With women still earning less than men, but living longer, the stakes for proper retirement planning seem to rise every year. If you've been doing your own financial planning—and squeezing it in between meetings or your harried spare time—it might be time to delegate the task to a professional. But first you have to find the right expert. The best place to start is with recommendations from friends, colleagues, and other financial advisors, such as your CPA or attorney. Next, check out Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors and visit the web sites of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (napfa.org) and the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (cfp.net). Then ask your candidates the following five questions:

What are your creds? The planner you hire should be licensed with credentials that show a long-term commitment to the field. "Because in order to keep those credentials, they have to have continuing education and have invested both time and money in their business," says Susan Cooper, an EVP at Axa Financial, who points out that many call themselves financial planners, but don't last in the business. Look for either a certified financial planner (CFP), registered investment advisor, securities representative, or possibly a chartered financial consultant. And make sure they have at least five years' experience, says Kay Shirley, a certified financial planner and author of the Baby Boomer Financial Wake-Up Call. "The average tenure is only four years.

"What's your range? Unless you're interested only in a specific financial instrument, focus on finding a good generalist with a range of knowledge. "Make sure this person is not primarily insurance, primarily tax, or primarily stocks or bonds," urges Shirley, adding that he or she should also have a good network of specialists to be brought in as needed. "That way, you can get everything done under one roof." If, on the other hand, you are after some particular specialty, find out up front if that's something the advisor and his or her firm offers, adds Cooper. Also, ask for a typical client profile and a range of account sizes; you should ideally fall somewhere in the middle.

How do you get paid? Whether it's fee-based, percentage of assets, commission-based, or some combination, ask how the advisor makes his or her living. If he or she makes money only when you buy a particular proprietary product, for example, consider moving on. Ideally, your advisor will be able to sell you products from a wide variety of companies and sources. Beyond that, get a handle on whether the fee structure suits your needs. "Let's say the advisor charges a flat fee for a portfolio," says Cooper, whose firm's open architecture allows for a variety of compensation structures. "If it's a large portfolio, that may be reasonable, but for a small one, it may not be. You might pay less with commission." Certainly, don't be shy about asking. "I'm amazed at the number of people who come into my office and say, 'This is the first time someone has discussed fees with me,'" says Shirley. "If you go to the store to buy something, don't you ask the price?

"What's your style? In the initial interview, try to find out whether the planner will respect your instincts and opinion. "Women, in general, tend to be naturally fairly good investors, and they tend to have good instincts, but often they get talked out of their instincts," says Leslie Smith, registered investment advisor and principal of Coronado Financial Group, in San Mateo, California. "If you're a smart woman who wants to outsource your investment planning, it's really helpful to have someone who will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and be collaborative." You also want to work with someone who will update you quarterly or, at the very least, semiannually. "Less than that, I don't know how you can know what's happening in your life," says Cooper.

Do you practice what you preach? This may not be typical, but you're entitled to ask whether the advisor typically places the same sort of bets she encourages you to make. "If the person is a good financial planner, they won't mind disclosing their own personal portfolio in general terms," says Shirley, who never recommends an investment unless she is likewise invested. "My clients really appreciate that. They see that if I've made a bad decision with your money, I'm right there with you."