Finding a Financial Advisor or Planner

From the Recaps Archives, originally posted on 6/3/2019

Finding a Financial Advisor or Planner
By Troy Segal Updated Jun 3, 2019

If it's ever occurred to you how complex and vital 'getting it right' is when it comes to saving, investing, maximizing the value of your wealth and planning for a safe, comfortable retirement, you've probably asked yourself if you should employ a financial planner or advisor.

Similarly, if you've felt the pressure of deciding on a big investment, such as a home or education—or felt overwhelmed with the financial details after a wedding, the birth of a child, divorce, death of a spouse, or major illness—you've probably wondered about finding someone to advise you.

Services of Advisors and Planners

According to a 2019 CNBC and Acorns Invest survey, over a third of Americans don't have a good understanding of what a financial advisor actually does. That figure balloons to 46% for Millennials.

So what kind of services do financial advisors and planners provide? Broadly, they can help you manage your financial life using a variety of strategies and products to both manage your wealth and improve your financial habits.

Types of Financial Advice

Not all financial advisors are the same. Some specialize in certain practice areas, types of clients, income levels, investment strategies, and products. Some work with clients all over the country, while others focus on clients in their town.

Some can help you with your taxes, insurance needs, or estate planning and others will focus on retirement planning. There are advisors for the younger client and some specialize on retirees. You can find a planner to help with life stages planning, estate distribution strategies, and business planning.

From managing every aspect of your personal or business financial life to simply suggesting directions, there are specialized professionals available to help.

Reasons to Seek Financial Advice

You may need an advisor for many reasons. For example, perhaps you just received a considerable sum of money from a relative who died or a windfall from the state lottery. As a person goes through different stages in life, their need for a financial professional will change.

erhaps you just had a baby and want to ensure their future in case the worst happens. Many parents seek help for college savings for children and setting up estates that can convey wealth to future generations.

The approach to investing at or during retirement is different than that of a young worker. As you near retirement your risk tolerance level will change, and your style of investing should change as well. Perhaps your company is offering a too-good-to-resist early-retirement package, and you want to make sure the money lasts.

Any of these events (and many others) could naturally trigger the desire for some professional help in managing your financial affairs.

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https://www.investopedia.com/updates/find-financial-advisor-planner/