Financial Planner

Financial planner

An investment professional who assists individuals with long- and short-term financial goals.

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Financial Planner

A professional who consults with clients on financial matters. A financial planner may help a client prepare income taxes, insurance, investments, and estate planning, among others. Generally speaking, a financial planner must have a certification such as a ChFC or a CFP.

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financial planner

A person who counsels individuals and corporations with respect to evaluating financial status, identifying goals, and determining ways in which the goals can be met. Although many people call themselves financial planners, a large number are primarily interested in selling a limited number of products they represent. A full-time professional planner, including a certified financial planner, an investment manager, or a tax attorney, may be better able to provide unbiased advice to the investor. See also certified financial planner, chartered financial consultant.

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Financial planner. A financial planner evaluates your personal finances and helps you develop a financial plan to meet both your immediate needs and your long-term goals. Some, but not all, planners have credentials from professional organizations.

Some well-known credentials are Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS).

A PFS is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who has passed an exam on financial planning. Some planners are also licensed to sell certain investment or insurance products.

Fee-only financial planners charge by the hour or collect a flat fee for a specific service, but don't sell products or earn sales commissions. Other planners don't charge a fee but earn commissions on the products they sell to you. Still others both charge fees and earn commissions but may offset their fees by the amount of commission they earn.