Once you're comfortable knowing your own financial situation, and have begun making some small, but very important steps, toward saving and investing you may want to get additional help. There's a wealth of good, easy-to-understand, free help available by going online or doing some simple research at your local library. Check out the personal finance section at your local library. Ask the librarian which personal finance magazines they carry in their reference section. When doing online research, you can go to large search engines like google.com or yahoo.com or for quotes and basic information, or you can visit sites designed to provide more detailed financial assistance like www.morningstar.com, www.bloomberg.com, or www.cnbc.com. Learn more about important investing basics before you begin making financial commitments through Tomorrowsmoney.org section on Investing.
If you've done some homework on your own and you're interested in getting professional help, you have several options here as well.
Make an appointment to speak with an advisor at your local credit union or bank. Most banks and credit unions have staff that will provide savings and investment advice and can help open accounts for you to begin investing.
Contact a brokerage firm or mutual fund company. They are listed in the Yellow Pages and many of them are available online. Set up an appointment to meet them.
Look into hiring a professional financial advisor or planner. Just like finding a good pediatrician or dentist, the best resources for finding a competent professional in this field may be friends and family. If you have a tax accountant or attorney, ask them for a recommendation. You can also check with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (888/333-6659;www.napfa.org) or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (888/999-9256;www.aicpa.org)
Take the time to educate yourself before handing over control of your financial life to anyone. Think of your meeting as an interview. You are interviewing them to determine whether or not you feel they are competent and you are comfortable. Ask for references. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if they've had any complaints lodged against them. Don't make any commitments until you've had time to go home and digest your meeting. If you're hiring a professional financial planner, don't rush and don't allow yourself to be pushed into any arrangement that you're not comfortable with. Remember this is YOUR money and YOUR future. Taking a little extra time to make a wise decision may be the best investment you can make in yourself. Learn more about how to choose and work with a financial professional.