Locate a Highly-qualified Financial Counselor Near You
Many people today are seeking a financial counselor to help them manage their finances. Financial counselors with the topmost qualifications can be found in your local area when you select one from the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)’s highly-recognized nationwide team. This network of counselors has proven qualifications and meets rigorous standards, so you can trust that they have passion and commitment to help you reach your financial health and security goals.
The main goal of an NFEC personal financial counselor is to educate and guide people toward improving their financial situations. Thus their highest priority is your success. They are trained to customize your training, support, and educational path based on your unique situation, which these counselors uncover through empirical analysis. Then they focus on your goals and needs, help you set milestones, prioritize action, and offer support and accountability.
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Credentials to Seek in a Personal Financial Counselor
Calling yourself a financial counselor is easy. But the NFEC financial counselor certification designation means you comply with educational, experiential, and ethical qualifications that merit your trust. They have earned the Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant designation, meaning an NFEC counselor has fiduciary responsibility to you. NFEC Financial Coaches complete hundreds of hours of training, pass a strict background check, and earn a high score on a rigorous final test. These counselors also are required to complete implementation practicums by practicing their counseling under supervision and submitting the results.
The standards NFEC counselors must meet were guided by 4 top industries: financial and consumer protection; psychology; counseling; and education, specifically financial education. These fields were selected because financial counselors must deal with the emotionally-charged topic of money. They’re tasked with identifying clients’ needs and goals, setting strong objectives, and then educating, guiding, and supporting clients toward financial security.
NFEC Financial Counselor vs. the Average
A cursory look at what the average financial counselor has to offer will point up the difference – an NFEC certified financial counselor offers a broad range of services to help people improve their financial circumstances. Here we report data we collected from 137 webpages that came up in the top 50 Google search results using search term “financial counseling.” A total 26 of those sites showed package and pricing information easily found on the page.
According to our data, counselor contact was the main service available (always by phone, less often by email). Second was education (e.g. lessons, courses, or references). Just a handful of the sites were able to provide personal financial planning to clients; and only two offered re-planning and reporting (i.e. initial plan adjustments, separate reports with new data).
Discovery and Planning – First Phase
During the first phase of financial counseling, your counselor will do an in-depth interview with you to evaluate your current financial circumstances, desired lifestyle, and goals for the future. She or he will review your entire profile, including income, credit history, assets/liabilities, insurance levels and rates, and all other aspects of your personal finances.
At the initial phase it’s vital that your financial counselor understands all facets of your financial situation. When it comes to managing money, some people are simply “winging it”. In contrast to the “winging it” approach, your counselor will prepare a detailed, complete Personal Finance Plan tailored just for you. The report will be written and will lay out prioritized, achievable action steps. Your counselor will remain committed to guide and support you toward reaching each objective.
Education & Guidance – Second Phase
A big part of this phase is evaluation, so you can track your progress. Your counselor will update your data and give you regular reports to facilitate this process. Regular data collection and analysis allows the counselor to make informed recommendations as you move toward reaching your personalized goals.
Support & Maintenance – Third Phase
Before long you will have your plan in place, most pressing needs met, and are working toward addressing the essential areas of your financial foundation. That’s when the third phase begins: maintenance. Your counselor moves into a more facilitative role, giving you freedom to make your own decisions and simply providing support and guidance when you request it.
If you desire, your financial counseling process will include continuing education. The counselor can also keep you abreast of changes to the financial environment and marketplace that may bear on your personal financial situation. Your counselor will also help you stay aware of important dates and deadlines and provide resources to inform your decisions at key life stages.
Final Phase – Network with Experts in Specialized Fields
Finally, your financial counseling experience will culminate in connection with a team of specialized experts when you need guidance in a specific area. That is, all NFEC Financial Coach counselors help you establish a financial foundation; but at various life junctures, you’ll probably need added support. For example, when you plan to buy a home or have a baby, you might need guidance from a specialist in that niche.
The NFEC’s team of niche experts are 100% independent and will never try to sell you financial products. Their responsibility is entirely to you.
