Dear Carrie, While I've always managed my own money, it's getting harder for me to stay on top of everything. I'm considering seeking out professional advice, but I feel wary. Any tips on what/who to look for? —A Reader

Dear Reader, Financial advice can come in a lot of forms and be delivered by a variety of professionals. Just wading through what has been referred to as the "alphabet soup" of financial certifications is enough to confuse anyone. Add to that the news you may have read about the new, partially implemented Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule, and it's no wonder you're unsure.

Financial advice isn't all or nothing. You're in control and can choose the type and amount you want, ranging from high-tech automated portfolio advice to a comprehensive and in-depth, personalized relationship with an advisor or team of professionals.

—Automated investment advice. Brand new investors may want to start here. Harnessing the power of technology, a number of online services will build a well-diversified portfolio based on your stated goals. This type of service may rebalance your portfolio automatically, and for a small additional fee may also provide access to a financial advisor.

—One-time or periodic consultation. If you feel you only need periodic guidance to keep your portfolio on track, another approach can be to simply check in with an advisor now and then. A consultation would give you the opportunity to discuss big-picture strategy as well as particular investments. For a little more help, you could arrange to meet with an advisor on a regular basis. Either way, the advisor might make recommendations but you'd make the decisions and might even handle the transactions.

—Ongoing portfolio management. In this arrangement, you'd work with an advisor to come up with a long-term investment strategy. With your approval, your advisor would manage your accounts for you, making your life simpler by handling the transactions. However, you'd still be very much involved in the decisions.

—Complete financial plan. This typically includes all aspects of your financial picture — investments, retirement planning, estate planning, taxes and insurance — and makes sure that all the parts are working together to support your goals. It will take a fair amount of time and effort to gather all the necessary information and communicate your long- and short-term goals, but in my mind, almost everyone can benefit from having this type of holistic perspective and ongoing relationship that will evolve over time.

There are a wide variety of financial credentials, representing an equally wide variety of education, experience and regulatory oversight.

A broker typically is employed by a broker-dealer and is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to buy and sell securities on your behalf. A broker can help you evaluate your portfolio, make buy and sell recommendations, and execute trades.

In contrast, an investment advisor, also known as a registered investment advisor or RIA, is registered with either the Securities and Exchange Commission or a state securities regulator specifically to provide financial advice and/or investment management, which can include buying and selling securities. A distinction is that RIAs are held to a fiduciary standard, which means they're required to act in your best interest at all times, while brokers are held to a different and less stringent suitability standard, meaning recommendations must simply be appropriate to your needs.

Another option is to work with a Certified Financial Planner, who is required to complete extensive training and continuing education. This type of advisor can help you with big picture planning as well as with portfolio management and is also held to a fiduciary standard.

The DOL Fiduciary Rule I mentioned earlier is designed to expand the fiduciary standard to include retirement accounts and extends the fiduciary responsibility to brokers as well advisors who are already held to this standard. While this new rule is still being debated, it really is important for individual investors to make certain they question any potential broker or advisor about whether or not they are held to that fiduciary standard.

Finding the right advisor is about asking the right questions. Arrange for an initial consultation and ask about education, time in the business, number of clients, types of services and amount of money under management. Find out about their investing philosophy and preferred types of investments. And get very specific about how you will be charged and why.

Plus, don't overlook the importance of a good rapport. If you expect to have a long-term relationship, you want to be comfortable personally as well as professionally.

Make sure you understand the thinking behind any recommendations and advice. And remember, it's your money; the final decisions are ultimately yours.

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm), is president of Charles Schwab Foundation and author of The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty, available in bookstores nationwide. Read more at http://schwab.com/book. You can e-mail Carrie at [email protected]. Information on this website is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner or investment manager. To find out more about Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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