilities, groceries, and repairs!

Relax, don’t panic. There’s a way to figure out exactly how much mortgage you can afford, so you don’t get in over your head right away. If you can figure out the ratios for debt-to-income and house payment-to-income, you’ll know exactly what type of house you can afford today.

For instance, if you’re debt-to-income ratio is higher than 36%, or your house payment-to-income ratio is higher than 30%, you’ll need to make some adjustments or pay down some debt before buying that dream house you’re looking at.

How do we know this? Because, we use a simple, straightforward worksheet to calculate these figures for us, so we don’t have to guess. In fact, we’re going to offer this worksheet to you for free, because we want to see you sitting on the porch in your new home after settled with a lender on a mortgage loan.

Using this worksheet, you’ll be able to list your current debts, like:

• Bank loans
• Student loans
• Credit cards
• Lines of credit

You’ll also be able to list all extra components of a typical house payment, such as:

• Property taxes
• Loan insurance
• Homeowners’ association fees

Get your Free Mortgage Affordability Worksheet that will show you exactly how much mortgage you can afford, and where to trim your financial fat if you’re coming up short.

Being prepared makes the mortgage lending process much easier for you and your lender. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay one step ahead of others looking at your dream home.

In some cases, this is a more realistic goal than you might realize, if you’re willing to put forth the effort to make it happen!

Of course, you may not be able to afford a sprawling Tudor mansion set against an English hillside.

On the other hand, a suitable ranch style home that needs a little attention or a modular home on a beautiful lot may be well within your range.

If you purchase a home outright and put in the necessary improvements and repairs, you can always sell it for a profit later on.

You can save tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage interest by paying cash for a home. You can see the benefit of purchasing a home outright, but is this an option that’s right for you? Consider these benefits for purchasing a home outright, rather than through a lender:

No more mortgage payments

How wonderful would it be to know you’ll never have to make another mortgage payment? Once you’re home is paid for, the only expenses you’ll incur are home insurance, property taxes, maintenance fees, and perhaps homeowners’ association dues in certain situations.

• Consider being able to bank your average monthly payment of between $1,000 and $2,500 per month, to use for other obligations, expenses, or savings accounts.

Full profit is a reality

If the house is paid for and you decide to sell, you’ll be walking away with pure profit due to the equity you acquired through upgrades, renovations, and appreciation.

• When you sell a financed home, the bank gets paid first. Since the first few years of mortgage payments went mostly toward interest rather than principal, you’ll be left with little or no profit for your investment.

Greater financial freedom

Spend a few years without high mortgage payments in your budget and you’ll discover financial options that wouldn’t be open to you if you were still paying for your home.

• Spur-of-the-moment vacations or other luxuries might now become a reality. You could take a trip to Tahiti for the weekend, for example, or buy a new car with cash, or give your spouse the opportunity to stay home with the children full-time.
• In another scenario, you might continue to living within your means and save a considerable amount of money for early retirement. With minimal monthly expenses over the next 10 to 20 years, the savings will be substantial.

Saving to Purchase Your Home

If you’re fortunate enough to have two incomes coming into your household, you can learn how to live on just one income and completely bank the other income into your savings. Doing this enables you to turn your dream of owning your home outright into a reality. Of course, you’ll need to trim your monthly expenses down to bare necessities to make this possible.

One option is to move in with relatives for a few years, in order to eliminate the expense of rent and utilities entirely. In some cases, parents or siblings are more than willing to welcome you into their homes, allowing them to spend more time with you while you save for a worthwhile financial goal.

If moving into your grandparent’s house doesn’t sound like such a good idea, employ these tips to help slim down your expenses and increase your savings:

• Rent out one or two bedrooms in your home to a young professional or responsible college student
• Use coupons to reduce your weekly grocery bill
• Take on a second job
• Sell your car, then use half of the proceeds to purchase an older vehicle outright and put the other half towards savings
• Move into a more sensible, smaller, or less expensive home
• Save your tax refunds over time
• Choose to send your children to public school rather than private
• Eliminate or reduce monthly expenses like cable TV and internet service
• Sell high-value collectibles
• Trade in your monthly cell phone bill for a prepaid phone
• Shop thrift stores for clothing instead of retail stores
• When you near your goal, sell the home you currently own to make up the difference in price
• Move to an area of town where renting is less expensive
• Visit tourist attractions in your own area and apply your yearly vacation fund towards your savings

Implementing some of these ideas might be a little difficult, but they’ll be worth it in the end. Once you’ve set and achieved a savings goal, you can wave goodbye to high interest loans and empty rental payments by purchasing a home outright.

