Whenever you’ve wanted to become a serious student, you’ve relied on a teacher to show you the ropes. Whether it was karate class, learning to play an instrument, or learning those tough math equations you never thought you’d master in school, you were able to reach the next level because of your teacher.

Learning about finances is like that too. Reading and studying up can take you a long way, but in order to fully realize everything you’ve been working toward, you need a money mentor – someone who can help you piece it all together.

If you’re trying to build a lucrative website, it helps to talk to someone who has already done it. If you’re trying to learn what to do with your investments, you need an advisor you can ask for advice.

So how can you find a mentor – someone you can ask real-life questions to and tap for hard-won advice? Here are three ways to do so.

Look for One at Work

There’s usually one in every office – that legendary employee who tells everyone how he is poised for early retirement. What you want to do is hop on that guy’s train. Ask him how he did it – and tell him not to leave out any details.

He’ll likely tell you a lot of the same advice you’ve heard all along – start investing early, save as much as you can, and keep your debt load low. The difference between hearing that advice and seeing a real-life example can be astounding. It can seem far away and impractical when you read about early retirement, but when you see someone doing it, it suddenly seems possible and exciting.

Your coworker will likely be happy to show someone how he’s carefully constructed the house of cards that will allow him to retire early. Just make sure you pay attention.

Look at the Elders in Your Life

You can learn a lot about finances by paying attention to any grandparents or older relatives you have. Unfortunately, not everyone is a shining example of what you should be doing with your money. But if you look hard enough, you’ll find one or two people who have their act together and can help you get yours together as well.

Don’t look for the flashiest person in your life – look for the one who seems comfortable and relaxed. Those are the ones who are usually the least worried about money.

Hire One

If you can’t find a free mentor, hire one instead. It’ll cost you money, but if you follow the advice you are given, it will more than pay for itself over the long term.

Stay away from anyone who promises to make you rich quickly. Real wealth is rarely built overnight.

Instead look for a financial advisor who is focused on long-term growth and has a solid plan of how you can get there.

If you are starting a business or a website, you can also hire consultants or advisors who can show you how to take your projections to the next level. The cost can be a lot upfront, but it may be worth every penny.