It’s not enough for financial commentators to say “don’t panic” in the current financial crisis, says Certified Financial Planner and founder of MoneyMinding Inc., Tracy Piercy. The Victoria, B.C.-based financial educator is offering alternative advice, recommending a much more active role for investors and their advisors.

“People are looking for practical, timely answers that will put them back in the driver’s seat, even if the road is rocky in today’s markets,” says Piercy. “But the content of most personal finance articles offers nothing concrete. They might as well tell the investors reading it that they just need to give all their trust to the professionals who have crystal balls and will make sure they live happily ever after.”

Piercy continues, “If you rely on someone else’s professional help to guide your financial affairs, you still need to have an active role in the outcome. In medicine, you see a doctor, but you have to take the medicine and live a healthy lifestyle; same thing with money.”

Piercy recommends that financial professionals make client lifestyle goals and monthly income the focus of any conversation involving whether or not to stay invested.

Piercy’s company, MoneyMinding, works with financial professionals and their clients to help demystify personal finance concepts and the financial markets, so individuals can gain control of their money.