Financial counselors are personal finance experts who can help you improve your financial health and stability. Unlike most types of financial advisors, financial counselors are trained to help clients navigate topics that more commonly impact people who have experienced financial abuse.
Financial counselors can assist you with:
- Setting and achieving financial goals
- Increasing your savings
- Building your credit
- Creating a spending plan
- Reducing your debt
- Handling financial crises
- Navigating available public benefits
- Building your financial acumen
- Understanding if you’re eligible for tax credits
Find a counselor in your area
Financial counselors work for all kinds of organizations including the military, banks, universities, nonprofit organizations, and private practices. Many financial counselors are able to offer their services for free thanks to the organization they work for, while others may charge an hourly or monthly fee.
You may be able to access financial counseling through a past or present employer, school, or nonprofit you’re affiliated with. You can also access financial counseling through a local community development credit union (CDCU). CDCUs specialize in serving communities and populations with limited access to safe financial services. Services they offer include:
- Financial education and counseling
- Fair loans even if you have imperfect or no credit
- Services for eliminating predatory debt, gaining control of your finances, and attaining financial well-being
Many CDCUs are members of a collective called Inclusiv, which helps communities achieve financial independence through credit unions. To find a CDCU with free financial counseling in your area, check out Inclusiv’s interactive map of CDCUs.
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