Growing up your parents probably did not tell you anything about stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Your parents most likely never sat down and told you the true value of saving for a rainy day. You probably never had that talk with your mother or father about how they are going to save up for your college education. You never asked them about how they were saving up for retirement, whether or not they had a 401k or some other type of retirement plan in place.

Now times have change and you are all grown up. You have finally graduated from college and because your parents did not have a 529 plan or some other college savings plan set up, you now owe more than you want to think about in student loans. Your credit is probably out of whack because of those student credit cards that no one warned you about. You were recently married to your college sweet heart and you have a baby girl on the way. Right out of college you were hired by this big corporation with great benefits, but you only signed up for medical. Never in a million years would you let them take more out of your check than necessary, so a 401k is definitely out of question.

You have reached the point in your life that you realize that your financial situation is not what it should be. You over hear one of co-workers at work talk about how this financial planner helped him get his finances back on track. Now you are curious. You go home and Google the word financial planner and you discover a financial planner can help you with the management of your finances including creating a budget, saving money, saving your daughters college education and planning for retirement. Finally, you have an answer, a financial planner can help you with every aspect of your life.

The very next day you ask your co-workers for a referral to a financial planner. You call and schedule an appointment. The planner says that she can meet with you as soon as you leave work. You finally arrive at her office a bit nervous at first but you realize that you are on your way to financial freedom. The financial planner explains that she is there to help you meet your lifelong financial goals. She begins to go through a questionnaire and ask you about your financial objectives, your current financial status, including your expenses and income, and your assets; she then begins to make recommendations and come up strategies that can help map out your financial future.

One year later you have a 401k through your employer that you are pleased with, an additional individual retirement account that you contribute to on a monthly basis. You have a 529 plan for your daughter. Your credit is making a rebound and you have a few mutual funds that are performing quite well. Thanks to your financial planner you are on the road to financial freedom.

As you can see the role of a financial planner is quite significant. Be sure to do your homework before you visit a financial planner. Not everyone is looking out for your best interest. Ask for referrals, and don't be afraid to ask your financial planner questions.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Lee.
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