A: Selecting a financial planner is not an easy task. The industry is mostly unregulated, meaning anyone can call themselves a financial planner. But there are some things you can do to make sure you get good financial advice.

Before you select a financial planner, here are some things to consider:

• Is the person qualified? A planner should be a Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) - registered investment advisor.
• Your planner should give you a written description of fees charged, types of clients consulted, and a summary of education and background.
• Get an estimate of the costs and find out if the planner expects to earn a commission by selling you products or charge a fee for his services or a combination of both.
• Make sure that you talk with two or three current and former clients. Also, ask to see a sample plan.
• Finally, make sure you talk to several financial planners before settling on one.