Student Loan Debt Counselors Near You
Individuals looking for student loan debt counselors can find what they need in all regions of the US by searching the NFEC’s list of consultants with outstanding qualifications for helping people reach their individualized personal finance goals. All NFEC Student Loan Counselors meet the most rigorous guidelines in the industry for skill, trustworthiness, and a true passion for helping others.
The main goal of a Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant – the NFEC’s designation for financial counselors – is to give people education and guidance to increase their personal finance acumen. That is, a NFEC Financial Coach places your success at the top of the agenda, offering customized education and support to help you move toward a stronger financial position. The counselor’s role is to delve deeply into your current situation using empirical analytics, clarify your priorities and needs, help you set clear goals, and offer instruction, guidance, and accountability down your chosen path.
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Criteria for Qualifying Student Loan Counselors
Anybody can call him or herself a student loan counselor. A certified student loan counselor qualifications meet higher benchmarks. But NFEC-certified consultants prove that they have the background, education, and experience to secure your trust. The NFEC Financial Coach title shows that the counselor is a fiduciary – in other words, they have responsibility to you and must put your interests first. Earning NFEC certification requires completion of nearly 200 hours of education and passed a rigorous exam; and submitting to a strict background check. NFEC Financial Coaches also are mandated to undergo performance evaluations as they implement the skills they’ve learned – under qualified supervision – on practice clients.
The NFEC developed its standards for NFEC Financial Coach qualification using input from four industries: 1) consumer protection; 2) counseling principles; 3) psychological tenets; and 4) education. These four schools of thought were consulted because student loan debt counselors deal with financial issues, which frequently raise emotional responses among individuals. The counselor faces a difficult task: identifying clients’ pressing needs, establishing set goals, and offering education and support as he or she guides clients down the pathway toward financial security and health.
A NFEC Financial Coach Stands Out Over the Average Financial Consultant
The most common way people are served by student loan debt counselors is through conversation. NFEC Financial Coaches are distinctive among financial counselors because they provide a breadth and depth of services across the spectrum of helping people improve their financial situations. The NFEC gathered data recently to prove this point. Among 137 websites that showed up in the top 50 Google results pages using keywords ‘financial counseling’ and ‘financial coaching,’ 26 had easily located package and price info on the page.
The topmost service provided across these 26 sites was direct counselor contact (always by phone, occasionally by email). Second most frequent was education resources (curriculum, training, or references). A scarce few would provide clients with a tailored personal finance plan. Two were capable to complete re-planning and revised reports (adjusting the original plan, and working up fresh plans with new data).
Phase 1: Evaluating and Writing a Plan
NFEC Student Loan Counselors perform their services in phases. The first phase involves evaluating your present personal finance status, lifestyle requirements, and long-term objectives. The NFEC Financial Coach will examine your full financial profile – from income, to credit, to assets/liabilities, to insurance plans – all segments of your unique money situation.
During Phase 1 it’s vital for the financial counselor to uncover all facets of your financial well-being, so he or she can give you a thorough, detailed Personal Finance Plan. The plan will be presented in written form with your prioritized agenda and actions laid out. From there, the NFEC Financial Coach will guide and support you to tackle your milestones one by one.
Phase 2: Pointers & Knowledge
The NFEC Financial Coach will carry out ongoing measurements of your accomplishments so you can receive updated progress reports. You can celebrate when you tick a goal off your list, and the counselor can make databased suggestions to modify your personal finance plan as indicated by your progress.
Phase 3: Nurturance & Reinforcement
Phase 3 with student loan debt counselors happens after your financial plan is clear, you’ve met your urgent needs, and you’ve established a firm foundation for your personal finances. Then the NFEC Financial Coach can transfigure into a less prominent presence, taking a reinforcing and maintenance role. You’ll make your own choices while the counselor sits by to support you only when you need assistance.
Continuing education will be part of this nurturing role. The NFEC Financial Coach will keep you abreast of changes to the financial marketplace and environment that are pertinent to your situation. You might get information about how to avoid student loan debt relief scams. You’ll receive reminders about due dates and resources that will guide your decisions through various key life stages.
Phase 4: Liaison with Niche Expertise
The fourth and final phase of working with student loan counselors is where your NFEC Financial Coach can serve as a liaison between you and a team of professionals with expertise in certain niche areas of the financial industry. Your financial counselor can help you lay a foundation; but from time to time, you’ll probably need specialized help. For example, when you’re ready to buy a new house or start a family, the NFEC has an expert with just the information you need. And this expert team is completely independent. They are 100% responsible to the client, so you know they’ll never attempt to market or sell financial products to you.