If you want to increase the value of your property value, you will want to pay attention to what prospective buyers are looking for when making home upgrades.

This doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, either.

In fact, one afternoon and $1,000 or less could be enough to create a look buyers and appraisers will drool over.

Here are some inexpensive home improvements sure to create aesthetic appeal and increase the value of your property:

1. Do-it-Yourself Crown Molding

Sure, custom crown molding looks great, but it’s quite costly. Using some inexpensive faux techniques, you can create the look yourself for much less.

• With a nail gun, nail some decorative molding to the top of the wall adjacent to the ceiling. Then, nail another stripe four inches below the first row of molding all the way around the room. Lastly, paint the blank 4-inch area between the two rows with white paint for an eye-appealing finishing touch.

2. Do-it-Yourself Hardwood flooring

Hardwood flooring is another expensive commodity for the house, something that typically costs at least $4 per square foot. Bamboo flooring is a nice substitute, often costing as little as $1.79 per square foot.

• At that price, you could easily install bamboo flooring in a 1,500 sq. ft. home for around $2,700. Keep in mind that hardwoods are not recommended for bathrooms and kitchens, so omitting these rooms from the equation results in an even lower cost.
• Many homes use hardwood flooring in entryways, dining rooms and living rooms only. Bathrooms and kitchen are usually tiled, and upstairs hallways and bedrooms are often carpeted.

3. Do-it-Yourself Landscaping

Add some eye-catching appeal to your front curb to entice a buyer’s interest the moment they pull in the driveway.

Attractive landscaping is one way to dress up a less than impressive front lot, providing the opportunity to spark their interest in the interior of your house.

• Be smart and tidy up a bit when showing your home to prospective buyers. You can rent a power washer for as little as $70 to deep-clean the siding of your house, deck, entryways and driveway. The one-time cost is well worth the additional curb appeal you’ll get from the process.
• You can plant flowers or shrubs on the sides of your porch to create a welcoming entryway for appraisers and buyers. Purchase plants in season to save even more money. Alternatively, you can even plant flowers as bulbs to save a few dollars, if you can afford to wait until they bloom before showing your house.
• Exterior shutters are another inexpensive investment that adds traditional charm to the house. Home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot sell quality shutters for as little as $65 each.

4. Add a kitchen backsplash

Backsplashes in kitchens are like eyebrows on your face – they accent and frame the room with interest.

You can dress up the bare space between countertops and cabinets by simply adding a backsplash above the counter, transforming bland kitchens into sensational spaces in very little time.

• Kitchen backsplashes can be an expensive project up front, but you can use low cost tile for most of the space, then use a fancy striped or patterned tile that coordinates well in strategic areas.
• Save even more by considering unconventional materials like vinyl tile flooring or tin ceiling panels, or even painting a backsplash with some faux finish techniques. Creativity like this not only saves money but creates a conversation point in choosing something different for the space.

4. Upgrade a bathroom

Bathroom upgrades do not have to cost $10,000 to be worthwhile and attractive. You may not be able to afford a new vanity or an enticing garden tub, but a few small upgrades can make an equally impressive impact.

• Companies like Moen and MirrorMate or Moen Frame sell $100 mirror framing kits to accent your builder-grade mirror in the bathroom quite nicely.
• Replace your vanity hardware for less than $25.
• Paint an outdated vanity or laminate tile for less than $25, and purchase a $50 faux-granite countertop paint kit from companies like Giani for even more contrast.
• Refresh bathroom walls with a fresh coat of neutral paint.

Using these simple suggestions, you could give your bathroom a significant makeover for around $200. That’s the sensible way to recreate a space that just needs a little lift.

It’s your responsibility as a homeowner to ensure your home stays up-to-date and to increase its property value.

In the end, your home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. So it’s a good strategy to make a modest investment in upgrades and trimmings that most buyers are looking for.