Amidst the emotional turmoil of a divorce or the loss of a spouse, your world's gone haywire, and you're stressed to the max.

You may have a lump-sum payment from the splitting up of assets between you and your ex or from life insurance; or, on the flip side, you may find yourself borrowing to get by until your financial feet hit solid ground again.

You don't have to do it all alone. If your world is topsy-turvy, this is one time when it can pay to get some objective advice to help you sort things out, regardless of how money-savvy you may be.

That said, money advisers are a dime a dozen these days. There are all types of advisers (read about the different types). It's not always easy to know if someone is legitimate or just out to fleece you.

Recommendations from friends and family are always a good idea, but your Uncle Bill's broker isn't necessarily going to be the right adviser for you -- so you should do some sleuthing on your own.