You ARE smarter than you think!

My girlfriends tell me all the time that they are just not smart enough to "do what you do."  What I "do" is trade/invest actively, read stock charts, follow business news, etc.  They tell me that their husbands do the long term investing and they handle the day-to-day budgeting.  

Well, I disagree.  Strongly.  You may not LIKE what I do, but you are definitely smart enough.  

I am never sure why women feel it is in their best interest to abdicate their financial futures to someone else.  At least learn the basics so you know where your money is and what you are invested in.  When I sold mutual funds and life insurance, years ago, I had many women who wouldn't join in the conversation and their husbands were fine with that.  The only time a women chimed in was when a recommendation to increase their savings or investing was introduced.  If it meant cutting into the hear and now budget then the women I counseled were unwilling to agree.

My older sister is recently divorced.  I asked her some questions about their finances.  She told me that she never knew anything about her husband's bills or income.  They were together for 26 years!!  That's unbelievable to me.  I knew a bit about this situation years ago and tried to get her interested, but she never cared enough.  On the other hand, my mother, who is recently widowed, didn't have any of the bewilderment that some widows have when left all alone.  My mother and her husband shared a checking account. They both knew where the bill files and folders were located.  So when my step-father died, my mother didn't have the additional burden of trying to understand how "it all works."

All I ask of you, my girlfriends, is to have a rudimentary knowledge.  Do you get a yearly physical? Mammogram? Pap?  Do you get your teeth cleaned?  Then you should do the same for your financial health.  Is it a little work? Sure is. The first time you meet with someone it is a long and arduous process.  If it is not then change that someone.  You want someone who wants to know about your life in the present and where you would like to be in the future.

That said, let's discuss, the "who" you should see.  What you want to do, ie evaluate life insurance needs, discuss a budget, start investing, etc, will determine the credentials behind the name.  If you have friends or family that you trust ask for a referral.  Or contact the organizations of the fancy letters to get the name of someone in your area.  And once you meet, use your gut.  If you like the person, then stick with them.  If you feel they behave like a smarmy salesperson, then move on.  The person you choose to work with will get to know your financial details very intimately.  You need to be comfortable to open up about your finances.  And if they do their job correctly, you may even learn things about your personality you didn't know before.

If you need some guidance as to where to look for a reputable advisor just ask in the comments. I will point you to the organizations that can help you find someone.