Before making financial or investment decisions, U.S. News recommends that you contact an investment advisor, or tax or legal professional.
If you need something more personal and long-lasting, you could hire a financial planner or personal advisor. You don't have to be loaded for either option--many counseling and budgeting services are available for free, or at very low cost.
Organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) provide free and low-cost services like credit counseling and debt management. Other places, like credit unions, universities and local libraries, often provide free resources for their communities.
Finding people who can financially help often involves contacting family and friends, exploring community resources, or looking for local non-profits and charitable organizations. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe can also connect you with people willing to provide financial assistance.
Industry Pro-Bono Groups
For example, the Financial Planning Association and National Association of Personal Financial Advisors offer free services through their networks of certified financial planners.
Your local 211 agency has the most up-to-date information about local assistance that may be available to you. If you prefer to talk to someone, you can always call 211 to get connected to a local specialist. Simply call 211 from a cell phone or landline to speak with a live, highly trained service professional.
If you need to borrow money fast, you can apply to your local credit union to find out what sort of loans and interest rates are available. Our guide Borrowing from a credit union can help you find out how it works and how to find one.
A financial advisor is an investment professional who can assist you in creating and implementing a personalized plan to pursue your financial goals, from college planning to retirement and more.
The IRS may agree that you have a financial hardship (economic hardship) if you can show that you cannot pay or can barely pay your basic living expenses. For the IRS to determine you are in a hardship situation, the IRS will use its collection financial standards to determine allowable basic living expenses.
The 30-day savings rule is a simple strategy to cut down on overspending. It works like this: When you're tempted to make an impulse purchase, you commit to waiting 30 days before going through with it. Of course, at the end of those 30 days, you may decide that you do, in fact, want to make the purchase.
If you're looking for financial guidance you could contact a free, impartial organisation that specialises in financial guidance. For example, you can get guidance about money on the Money Helper website. On this page you can find information about: types of financial adviser.
Consider financial counseling.
Financial counselors specialize in helping people with low incomes get their finances in order. These counselors are Certified Financial Planners who partner with nonprofits and other organizations to offer their services free of charge.
Charles Schwab offers one of the best online brokerage platforms, but you can also find financial advisor solutions that meet your needs. Schwab financial consultants are available for free to clients with $500,000 in assets, and they can help you build a financial plan and sift through different investment options.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
States receive federal funding to run their own TANF programs. You can apply for help at your local TANF office. To learn about and find TANF services where you live, select your state or territory and then select the “Financial Assistance for Families” page.
GoFundMe is a trusted place to ask for financial help
Whether you need help with bills, funeral expenses, or student loan debt, crowdfunding can be a lifeline. GoFundMe offers simple pricing and powerful fundraising.
National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that works with borrowers who are significantly behind on payments. This company negotiates with major credit card issuers and banks to reduce most types of unsecured debt, including: Credit cards. Personal loans.
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have a lifetime giving of $42.5 billion, with a giving focus on health and poverty alleviation. They continue to co-chair the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation despite their 2021 divorce, Forbes noted. Bill has a net worth of 125 billion, and Melinda's net worth is $10.6 billion.
Get Professional Financial Advice or Support
One that we know is the Foundation for Financial Planning. You can reach out to your personal bank for help as well. Many banks offer free counseling and financial advice; they're a good resource because it's in their best interest to help you.