Professional Help Will Improve Your Credit

Not everyone has the know-how on managing his or her finances. What keeps you from asking help from people who do? Maybe that’s just your ego speaking. Maybe your untrusting nature or the fear of finding out the truth about how bad your bad credit stops you from taking action. For these reasons or many more, most people are reluctant to seek the guidance of a financial consultant or a credit repair specialist. Don’t wait until it is too late to fix.

Understand Your Needs

Before seeking out a professional, determine first what you want from a financial planner. Do you want advice on your business? Are you looking to enhance your retirement portfolio? Are you trying to purchase a big-ticket item and just got denied on your loan request?

Like some doctors specialize in cardiology or oncology, financial consultants have their own areas of expertise. Therefore, it is important to seek out a specialist based upon your specific needs. Once you identify your needs and expectations of your consultation, it is best to reach out to those specialists that are experts in your specific area of need. 

Know the Designations

The financial services industry is teeming with acronyms, designations and certifications. This can be confusing but having some understanding of these will give you an idea of your prospective planners.

• Certified Public Accountant. This is an experienced accountant that has complied with the strict requirements of education and licensing. CPAs are best for tax issues.

• Personal Financial Specialists. Some CPAs go through additional financial planning education. Once they pass the exams and meet additional requirements concerning investments and wealth management, they can then use the designation CPA/PFS.

• Certified Financial Planner. This is one of the most respected designations in financial planning, requiring a lengthy exam, strict code of ethics, and at least 3 years of experience. CFPs can give a wide range of financial advice on long-term investment strategies, commodities trading and retirement planning.

• Chartered Financial Consultant. ChFCs are insurance professionals specializing in some areas of financial planning right after meeting additional requirements in education on investments and economics.

• Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. This designation allows planners to focus on retirement planning primarily. CRPCs need to meet a strict code of ethics and pass an exam.

There are more than 50 designations used today. The ones listed above are just a handful of the most common ones. There are some planners that carry multiple designations while there are those that do not have any. Be open to asking these questions during your interview process.

Interview the Candidates

After finding some financial consulting help in Bucks County hat meet your requirements, you now need to meet with them. Reputable planners will have an introductory meeting at no cost. This first meeting gives an opportunity for you to explain what you want and the planner to determine if they are best suited for the job.

Some planners can be found within banks, private practice, with a school credit union or with a large brokerage firm. Once you have made your decision, make sure that the person you select can meet all of your needs. The first federal bank of Bucks for example offers auto loans financing assistance but they may not be able to help you get an annual credit report. You may be forced to use different services as you venture down your path of financial consulting.