With all the different financial planners, advisors, and services available today, finding and choosing a trusted professional who can help you meet your financial goals can be confusing.

If you’re looking for broad-based financial advice, consider hiring a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, or CFP®, which is considered the highest standard in the industry. CFPs must act as fiduciaries, putting their client’s best interest above their own. They are legally obligated to make investment decisions that are your best interest, not their own.

To get the CFP credential, one must have a college degree and be educated in a wide range of personal finance subjects, pass a rigorous certification exam, have three years of professional experience, meet continuing education requirements and abide by a code of ethics.

CFPs are taught to look at the big picture view of your finances, talking you through your goals, as well as advising you on the details of your financial life.

CFPs sometimes work with a financial firm called a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), which is the case here at Azzad. Azzad is a Registered Investment Advisor with a CFP on staff. To learn more about Azzad or any other RIA, head over to investor.gov where you can search a firm’s name and get key information.

Also, watch out for other financial advising titles, designations, and certifications out there like the Certified Financial Consultant (CFC) or the Wealth Management Specialist (WMS). Many of these require no more than a few courses at a seminar or online, which means they may not be worth that much. To research the different certifications or designations, visit FINRA.org/investors. Click on “Tools & Calculators” and then “Professional Designations.”