We have selected only the top financial planning professionals in the U.S. with which to work.  The Financial Advisors in our directory are all independent, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) managed by FINRA and the SEC (United States Securities and Exchange Commission).

Financial Advisors have varied experiences, education, and specializations.  Finding the right financial planning firm and/or financial advisor takes the right research.  It takes trust in the source.

Our financial advisors take fiduciary oaths and pledge to uphold the highest standard of ethics.  Many of the financial planners within our directory explain how their financial planning process works within their profiles.  After reviewing their profile pages, you can request a fee schedule, more detailed information and/or a meeting.

Many of our advisors are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA: the nation’s leading organization promoting Fee-Only comprehensive financial planning) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Using the services of a qualified financial advisor and/or Wealth Manager (to help you identify the strengths and weaknesses in your financial picture) will ensure you can retire comfortably!

NOTE: Experts recommend contacting 2-3 financial advisory firms, so that one may compare/contrast each firm, thus making the best-qualified choice.

Last week, we talked about how financial advisors can help people just starting out in their professional lives. Today, we’ll talk about a much different life stage: Divorce.

No one wants to think about life taking unexpected turns. Sadly, however, changes like divorce are common — and invariably bring financial upheaval. At a time of such intense emotional distress, dealing with the loss of the financial security you’ve always counted on may seem like an impossible task.

When your life has been turned upside-down by divorce, a financial advisor experienced in helping clients adjust their financial plans after divorce can be a source of comfort and encouragement. Here are a few ways financial advisors can make the turmoil of divorce a little easier to bear:

• Help you understand the financial aspect of all the legal documents. If you know what the divorce papers are saying about finances, you can make better informed decisions.

• Clarify your financial situation. A financial advisor skilled in working with divorce matters will be able to help you sort through your finances, separate what may have been a lifetime of his-and-hers financial matters into just his or just hers, and get a clear picture you and your attorney can refer to, if needed, to reach a fair and equitable settlement.

• Help you focus on your finances. It’s easy to get bogged down in the emotions you’re feeling, but during a divorce, you’ll need to keep your mind at least partially on financial matters as well. Financial advisors can help you do just that.

• Get you back on track. Your budget after divorce will be very different from the budget you followed while married. A financial advisor experienced in divorce will help you create a budget for your new life.

Nothing will take away the pain of divorce, but financial advisors can help relieve some of the associated pressures. If your life has suddenly become unstable due to divorce, now is the time to take action.

Search for financial advisors near you. Interview two or three of them, and see which one you’re comfortable with (ideally, it’s a financial advisor who can focus on helping you rebuild your financial life). Then get started on your new financial plan.

It’s not easy, but with the help of a good financial advisor, you can be financially comfortable — with a solid plan for reaching your goals — once again.