Mark Johansson:Hi! I am Mark Johansson and I am the member of the Financial Planning Association. I am here to discuss choosing a financial planner. Right now, I am going to talk about knowing when you need the services of a financial planner.

How do you know if you could benefit from the services of a financial planner. You may not have the expertise, the time, or the desire to actively plan and manage certain financial aspects of your life. You may want help getting started. You may benefit from objective third party perspective on what often are emotional difficult decisions and in today's hectic world it can be beneficial to have a financial planning expert to help make sure you stay focused and follow through with your financial plans.

I would recommend that if you have the time and knowledge and your financial situation is not too complicated, you may be able to do a lot of this on your own. However, there are some situations where you may find need for a financial planner such as, you have little or no experience with finances, you don't have the inclination to do it, you want objective outside perspective. You have a complex financial situation or and this is usually the biggest obstacle for do it yourselfers, you don't have the time.

Procrastination is the greatest enemy of financial independence and using a planner will keep you on track. There are some other advantages to using a planner. Some aspects of the financial planning process may be too complex for most people, such as calculating how long your retirement capital will last or maximizing tax strategies. A good financial planner will guide you and work with other professionals such as stock brokers, accountants and insurance agents to coordinate their efforts with your overall financial needs. Often the specific event or need will trigger the desire for financial planning professional and guidance. These might include making sure your money will last during retirement or rolling over a retainment plan. Handling the inheritance of a large sum of money or some other unexpected financial windfall. Preparing for marriage or divorce, planning for the birth or adoption of the child. Facing a financial crisis such as serious illness, lay off or a natural disaster. Caring for aging parents or disabled child, coping financially with the death of a spouse or a close family member, funding education ,buying selling or passing on a family business.

Now, that you know are some of the reasons why you might need the services of the financial planner, next let's discuss how to begin looking for a planner.