Professional financial advice can be a valuable asset for men and women focused on their futures.  

Effective financial advisors help their clients navigate the sometimes-confusing waters of personal finance, helping them to achieve both short- and long-term goals. Financial advisors can help men and women protect their savings, make smart investments and grow their wealth. 

What defines the right financial advisor depends on the client. Some financial advisors’ strategies may not appeal to all prospective clients, so it’s important that men and women vet financial professionals before trusting them with their hard-earned money. The following are a few things adults can look for as they begin searching for someone to help them secure their financial futures.

ν Credentials: Consumers may benefit by selecting a person who is just a financial planner, and not an accountant or insurance advisor. A financial advisor who is a certified financial planner (CFP) is licensed and regulated, and he or she has taken mandatory classes on the various aspects of financial planning.

ν Humility and an ability to listen: Financial advisors need to be in-tune with their clients’ needs, rather than putting their own best interests first. Northstar Financial Planning notes that good advisors lend support and will ride out the ups and downs of financial decisions. 

ν Recommendations: Advisors who have a reliable track record likely have clients willing to vouch for them. Men and women can ask friends, family or coworkers for recommendations regarding financial advisors.

ν Wealth of experience: An advisor who has many years’ experience under his or her belt has likely worked with clients from all walks of life and men and women whose comfort levels regarding risk have run the gamut. That wealth of experience can prove invaluable to clients. 

ν Continued learning: Advisors who have memberships in financial associations and continue their education are committed to honing their craft and staying on top of changes in their field.

Financial advisors can be assets to people looking to protect their finances. Finding the right one is paramount.