I highly recommend that you take the time to learn how to handle your own finances and do it yourself.  Today, there are a ton of resources at your disposal.  In addition to the greatest site on the Web, Finance Freak, there are great books and TV shows on the subject (they are listed at the bottom of my investing strategies page.) 

A good financial planner can certainly help, but a bad financial planner can, literally, ruin your life.

It's YOUR money, so it's your responsibility.  Do your homework.  But, if you want some direction, here are some tips...  Be aware that I'm more interested in steering you away from the creepies than anything else!

1)  First, and most importantly, just about anyone can CALL themselves a financial planner.  There usually aren't any rules about this.  ASK WHAT TRAINING THEY'VE HAS HAD!  If all their training is from the company they're  currently working with, they are probably just trained to sell whatever that company is pushing.  Seriously, the MAJORITY of "financial planners" I've met are really insurance salesmen (and women) -- see #3 below.

2)  Ask if they are "certified."  Again, they could still be a clueless creepy...  But, at least, you'd know that they've had some official hoops to jump through.

3)  If they work for an insurance company, RUN!  They will only try to sell you expensive whole insurance policies (they'll often call them "annuities") that are disguised as savings or investment plans.

Here's just a quick example:  I was at an office-warming party for a doctor friend of mine and I started talking to a woman there...  She introduced herself as a "financial planner," which always gets my "spidy senses" working.  I wondered how long I could keep her talking before the creepy started oozing out! 

She started in right away telling me how she really only works with "high end clients" -- those who are worth several million.  Then, she started telling me how I'd be surprised at how the rich invest.  So, I bit and said, "Oh, how do they invest?"  She said that they never really invest in the stock market or mutual funds, but that they put all their money into WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES!  Bwahahaha!  That is SO not true. 

As I smiled and nodded politely, I was thinking, "Creepy alert!  Run!"  I then asked her where she worked and where she got her training.  One guess...  She worked for a big insurance company and was trained by them.  She wasn't a "financial planner" at all -- she was an insurance salesperson!

4)  Ask what their opinion is on "whole life insurance."  If they like it, run.  If they bash it, that's a very good sign.

5)  If they work for a specific company that sells mutual funds, etc., be aware that they may only get paid if they sell you a product from that company.  In fact, they may only know about product from their own company.  Their services will be "free" to you (supposedly), because they will make a commission on what they get you to invest in!   And guess where that commission comes from?  YOUR MONEY!  They will sell you front load funds! Yep, right off the top of what you invest -- usually a whopping 5%.  So, you already start out in the hole.

6)  If what they tell you sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  If they said something like, "Oh, I have funds that are making 30%."  Big red flag.  Be careful.

7)  Listen to your gut.  Did something about the person, the advice, the office not sit right with you?  If it doesn't feel 100% right, keep looking.

8)  Make sure your financial planner listens to what you need and answers all your questions so that you really understand what's going on.  Never sign anything you don't feel good about or understand fully!

9)  Get a recommendation from someone you know and trust.  Be sure that the person has actually used the person's services and is not just a "friend" of theirs.

It's really best to hire an independent financial planner.  These are usually called "fee only" financial planners meaning that they don't work on commission.  That is, one who doesn't work for a big company that has products for them to push.   Of course, they're going to charge you a fee.  Hey, they have to make money somehow.  Always discuss fees before your first meeting, so you know what to expect.  And read Finance FREAK ahead of time so you know what the heck the person is talking about! 

Again, it's your money, so it's really your responsibility.  Do your homework, ask good questions and don't proceed with anything or anyone unless you feel really peaceful about it.