But Danes says now there's a need for more financial planning because families are expected to make more decisions about the money they're saving for retirement. Complex tax laws, banking deregulation, and more saving and investment options have also made financial planning more difficult. As a guide to whether you need a financial planner, Danes has written a publication that has a worksheet with questions to ask yourself. If you answer 'no' to any of the questions, consider talking to a financial planner. However, answering 'no' to one or more questions does not mean that with some time and study, you couldn't manage your own finances.
Financial planners work primarily with families who have some discretionary income for investment.
Doing so will help you communicate with your financial planner and is a built-in safeguard for detecting when things are not right. It's available from county offices of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. There is a small charge. The University of Minnesota Extension Service is an equal opportunity educator and employer.