Young people are constantly bombarded with messages about saving for retirement, getting on the property ladder and protecting their income.

While this is all well and good, the minefield of products on the market can make separating the wheat from the chaff a challenge.

This is when seeking professional financial advice can be invaluable.

A good, qualified adviser will assess your finances and listen to what it is you want to achieve, either in the short-term or long-term, and will advise you on the best way to achieve your financial objectives.

They often have access to the whole of the market and can even negotiate better deals for you.

Good financial advice can minimise your risk and increase the chances of your getting the most out of your money.

Here, we reveal some specific ways an adviser can help young professionals:

Mortgages

Not all financial advisers will be qualified to offer mortgage advice, but a specialist mortgage broker will.

For many young professionals, getting on the property ladder is top priority, and buying a home is often the single largest purchase they will make in their lifetime – so it pays to get it right.

The mortgage market is complicated with thousands of different products out there to suit a range of circumstances.

While you may still prefer to research the market yourself, a mortgage adviser can save you both time and money by scouring the market for the best deal and making sure you have not missed a vital step before signing any contracts.

Investments

Whether you have just received a lump sum inheritance, or are planning on generating income for your retirement, a good financial adviser will question you extensively about your goals and ambitions and will advise you with investment solutions to help you achieve them.

They should also inform you of all the risks associated with the options available and work with you to create an investment package tailored to your needs. They will be able to help you review your portfolios on a regular basis.

Pensions

When you are starting your working life, a financial adviser will be able to help you decide on how much you should be putting away from day one in order to get the kind of retirement income you want.

Remember, starting your pensions contributions as early as possible, no matter how little they may be, is better in the long term than upping how much you put in when you reach your late thirties and forties.

An adviser will be able to inform you of what your retirement income is likely to be and what you will need to do if you want to increase it.

Tax planning

Successful tax planning is invaluable, especially if you are a high earner. Minimising the impact of Inheritance Tax, for example, is just one of the areas an adviser can help with.

Getting a financial adviser to manage you tax affairs is particularly prudent if you are a self-employed worker.

Over the page: how to pick an adviser and top tips for young professionals

Lisa Conway-Hughes, a chartered independent adviser from Westminster Wealth Management, offers some invaluable tips for young workers:

• Make a financial life plan. This way you have goals to aim for – whether that is to pay off a student loan, get on the property ladder by your early 30s, or start a family. Rough timelines are a great way to keep you on a sound financial path.

• Make the most out of your workplace benefits.

• Sign up to your workplace pension scheme. Actively be involved in where your pension is invested, don’t just settle for the default option.

• If you have the option of getting private medical insurance (PMI) through your work, get it. Generally PMI through workplace benefits are extensive and tend to be cheaper than if you went directly.

• Little and often is better than not putting away anything at all.

• Use the internet wisely. There’s a lot of information out there, use it to help educate you. But make sure that the sources you use are reliable and trustworthy.

• You’re never too young seek financial advice.

Here, Karen Barrett from unbiased.co.uk, explains what you should look out for when choosing a financial adviser:

1. Location: is it important to have your adviser’s office near your home or your place of work?

2. Areas of expertise: some advisers focus on particular product areas so take care to choose the right one for your specific needs. Some solicitors offer independent financial advice, as do stockbrokers and accountants, but you should realise that accountants, for instance, will probably be strongest on tax issues.

If you know what sort of advice you require, you should select an adviser who specialises in this area. If you want advice across a range of products then select one who has strengths across the board.

3. Qualifications: You can select an adviser based on their advanced qualifications across a range of products or across a particular product area. Information on adviser qualifications is available for consumers on www.unbiased.co.uk which will help you with the selection process.

4. Online presence: Consider if it is important for your adviser to have a website or is able to communicate via email.

5. Philosophy: You may want to deal with an adviser who focuses on ethical investments.

6. Type of adviser: would you prefer a male or female adviser? Many women feel more comfortable seeking money advice from a woman than a man and vice versa, and you can select an adviser on this basis.

7. Recommendation: if a friend or relative has had a good experience with a particular adviser, that can often be a great route and be highly reassuring – but be aware that your financial circumstances and needs may be different to theirs.