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8 Circumstances Where You Really Need Financial Advice and Where to Find It

April 7, 2025 by Travis Campbell Leave a Comment

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Navigating your financial journey alone can sometimes feel like sailing through stormy waters without a compass. While many financial decisions can be handled independently, certain life events and financial complexities demand professional guidance. Recognizing when you need expert financial advice is crucial for protecting your wealth and securing your future. This article explores eight specific situations where seeking professional financial advice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

1. Major Life Transitions Require Financial Recalibration

Life transitions often trigger the need for comprehensive financial planning. Marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child fundamentally changes your financial responsibilities and goals. The death of a spouse can leave you navigating complex financial decisions while grieving. Career changes, especially those involving significant salary adjustments or relocation, necessitate a fresh look at your financial strategy. A financial advisor can help you adjust your financial plan during these transitions, ensuring your new life chapter starts on solid financial footing.

2. Inheritance Management Demands Strategic Planning

Receiving an inheritance often comes with emotional and financial complexities that require professional guidance. The sudden influx of assets may include investments, property, or retirement accounts that each carry different tax implications and management requirements. Poor inheritance management decisions can lead to unnecessary tax burdens or missed growth opportunities that diminish the inheritance’s value. A financial advisor can help you integrate inherited assets into your existing financial plan while respecting any wishes the benefactor may have had. Professional guidance ensures you honor the gift by managing it responsibly while maximizing its potential to support your financial goals.

3. Retirement Planning Becomes Increasingly Complex

Retirement planning involves more than simply saving money—it requires strategic decision-making about investment allocations, withdrawal rates, and timing. As retirement approaches, mistakes become costlier with less time to recover from market downturns or planning errors. Questions about Social Security optimization, pension options, and healthcare planning require specialized knowledge that most individuals don’t possess. A financial advisor can create a comprehensive retirement income strategy that addresses longevity risk, inflation, and market volatility. Professional guidance becomes particularly valuable when transitioning from the accumulation phase to the distribution phase of retirement planning.

4. Tax Optimization Requires Specialized Knowledge

Tax laws change frequently and contain numerous complexities that can significantly impact your financial situation. High-income earners, business owners, and those with diverse investment portfolios face particularly complicated tax scenarios. Strategic tax planning can legally reduce your tax burden through techniques like tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving strategies, and retirement account optimization. A financial advisor with tax expertise can coordinate with your accountant to implement tax-efficient investment strategies and withdrawal plans. Professional guidance ensures you’re not paying more in taxes than legally required while avoiding costly mistakes that could trigger IRS scrutiny.

5. Estate Planning Protects Your Legacy and Loved Ones

Estate planning goes beyond basic will creation to encompass comprehensive strategies for transferring wealth efficiently. Without proper planning, your assets may be distributed according to state laws rather than your wishes, potentially creating family conflicts. Estate taxes can significantly reduce the wealth transferred to your heirs without strategic planning techniques in place. A financial advisor can work with estate attorneys to create a cohesive plan that addresses wealth transfer, tax minimization, and charitable giving goals. Professional guidance ensures your estate plan remains updated as laws change and your family circumstances evolve over time.

6. Investment Management During Market Volatility

Market volatility tests even the most disciplined investors, often triggering emotional decisions that can damage long-term returns. Research consistently shows that individual investors underperform market indices largely due to behavioral biases and poor timing decisions. Complex investment vehicles like options, alternative investments, and tax-advantaged accounts require specialized knowledge to utilize effectively. A financial advisor provides an objective perspective during market turbulence, helping you stick to your long-term strategy rather than reacting to short-term fluctuations. Professional guidance becomes particularly valuable during major market corrections when emotional decision-making can lead to locking in losses.

7. Business Ownership Creates Unique Financial Challenges

Business owners face unique financial challenges that blur the line between personal and business finances. Succession planning, business valuation, and exit strategies require specialized expertise to execute effectively. Retirement planning becomes more complex for business owners who often have much of their net worth tied up in their business. A financial advisor with business expertise can help create strategies for business growth while ensuring personal financial security. Professional guidance can help business owners balance reinvesting in their business with diversifying their personal wealth to reduce concentration risk.

8. Special Needs Planning Requires Long-Term Vision

Families caring for individuals with special needs face unique financial planning challenges that extend far into the future. Government benefits for individuals with disabilities often have strict asset and income limitations that require careful financial structuring. Special needs trusts and ABLE accounts must be properly established and funded to provide for a loved one without jeopardizing their eligibility for benefits. A financial advisor with special needs expertise can coordinate with legal professionals to create a comprehensive care plan. Professional guidance ensures continuity of care and financial support even after parents or primary caregivers are no longer able to provide it.

