Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to finally get a handle on your finances? Are you ready to truly start planning for retirement, even if you just entered into the workforce? If so, you’re likely aware that the investment realm can be complicated at best and downright impenetrable at worst. For the uninitiated, it’s full of jargon, options, paperwork and opinions.

That’s why it helps to have an expert on your side. While advice from well-meaning family and friends can be a great starting point, to truly make decisions that are the best for your specific scenario, you’ll need to enlist the support of a financial mentor or coach. Educated on and experienced in handling all aspects of money matters, from retirement planning to college savings, they’ll be able to walk with you every step of the way, so you can be confident you’re making the right move.

Naturally, you want to team with someone who is a solid fit for you and your family. Yet, with so many local experts in your community, how can you be sure you’re working with the right one? Today, we’re sharing five traits to vet for as you research your options. A coach who exhibits all of these characteristics and more is one to put on your short list.

1. Robust Qualifications

Of course, a financial coach fresh out of college might have plenty of know-how and be an ideal partner in your journey. Yet, in most cases, it’s best to work with someone a little more seasoned, who has had time to learn as much as possible about the industry and earn some top-tier qualifications and certifications in the process.

Is their background in financial planning or is this a new career change? How long have they been practicing at their current firm? You should take the time to interview your candidates and learn as much as possible about their educational and professional history before moving forward. Some certifications to inquire about include Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and more.

2. An Appropriate Specialization

Often, a financial planner will be well-versed in all aspects of helping you save and invest your money, but he or she may specialize in a particular niche that you need to be aware of. For example, you might finally be on the other side of your student loans and finally debt-free. Now, you want to start saving for retirement or planning to put your school-age children through college.

In this scenario, teaming with a financial coach who specializes primarily in debt management isn’t the best fit. Instead, you’ll need a coach such as Dr Barton who is more involved with trading, short-term and long-term money management, portfolio building, investment and the like.

In the same vein, the opposite holds true. If you’re looking for concrete, actionable ways to pull yourself out of the throes of debt and get back on your feet, someone who wants to talk more about your stock market options or investment portfolio might be too ahead of the game. You should work first with a debt counselor to help you rectify the damage your current situation is doing to your credit score and eligibility to secure future loans. From there, you can begin to think about investment strategies.

3. Recommendations and Feedback

Once you have your list narrowed down, don’t be afraid to ask around to see if your friends, family members or colleagues have any recommendations or feedback. Understand that financial matters can be sensitive and that not everyone will welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue, but if you pose the question respectfully, you might gauge more opinions than you expect. You can also head to social media to gain even more feedback, using a tool such as Facebook Recommendations to ask your group of followers if they prefer a particular financial expert over another.

You can also use the internet to see what complete strangers are saying about the financial coaching services you’re looking to accrue. Especially if the coach works as a part of a greater company, you can often find its business listing under a resource such as Google My Business. Here, you can read reviews of any business and hear real customer testimonials. It’s often helpful to hear both positive and negative reviews before going with someone, then decide for yourself which way to go.

4. In-Person Interviews

As helpful as the internet is, nothing beats an in-person interview to help you gauge how well you mesh with a particular financial coach. Do your personalities align or do you constantly feel as though you’re working against each other? Do you feel comfortable enough in his or her presence to speak freely and openly about your financial issues? Remember, this isn’t the easiest subject in the world to talk about, and if you’re even the slightest bit unsure or uncomfortable explaining your situation, take that as a sign that it’s time to look elsewhere.

This is a field in which, to see change and recognize success, you have to have clear lines of communication open at all time. Be sure that the coach you hire is one you can open up to, share financial details with, and respectfully listen to feedback. Even the most highly-recommended expert in the city might not be the best fit if you can’t get your personalities on the same page.

5. The Pay Structure

Before agreeing to work with a financial coach, make sure that you’re fully aware of precisely how he or she is being paid. Is it on a monthly basis? If so, you’re likely receiving advice, help and guidance on your financial affairs based on your individual case. Be wary of any other pricing structures you come across and make sure you read all of the fine print before signing anything. For instance, one coach might advertise no monthly fees but in the meantime, you’re approached every day to buy a particular product or use certain software. In this case, the coach might be working purely off of commission. Understand how payment works before you even make your selection to avoid any confusion or headache down the road.

Finding the right financial coach or planner is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make concerning your monetary health. If you can work with the correct resources, you’ll find that even the direst, complicated, or seemingly hopeless financial situation can be turned around. As you do your research, don’t be afraid to ask questions, take your time and ask around before making your decision. This isn’t something to rush into, but a time to exercise prudence and caution -- two skills that you’ll need as you seek to become financially savvy.