Add a financial professional to your team

Buying a home, planning for retirement or choosing a college savings plan can feel overwhelming. A financial professional can help you make the right investment choices for you and your family.

You're not alone

Making the decision to work with a financial professional doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s as simple as understanding what one can do for you, finding the right professional and taking that first step to make contact.

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What can a financial professional do for you?

There are many benefits to working with a professional, who can help you with all the aspects of your financial plan.

See the big picture

A financial professional will work with you to create a comprehensive financial plan that considers all of your goals — whether it’s college education, a family vacation or retirement. When it comes to budgeting, saving or investing, a professional has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

Choose the right investments

If you’re shopping around for a 529 education savings plan, for instance, you’ll find that most states offer at least one.

A financial professional can help you sort through your options and pick the best plan for your family. Some may have already gone through the process with their own families.

To get a jump-start on your own 529 savings plan, try our college calculator. Use it to learn about college costs and calculate your contributions. Then download a report of your results and share with your new financial professional.

Work together

Hiring a financial professional doesn’t mean giving up control. The more you know about your investments, the more confident you’ll be about making adjustments, handling market shifts and asking the right questions.

Keep your goals on track

Having a financial plan in place means you don’t have to start from scratch every time you need to make a decision. You can work with a financial professional to develop a solid plan based on your own timeline and risk tolerance.

Once you know your objectives, you won’t have to sweat the small stuff. Leave it to a professional who knows how to monitor all the aspects of your master plan.

Find your financial "goal-mate"

Working with a financial professional means developing a business and personal relationship that may last for years.

Know yourself

Think about your current financial concerns and your future goals. What money issues cause you to worry? Do you have aging parents or other responsibilities? Is college savings a top priority? What do you dream of doing when your kids have left the nest?

Research how financial professionals get paid

Some earn a commission on the investments they offer. Others charge an hourly rate or collect a small percentage of your assets being managed. There is a range of ways financial professionals are compensated, so ask potential candidates how they are paid, and be sure you’re comfortable with it.

Decide how to communicate

Would you like to meet in person, online, by phone or all of the above? Do you prefer email or paper? Is it important to you to work with someone who’s nearby, or are you okay with a long-distance relationship? Make sure you and your financial professional are in sync in terms of communication.

Start the search

It’s a good idea to interview more than one financial professional before deciding who could be your best teammate. Start with three or four candidates, and see if there’s someone who feels like a good fit.

Ask friends and family

Pay close attention when comparing notes with other parents about saving for college or planning for retirement. Ask about their experiences, and if you like what you hear, get a referral.

Do your research

FINRA’s BrokerCheck® is a good resource for learning the background of an individual or a firm.

Be selective

You’ll be sharing the financial details of your life. Ask yourself if the person you’ve spoken with is someone you’d feel comfortable talking to about a life or career change. If not, keep looking.

Start now

You can use our locator tool to find a qualified financial professional near you. Some may offer a free consultation, so you can make appointments with a few different professionals to see whom you prefer.

FIND A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL

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About CollegeAmerica®

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Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. Similar information is contained in the CollegeAmerica Program Description, which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. CollegeAmerica is distributed by American Funds Distributors, Inc., which will be renamed Capital Client Group, Inc. on or around July 1, 2024, and sold through unaffiliated intermediaries.
Depending on your state of residence, there may be an in-state plan that provides state tax and other state benefits, such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors, not available through CollegeAmerica. Before investing in any state's 529 plan, investors should consult a tax advisor. CollegeAmerica is a nationwide plan sponsored by Virginia529. 
This material does not constitute legal or tax advice. Investors should consult with their legal or tax advisors.
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This content, developed by Capital Group, home of American Funds, should not be used as a primary basis for investment decisions and is not intended to serve as impartial investment or fiduciary advice.