Oftentimes in the financial arena you’ll run into people who think they’ve really got things figured out. They have very strong opinions about how finances should be handled and they know the best way to tackle debt, build an emergency fund, and invest for the best gains. They can quote you the current interest rates and tell you the differences between the various retirement plans as well as many of the associated facts. But what makes someone an authority on the subject or at least worth listening to?

A Few Options

You could go talk to a Certified Financial Planner who will help you plan out your finances and structure some sort of investment routine. It’s interesting to note, however, that this financial planner is working a normal 9 to 5 job just like you albeit providing financial services instead of whatever it is you do. Is this the person that you want to rely on for sound financial advice? Possibly, but I’m not to say.

You could also read many of the blogs out there that discuss personal finance and the many related topics. Most of the time you don’t really know who these people are, and many of them openly display an average, or even negative, net worth. Most of these blogs are a way for someone to track their own financial progress and learn what they can along the way, and they’ll usually be the first to tell you that they aren’t there to provide official financial and investment advice.

You could also go to the library and check out any number of books on the subject. Just because someone has published a book, however, doesn’t necessarily make them an authority on the subject. You don’t need to look any further than Suze Orman, David Bach, and Robert Kiyosaki to not only see conflicting advice, but controversy among bloggers about what they have to say. Are these the people you want to look to for financial advice then?

My Thoughts and Concerns

I’m not trying to tear anyone down with this post, but many people have the question of where to go to get good advice about their finances. And I am mostly concerned with the people that think they have everything figured out and who say that their way is the best way to handle your finances. The reason I’m concerned about these type of people is because I have never met anyone who knows everything there is to know about personal finance, business, and investing. In fact, most of the highly successful people that I’ve heard of, met, or know personally are extremely aware of how much they still don’t know. The more they learn, the more they realize they need to learn. They are usually willing, however, to share their personal experiences and what has worked for them in an effort to guide someone in the right direction rather than showing/telling someone exactly how things should be done.

As for this blog, I try to share things that I’ve learned through my own experience as well as through the experience of others. For the time being I’ve chosen not to display a net worth or any other personal specifics mostly out of a concern/desire for privacy. I do hope that you find the information valuable, but it’s by no means the be all and end all since I’m continually learning as well. I also enjoy comments and counter viewpoints because I think there’s much to be learned that way.

Ultimately though, you are responsible for the state of your finances. As you’ve probably heard before, no one cares as much about your money as you do. Try to learn as much as you can yourself about how to handle your money. You might do this by talking with a financial planner or by reading various financial blogs and websites, hopefully this one at least. In the end, you have to decide who is worth listening to and who’s advice you’re going to take, I just caution you against those who think they’ve already got everything figured out.

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