Get a financial planner and see if that route is profitable for your investments in volatile times

Don't be fooled by today's sharp rise in the nation's financial markets.

Today is just one more swing in the market's volatility for the past 10 months, spurred now by the one-time rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So don't sink your money into the market just yet.

Instead, make an appointment with a financial planner. He or she only makes money if you make money. The reputable ones charge much lesser fees than brokerage houses. Go to Google and check for financial planners locally. Then check on their credentials, accreditations and see if anyone has complained about a planner on the Internet. Go to the accreditation websites and check if the planner is actually registered with the organization. You may have to call the organizations.

First meetings should be free. A good financial planner should take a list of your assets and come up with a plan for you to review to maximize your profit in and outside of the financial markets at a subsequent meeting. And everything should still be free at that point.

WARNING: The advice above is what has worked for my household. Check out a financial planner without signing anything and see if this route COULD work for you. Getting your assets invested for the best profit and security requires time on the front end. It may be four meetings with a good financial planner before you change your investments. So be patient.