Kewho Min, a certified accountant, deals with numbers and money on a daily basis. But he recognizes that many people are still mystified by the idea of number crunching for themselves. So how do you know if you should call on a professional financial advisor to help? Here are a few things to consider.

1. DO YOU NEED A
FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
B Y K E W H O M I N
K E W H O M I N . C O M

2. YOU'RENOTSAVINGENOUGHMONEY—
ORYOUDON'TKNOWKNOW
HOWMUCHYOU'RESAVING
When it comes to saving, you won't
know what "enough" is unless you
have a financial plan (a budget, a
forecast for your financial future,
and general guidelines to follow to
achieve your goals). You can set
these up by yourself using various
DIY tools on the internet, but if
you've tried and failed to maintain a
grasp on your savings
contributions, then it might be time
to hire a professional to help.

3. YOU DON'T HAVE
A LEGACY PLAN
While many advisors don't write wills, trusts, and
other legal documents that outline what to do
with your assets after your death, they can steer
you in the right direction. You're never too young
for estate planning, even if you don't think you
have much of an estate to speak of.

4. YOU WANT TO GET
SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR
FINANCIAL FUTURE
If you've succeeded at saving a cushy
emergency fund (that amounts to three-to-six
months of living expenses) and you can now
afford hiring a financial advisor’s fee without
dipping into the fund (or going into debt), then
you might be a candidate for professional
financial planning for reaching your other
financial goals and making sound money
decisions and investments.

5. YOU'RE PREPARING TO
MAKE A BIG PURCHASE
—AND YOU WANT A THIRD-
PARTY OPINION
The financial landscape is intricate and
constantly changing, no matter if you're talking
about buying a car or a house or underwriting a
costly tuition. A professional planner likely has
experience that can assist you when it comes
not only to crunching the numbers but also
navigating the nuances of a particular purchase
or investment.

6. YOUGENERALLY
FEELCLUELESS
ABOUTMONEY
Sometimes you just need help
in the form of a real-live person
who knows your situation and
has the expertise to talk you
through your necessary action
steps. Not everyone is a DIY-er
when it comes to money. And
that's okay.

7. THISPRESENTATIONWASADAPTEDFROMTHEFOLLOWING:
US News' "5 Signs You Need a
Financial Advisor" by Kelly
Campbell http://goo.gl/tRntll
Money Under 30's "When Is It
Time To Hire A Financial
Advisor?" by David Weliver
http://goo.gl/ON0gaN