But the best adviser for your friend or brother-in-law isn’t necessarily the best adviser for you, says Greg Ward, director of a think tank at Financial Finesse, which works with employers to educate workers on finances: “It depends on your needs. If you want help investing a sum you’ve inherited, the best adviser might be different than if you want a retirement income plan or have questions about long-term care.” Take these steps to zero in on a good match.

Consider what kind of advice you’re looking for, because that will lead you to the category of adviser to seek out. Are you simply looking for someone to handle your investments—to tell you what stocks, bonds or funds to buy? In that case, you might look for a broker, also known as a registered representative, who focuses on buying and selling those investments and other securities on your behalf. Another option is what’s known as a registered investment adviser (RIA), who might offer, along with investment advice, broader financial advice covering subjects like taxes, budgeting and estate planning.

Those two types overlap with each other—some advisers are both brokers and RIAs—and also overlap with another type of professional: a financial planner. Those planners, who may or may not offer investing advice, can guide you in areas such as creating a budget, determining your insurance needs, and saving for retirement and other long-term goals. And other professionals might have a more specific focus—say, counseling you if you’re struggling with debt.

Along with checking out one of the major brokerage firms or banks, you can look for advisers and planners through industry trade groups like the Financial Planning Association (plannersearch.org) and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (napfa.org). Each has a member directory that you can search by geographic area and particular specialty. And don’t rule out word of mouth from people you trust, as long as those advisers have the expertise you need.

To help screen names, look for advisers who have earned designations through coursework, exams and ongoing education. One of the most common for pros who offer broad financial advice is the Certified Financial Planner (CFP); a directory of advisers who have earned that designation is at letsmakeaplan.org. Other titles include Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Certified Public Accountant/Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFS). Beyond those are specialty designations that indicate an adviser’s deeper dive into a particular area, such as planning for someone with special needs or advising someone going through a divorce. Not all of these specialty designations require rigorous study, so don’t assume an alphabet soup after a pro’s name is proof of financial wizardry.

Advisers get paid for their services in a variety of ways. A broker might charge commissions on transactions or a percentage of assets in an account. “Fee-based” advisers charge a percentage of assets but may also receive income from other sources, like a sales commission from the company whose annuity you buy. Other advisers are “fee-only”; their compensation comes only from you, and not from any third party. Many fee-only advisers cater to clients who want ongoing financial guidance, typically for an annual charge of 0.5 percent to 2 percent of the assets they manage. Some advisers will charge a flat fee for their work on a specific problem you bring them. For people who want onetime or occasional help, some advisers, such as those affiliated with the XY Planning Network (xyplanningnetwork.com), may charge by the hour—say, $200 to $400. Any of these arrangements can be appropriate if they match your needs. For minimizing conflicted investing advice, a fee-only setup may be best. But for occasional trades, a commission could be the least expensive way to go.

If these options are unaffordable, you may have some free alternatives. Do you have a 401(k) or 403(b) plan through your workplace? Check with your human resources department to see whether you have access to free investment guidance through your retirement plan provider. FEC Public, a nonprofit that works with community organizations and local governments, offers free advisory services to help with basic issues such as budgeting, debt negotiation and establishing a savings plan; to see if there is an office near you, go to fecpublic.org/find-fec. Some members of the Financial Planning Association offer pro bono help through local chapters. (For chapter contact information, visit onefpa.org and click on Networking, then Chapters.) For free or low-cost debt counseling, consider the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (nfcc.org) or the Financial Counseling Association of America (fcaa.org).

A good advisory relationship rests on trust and communication, which are best assessed with a face-to-face meeting, either by video or in person, Ward says. So talk to two or three advisers who feel right for you. “This is when you find out about the abstract stuff, like personality, connection and your gut feeling, which is important,” he says. When you explain your financial challenges or goals—and, yes, you should be fully open about your situation—ask what kinds of solutions they’ve employed in similar circumstances. During your conversation, pose a couple of questions about a product or concept. “This will help you understand if they are willing to take time and can explain things clearly. If you get a whiff of impatience or arrogance, that’s not a good sign,” Ward says.

Even if an adviser seems trustworthy, be sure to do a background check. You can look up an RIA’s record on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (adviserinfo.sec.gov). That record will detail any previous trouble with securities regulators. Brokers are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. You can search a broker’s name in FINRA’s database (brokercheck.finra.org) to find any violations. You can check a CFP’s background on the CFP Board’s website to ensure an adviser is eligible for the designation.

Finally, you might assume all advisers are required to put your interests before their own and disclose any conflicts of interest—in other words, to act as fiduciaries. That’s not the case. Only RIAs, who are registered with the SEC or their state, are obligated by law to act as fiduciaries when working on investments. If you want assurance you’re getting conflict-free advice, ask advisers if they are committed to the fiduciary standard. Harold Evensky, founder of Evensky & Katz/Foldes Financial Wealth Management in Coral Gables, Florida, suggests getting assurance in writing. “If they won’t sign, that may be a sign you should walk away,” he says.