Here is a checklist of what to look for when choosing your Financial Planning 'partner':

Registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC):
Your Financial Planner should be an authorised representative of a Licensed Securities Dealer and Registered Life
Insurance Broker. Go to http://fido.asic.gov.au/

Member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA):
FPA members must abide by a strict code of conduct. Go to http://www.fpa.asn.au/

Well-Qualified:
Your Financial Planner should preferably be a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), the highest designation that the FPA bestows upon its more experienced and highly qualified members.

Experienced:
How much experience does your Financial Planner have? Are they close to retirement or are they going to be available to you for a long period of time.

Open & Honest:
You need someone who is blunt enough to tell you the way things are, yet compassionate and understanding enough to ensure you are comfortable dealing with them and proceeding with your plan.

Fees & Advisory Services Guide (ASG):
In the past we saw the industry full of 'Commission Agents'. This is not the preferred way for you to do business with your Financial Planner. Your planner should clearly detail - in writing - the fees they will charge for the strategy and the plan they produce for you. The ASG should also clearly spell out the procedure for resolving complaints, should there ever be any. Go to http://www.asg.gov.au

Ongoing Service:
The last thing you want is a Financial Planner who sets something up for you and then you never hear from them again. Yet it is likely that they are still getting ongoing fees from your portfolio! You need a planner who actually provides ongoing service, someone who is committed to developing a long-term relationship with you.