Planners Wanted ASAP

Needed: 50,000 new financial planners, and in a hurry. Boomers are reaching pre-retirement and retirement age, and, often, they're clueless about what to do with their money now. They're eager for help with decisions that could make or break their lives: Can I afford to retire? Should I take a pension or a lump sum? What's a suitable investment? How do I make my nest egg last? There aren't enough people trained to answer those questions well, says Deena Katz, associate professor in the Personal Financial Planning department of Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

As always, the issue is quality, and the financial sharks are circling. "That keeps me up at night," says Sheryl Garrett, founder of Garrett Planning Network, an association of nearly 300 independent planners. "There are so many people drooling over all the money that's going to be coming out of retirement plans."

Last year, the National Association of Securities Dealers fined Citigroup Global Markets $3 million and ordered $12.2 million in restitution to more than 200 former employees of BellSouth. A team of Citibank brokers had persuaded the workers to retire early, cash out their pensions and 401(k)s and wheel the money into investments. The brokers claimed that the retirees could earn 12 percent a year even in "ugly" times, withdraw 9 percent and live on the money. Needless to say, it didn't work. Citigroup settled, without admitting or denying the charges.

If you're looking for advice, how do you avoid playing minnow to the sharks? Start by seeking the help of a financial planner. Unlike investment advisers, planners take a holistic view of your situation—your personal needs and goals, how much you can afford to spend, whether you need long-term care insurance and ways of conserving capital.

The credible planners will have at least one of three designations on their business cards: Certified Financial Planner (CFP, the best-known credential), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC, for planners who use insurance to reach financial goals) or Personal Financial Specialists (PFS, held by certified public accountants). All three will have taken serious courses and passed difficult exams.

Winnow down the planners to those who practice as "fee only." That means they sell no products and take no commissions. You pay for advice by the hour (at rates of $150 to $350), by the project ($2,000 to $6,000 for a stand-alone financial plan) or, if they manage your money, a fixed percentage of your portfolio (typically 1 percent—a fee that covers planning, too).