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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Summary

The term "financial planner" has no legal definition. Just about anyone can call him or herself a "financial planner" or "financial advisor." Some of the people who call themselves "financial planners" are really nothing more than financial product salespeople trying to earn commissions. They may not have your best interest at heart. Even if they do care about you, they are not likely to have sufficient background and training to coordinate all aspects of your financial life.

At the other extreme, a comprehensive financial planner can help advise with all aspects of your current and future financial life, including advice about picking an investment strategy and how to best meet your financial goals.

Understanding what a "real" financial planner does and what the different combinations of letters that may follow their names means, will help you find a financial planner who meets your needs.

When choosing a financial planner,  take advantage of the free consultation most planners offer and vet the planner to see if he or she is top grade, but also works for your particular situation and needs.  

If you use a financial planner it helps to understand your financial situation and to do your own research to identify the options available to you. Research can make you a more informed consumer. (Just as knowing about your medical condition makes you a better consumer of medical care).

For additional information, see:

NOTE: Our website provides personalized information to help address many of the financial problems your condition raises. Consider looking at the general category Finances, for particular topics in the above pull down list, or obtaining an Individual Action Plan which provides information tailored to your particular situation. A financial planner can be helpful if you require more personal attention than we can provide. A financial planner can also save you time, energy and money.

Financial Planners: Defined

Financial planners help people meet their financial goals.

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Financial Planners: Defined

Do I Need A Financial Planner?

Everyone with a serious diagnosis can benefit from financial planning. Whether or not you need the services of a planner is a question of your experience, needs, physical and mental ability.

If you have the inclination and are willing to spend the time and energy, you can do your own financial planning utilizing the interactive charts and information on this website.

If you develop a plan on your ownconsider using a financial planner to get a professional opinion about your plan. You could also use a financial planner just to motivate you to do the things you already know you should do -- much as people use personal trainers not so much for their fitness expertise as for their motivation.

The need for a financial planner does not necessarily depend on the amount of money you have. While many planners specialize in investment management, a financial planner can also help you with many other issues, such as getting the most out of your health insurance, and replacing income that you lose if you go on disability.

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How To Prepare For A Meeting With A Financial Planner

It is advisable to prepare for a meeting with your planner. This will help make your initial meeting more productive and will probably reduce the amount of time (and, if your planner is getting paid by the hour, money) you spend with the planner.

Before meeting with a planner, it will help to:

  • Think about your goals. See Your Financial Goals.
  • Organize your papers and important documents. See Getting Organized.
  • Take a Financial Snapshot. See Your Net Worth and Your Cash Flow.
  • Prepare your questions. If it helps, Survivorship A to Z provides a Prioritizer which permits you to keep track of your questions. Before the meeting you can order your questions in priority by pushing a button. See: Prioritizer.

If you don't feel like doing this before meeting with a planner, that's OK. Planners are trained to collect the information they need to best assist you.