Securing Your Financial Future: Taking the Next Step

Finding the right financial advisor requires understanding the different types of professionals and their compensation models. Fee-only fiduciary advisors offer conflict-free advice without commission incentives, while robo-advisors provide low-cost automated guidance for simpler situations. Professional designations like CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), or ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) indicate specialized training and ethical standards. Before committing, interview multiple advisors about their experience with situations similar to yours and their communication style. Remember that the best financial advice relationship is one built on trust, clear communication, and alignment with your specific needs and goals.

Have you faced any of these financial circumstances? What was your experience working with a financial advisor, or how did you handle the situation on your own? Share your insights in the comments below!

Your Friend Makes More Money Than You—Now What? Dealing with Financial Jealousy

Travis Campbell

Travis Campbell is a digital marketer/developer with over 10 years of experience and a writer for over 6 years. He holds a degree in E-commerce and likes to share life advice he’s learned over the years. Travis loves spending time on the golf course or at the gym when he’s not working.

How to Spot a Top-Notch Financial Advisor: 8 Qualities to Look For

March 22, 2025 by Latrice Perez Leave a Comment

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Finding the right financial advisor for yourself can feel like striking gold. It’s rare and its value cannot be overstated. Whatever you are trying to plan for in your life, the right advisor can make a world of difference. However, there are an overwhelming number of options out there. So, how do you know you’ve found a top-notch financial expert? Here are eight qualities to look for.

1. Transparent Communication Skills

Top-notch financial advisors prioritize transparency, clearly explaining fees, investment strategies, and potential risks upfront. They avoid financial jargon, ensuring you understand every step of your financial journey. Great advisors also proactively share updates about your investments and performance, ensuring you never feel in the dark. Transparency fosters trust, creating a healthy partnership focused on your success.

2. Proven Track Record and Credentials

A high-quality financial advisor boasts a proven track record supported by reputable credentials. Look for certifications such as CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), or ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) to verify their professional expertise. These qualifications indicate extensive education, training, and adherence to high ethical standards. Furthermore, successful advisors proudly share testimonials, references, and documented case studies showcasing their ability to generate tangible results.

3. Personalized, Client-Centric Approach

The best advisors tailor their services to your unique financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance. They don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions but instead, craft personalized strategies aligned precisely with your vision for the future. Great advisors listen attentively, ask insightful questions, and regularly check in to ensure your evolving needs are met. They continuously adapt your financial plan, responding proactively to life changes and shifting economic conditions. A customized approach ensures you’re always receiving optimal advice tailored exclusively to you.

4. Strong Ethical Standards

Ethics and integrity define exceptional financial advisors who always prioritize your best interests above their profits. They willingly operate as fiduciaries, legally obligated to act solely in your favor. Ethical advisors openly disclose potential conflicts of interest and ensure transparency in every recommendation. You’ll recognize ethical advisors by their honest conversations, straightforward advice, and absence of aggressive sales tactics. Choosing an advisor committed to fiduciary standards guarantees that your financial wellness remains their top priority.

5. Proactive, Forward-Thinking Mindset

Great financial advisors anticipate economic changes, market trends, and evolving client needs rather than simply reacting after events occur. They regularly suggest strategic adjustments to keep your investments resilient, profitable, and aligned with your long-term goals. Forward-thinking advisors use innovative technology and research to predict potential financial opportunities or challenges ahead. They communicate proactively about emerging opportunities, ensuring you remain financially agile and informed. This proactive approach protects your assets while positioning you strategically for future success.

6. Exceptional Listening and Empathy

Excellent advisors combine financial expertise with exceptional empathy and listening skills. They genuinely care about your dreams, anxieties, and goals, responding with compassion and understanding. Rather than pushing products, empathetic advisors offer thoughtful solutions addressing your specific concerns and financial hopes. They remember personal details, asking about your family, career, or passions, creating a comfortable, trusting atmosphere. Financial advising becomes less transactional and more relational, fostering meaningful, long-term partnerships.

7. Ongoing Educational Commitment

Top-tier advisors continuously update their knowledge of financial markets, tax laws, investment trends, and economic changes. They attend industry conferences, pursue advanced certifications, and stay active in professional associations. Advisors who prioritize lifelong learning demonstrate passion, adaptability, and commitment to providing cutting-edge advice. Their up-to-date knowledge helps them make informed, strategic recommendations tailored specifically to evolving market conditions.

8. Realistic and Clear Goal Setting

Quality advisors help you set clear, realistic, and attainable financial goals tailored to your situation. They avoid overpromising, instead focusing on achievable milestones that gradually lead you toward financial independence and security. Skilled advisors break down complicated financial journeys into manageable steps, celebrating small victories along the way. Clear, achievable goal-setting motivates and empowers you, fostering confidence and proactive financial habits.

