A professional who provides financial counseling to individuals in debt. Responsibilities include:

• Confers with client to ascertain available monthly income after living expenses to meet credit obligations.
• Calculates amount of debt and funds available to plan method of payoff and estimate time for debt liquidation.
• Contacts creditors to explain client's financial situation and to arrange for payment adjustments so that payments are feasible for client and agreeable to creditors.
• Establishes payment priorities to reduce client's overall costs by liquidating high-interest, short-term loans or contracts first.
• Opens account for client and disburses funds from account to creditors as agent for client.
• Keeps records of account activity.
• May counsel client on personal and family financial problems, such as excessive spending and borrowing of funds, and be designated Budget Consultant.
• May be required to be licensed by state agency.