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 Question:
 
 I'm 70 years old and have not set aside any funds for emergencies or retirement. Who should someone in my situation seek guidance from? Are there steps I can take?


 
 Answer:
 
 Many certified financial planners and other experts in finance typically assist individuals who possess significant wealth, which might make it challenging for others seeking guidance. However, there’s an upside: numerous options allow folks to obtain high-quality, free (you heard correctly) or highly affordable financial counsel.


 
 Encountering problems with your current financial advisor or searching for a new one? Send your queries or issues via email.
 picks@
 .
 

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 Think of a financial advisor who volunteers their services for free.
 
 Certain advisors provide their services free of charge to individuals possessing minimal resources. If you're looking for a financial advisor who operates under a pro bono arrangement, consider visiting the XY Planning Network’s Find an Advisor platform where you can look up "pro bono." Additional avenues consist of checking out The Financial Planning Association, exploring the Foundation for Financial Planning’s Pro Bono Planner Match website, as well as examining initiatives offered through the CFP Board’s Pro Bono Program.
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 Consult with a certified financial advisor.
 
 You can locate listings for AFCs on the website.
 AFCPE website
 According to certified financial planner Andrea Clark from The Table Financial Planning, AFCs possess both counseling and coaching certifications. These qualifications enable them to help clients make intricate financial choices by providing essential education, information, tools, and resources—regardless of an individual's past financial situation or present monetary standing. Additionally, these professionals act as fiduciaries, ensuring they prioritize your welfare over their own interests. Fees for services provided by AFCs may vary; they often charge anywhere from $25 to $250 per hour based on an hourly rate model.
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 Look locally.
 
 "You may want to contact your nearby community action agency—nonprofits focused on promoting self-reliance, often serving those with lower incomes—as they frequently offer free financial advisory services. Additionally, you could explore educational sessions provided at your local library that discuss managing cash flow and accessing resources during retirement," according to Clark.
 Financial Empowerment Centers
 (FECs) can be found in multiple urban areas as well. "The FECs provide individualized financial advice free of charge and assist with planning budgets, managing debts, and establishing financial objectives," explains Mark Struthers, a certified financial planner from Sona Wealth Advisors.
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 Check these other places.
 
 Consumers have additional avenues available to them, as detailed below.
 this
 as outlined in the guide, along with this
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 Be aware that there are steps you can take on your own to address your circumstances. "It's important to avoid accumulating credit card debt and establish an emergency fund, even if it covers just one month of necessary expenditures. As much as possible, seek employment, whether full-time or part-time, to boost your Social Security benefits. Additionally, ask the advisor handling your finances to clarify whether extra earnings could lead to partial taxation of your Social Security payments, ensuring you understand how this impacts your overall figures," advises certified financial planner Alonso Rodriguez Segarra at Advise Financial.
 
 
 If part-time positions appeal to you, websites such as FlexJobs, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and the AARP’s Job Board offer numerous job listings with various openings. These platforms let you narrow down options based on particular interests or locations within your ZIP code, plus many roles allow for fully remote working, so you have the flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere.
 
 
 Given your current stage of life without any savings or retirement accounts, it's crucial to look into every possible avenue. As certified financial planner Ryan Haiss from Flynn Zito Capital Management points out, "Engaging with a professional advisor might assist you in assessing various income streams, like optimizing your Social Security earnings and investigating choices should you have equity tied up in your main home."
 
 
 
 Encountering problems with your current financial advisor or searching for a new one? Send your queries or issues via email.
 picks@
 .
 
 
 
 
 By sending your questions via email to The Advisor, you consent to having them published anonymously on this platform; they might also be featured anonymously across various other media and channels.
 
 
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What's Next for a 70-Year-Old With No Emergency or Retirement Savings?

Unknown financial advice, financial advisors, financial planning, financial services, personal finance

Question: I'm 70 years old and have not set aside any funds for emergencies or retirement. Who should someone in my situation seek guidance from? Are there steps I can take? Answer: Man…