Anyone can hang out a shingle saying they're a financial planner or a wealth manager. Stick with someone who has a well-known designation such [as] CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER[™ Professional]…. Whatever the designation, be sure to understand what type of education and enrichment it required. Don't be afraid to ask them to explain the duck soup of letters after their names, and where they got their training…. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards administers the tests and confers the CFP certification and has a wealth of information at its web site. Read more >

Smart Money
September 19, 2011