Get financial planner to help with investments

Dear Readers: If you think you need help with planning investment decisions, you might want to find a financial planner to help you and your family. Here are some steps you can take to find good financial-planning services:
Get recommendations from relatives, friends and business associates.
Examine the licensing and educational credentials of the person, along with his or her professional experience and track record.
Make sure the financial planner will consider your opinions and needs.
Ask for a written analysis of your financial situation, and get a written summary of fees and services
Don't sign anything until you understand everything clearly.
Request that the planner document the reasons for decisions.
Think about your goals and priorities -- how much, how long and why you are investing. Think about how much risk you want to take, and let the planner know your "comfort level." It's your money! Heloise
Dear Heloise: I have a trash compactor in my home, and although it is a terrific appliance, compacted trash tends to smell awful after several compressions. To avoid these odors emanating from the compactor, I place several sections of newspaper on top of the garbage and then compact it. No more smell!
The added benefit is that the newspapers also prevent food and garbage buildup on the compressor plate, thus keeping it clean and free from buildup and odor. I now get more use out of one garbage sack. Robin Boren, via e-mail
We have a trash compactor, too, and I'm notorious for cramming as much as possible in there. I sprinkle a little baking soda in every so often to keep some of those odors away. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Recently, while traveling home to Texas, we were in an automobile accident in the state of Georgia. Though we were not hurt physically, it was a very long, emotional day at the truck body shop, and we were drained.
I got a call from a dear friend who is also the worship pastor at our church. He had already secured and paid for a reservation at a hotel in the town where we were detained because of the accident. All we had to do was check in to get some much-needed sleep for the night. Joann Richards from Texas
Dear Heloise: Instead of saving and storing all of those promotional cosmetic and tote bags I receive with a purchase, I use them as gift bags, in lieu of store-bought paper bags. It's a different and useful way of wrapping. My friends seem to like them as much as the gift inside! Lynne, Omaha, Neb.
Dear Heloise: My daughter recently went through the loss of her CD collection to a car break-in. Now, she burns all of her collection onto the computer and only puts CD copies in her car -- no more tears or money lost. Diane, Lancaster, Calif.
King Features Syndicate