Handling your own investments on a DIY platform has become increasingly common. While that can cover your basic investment needs, the trick is knowing when to seek professional help.<\/p>\n
For some of Wendy Brookhouse\u2019s clients who were once self-investors, the need for more guidance brought them to consider a financial planner. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey had done what they knew, but they didn\u2019t know what they didn\u2019t know,\u201d said Brookhouse, a certified financial planner and founder of Halifax-based Black Star Wealth. \u201cThat was a point when they called me.\u201d <\/p>\n
Social media forums and artificial intelligence chatbots likely don\u2019t have all the answers you\u2019re looking for in your financial journey. That\u2019s where a finance professional could come into play. But the question is, where do you start? Experts say it depends on your needs and how complex your situation is.<\/p>\n
First, make sure you\u2019re looking for a legit financial adviser, said Kelley Keehn, financial educator and founder of Money Wise Institute.<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re looking for a certified financial planner, check the FP Canada website to see if they\u2019re in good standing and that they\u2019re qualified, she said. A certified financial planner would look at all spokes of your financial wheel, such as planning, debt repayment, insurance and retirement. <\/p>\n
Keehn said it\u2019s important to check their licenses and designations next.<\/p>\n
Brookhouse said it may be an easier route to go to the bank and talk to their advisers or explore independent advisers online \u2014 and check their vibe.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo look at the social media presence. How are they positioning themselves online? And is it the kind of place you want to work with?\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Knowing what you\u2019re looking for from a professional can also steer you in the right direction.<\/p>\n
For instance, wanting to learn how to best handle an incoming inheritance or starting a new career that would bring in more money, Brookhouse said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to some of those things, it\u2019s sometimes helpful to have a second set of eyes on them that doesn\u2019t have all the baggage you might have around money,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Other times, it could be for a more holistic plan, or even a hybrid \u2014 when some parts are self-managed, while others are cared for by the professional, she said. <\/p>\n
Finding the right professional can be a little like dating. Maybe the first one isn\u2019t your forever-after.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might have to interview three financial people just to know you need a planner, or to know you need a specific niche,\u201d such as an insurance expert or qualified associate financial planner, Keehn said. \u201cThen, you may have to interview three more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brookhouse said to pay attention to the questions the adviser asks you. That could give you insight into their approach and how they may handle certain situations. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre they using positive language, are they talking about the transformations they are making in their clients\u2019 lives, are they relating to your situation?\u201d she asked. <\/p>\n
And then, you must come armed with some of your own questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would ask any financial professional, \u2018What are your biases?\u2019\u201d Keehn said. \u201cThey might be shocked by that question (but) everyone\u2019s biased.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keehn said biases can show up in recommendations. For instance, if a professional sells stocks and bonds, they may not recommend real estate investments based on their experience. <\/p>\n
Ask about what kind of clients they work with \u2014 are they families, small businesses, government employees or freelancers? That would give you a sense of the nuanced cash flow the professional may be handling.<\/p>\n
Brookhouse suggested inquiring about the adviser\u2019s process. How many times a year will you meet, if you\u2019d be meeting with the same adviser or someone else from the firm? And it\u2019s important to ask how they get paid.<\/p>\n
Advisers and financial professionals have various fee structures, whether it\u2019s an upfront fee, practising as a fee-only adviser or charging a fee based on managed assets.<\/p>\n
How you feel is also important.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you leave confused, if you leave (thinking) you were made to feel stupid, if you leave with less clarity than you came in, that person is not for you,\u201d Keehn said.<\/p>\n
You may get that ick right away or a year later, and it\u2019s OK to walk away then, too, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t think just because you\u2019ve got someone that you have to stay with them,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can get another professional down the line if it just doesn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Handling your own investments on a DIY platform has become increasingly common. While that can cover your basic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":636251,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[45,49,48,133,131,132,11183],"class_list":["post-636250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-personal-finance","tag-business","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-finance","tag-personal-finance","tag-personalfinance","tag-your-money"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=636250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/636251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=636250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=636250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=636250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}