According to a recent article on SmartMoney.com called “Life Plan: The Right Advice Now,” there are a lot of financial advisors offering comprehensive planning advice.

"The nation's 175,000 financial advisers are increasingly focusing on comprehensive planning -- helping clients with taxes, college savings, or even comparison-shopping for a car," the article says.

But before you start trusting somebody with all of your personal financial information, make sure the person you're dealing with is trustworthy.

Here are a few questions you might want to ask:

• If this financial adviser is intending to advise on wills, insurance protection, and taxes, among other things, ask about their certification. That represents the broadest financial education is represented by the three letters CFP(R). These certificate holders have at least three years of experience and must pass a daunting board of examination.

• Ask how they will be paid and ask to see a list of all of their past compensations.

• Ask who their clients typically are. If, for instance, you are a physician does the adviser work with other physicians? Does the adviser work with other small business people? Does the adviser know his or her way around option holders?

• Also, ask them for a professional referral. Find out what their reputation is within the community.

• Finally, fiduciary is a standard that calls for placing the best interest of the client first. Will they sign a statement that states they will practice as your fiduciary?