Investing in the Right Advisor Pays Off

Choosing the right financial advisor profoundly impacts your financial health, peace of mind, and long-term security. Prioritizing these eight qualities—transparency, credentials, personalization, ethics, proactivity, empathy, education, and realistic goals—ensures you partner with an advisor genuinely committed to your success. Great advisors don’t just manage your money; they inspire trust, confidence, and financial empowerment. Investing time to find a skilled financial expert pays significant dividends, securing your future wealth and happiness. Remember, exceptional advisors are worth every penny, guiding you confidently toward your financial dreams.

The Financial Advisor Hall of Shame: 10 Moves That Scream “Don’t Hire Me”

Latrice Perez

Latrice is a dedicated professional with a rich background in social work, complemented by an Associate Degree in the field. Her journey has been uniquely shaped by the rewarding experience of being a stay-at-home mom to her two children, aged 13 and 5. This role has not only been a testament to her commitment to family but has also provided her with invaluable life lessons and insights.

As a mother, Latrice has embraced the opportunity to educate her children on essential life skills, with a special focus on financial literacy, the nuances of life, and the importance of inner peace.

8 Personal Details You Should Never Share With Your Financial Advisor

February 4, 2025 by Latrice Perez Leave a Comment

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When it comes to managing your finances, trust is everything. You rely on your financial advisor to guide you through complex decisions, help you achieve your financial goals, and protect your best interests. But just as you share some information to give them insight into your financial situation, there are certain personal details that you should keep to yourself. After all, not everything about your life needs to be on the table when it comes to your finances. Here are eight personal details you should never share with your financial advisor.

1. Your Family Drama

While it’s natural to have family issues, your financial advisor doesn’t need to know the ins and outs of family squabbles or disagreements. Whether it’s an ongoing divorce, sibling rivalry, or an estranged relationship with a parent, these personal matters can distract from your financial goals. Sharing such details can sometimes create unnecessary complications, especially if your advisor starts feeling like a mediator rather than a financial expert. It’s best to keep your personal family drama separate from your financial planning. If a situation directly impacts your finances, focus on that aspect rather than the emotional turmoil surrounding it.

2. Your Unpaid Personal Debts

You may have some personal debts that aren’t directly tied to your financial planning goals, like a loan from a friend or family member. While it’s important to be upfront about significant debts like mortgages or credit cards, smaller, personal loans can be irrelevant to your financial advisor. These types of debts don’t directly affect your investment strategies or your financial plans with them. By focusing on relevant debts and obligations, you avoid complicating the financial advice you receive. Plus, your advisor’s role is to help you create a plan, not to manage your personal relationships.

3. Private Medical History

It’s tempting to share personal challenges with those you trust, but your medical history is best left outside the scope of financial advice. While health concerns can have an impact on your finances, such as needing long-term care or anticipating future medical costs, the specifics of your medical issues aren’t necessary for your advisor to know. If health is impacting your finances, share only the relevant financial implications, such as increased medical costs or the need for insurance coverage. Sharing every detail of your health journey isn’t just unnecessary—it could also violate privacy concerns.

4. Your Investment Preferences or Stock Picks

While it’s natural to have personal preferences about investments, sharing specific stock picks or investment strategies with your financial advisor can complicate the relationship. It’s important to let your advisor bring their expertise to the table and create a diversified strategy that aligns with your long-term goals. If you have certain stocks or sectors you’re interested in, discuss them within the context of your broader investment plan, not as demands. Overloading your advisor with personal stock picks can shift their focus from well-rounded planning to trying to accommodate personal interests that may not align with the market or your overall financial picture.

5. Your Daily Routine and Personal Habits

You might be close to your financial advisor, but that doesn’t mean they need to know everything about your personal life, including your daily routines or habits. Sharing details about how you spend your time each day—like your exercise routine, TV-watching habits, or social outings—has no bearing on your financial decisions. While certain habits could indirectly impact your financial situation (like frequent dining out or spending on hobbies), focusing on your financial actions is more productive. Your advisor’s job is to assess your finances, not your lifestyle choices. Save those conversations for friends or family who can offer support in other ways.

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6. Personal Beliefs and Politics

In today’s world, it can be tempting to discuss politics and personal beliefs with anyone, including your financial advisor. However, such discussions can cloud the primary focus of your meetings—your finances. Personal beliefs about politics, religion, or social issues don’t need to enter into your financial planning. If your advisor has strong opinions on these topics, it may even distract from objective decision-making. It’s best to steer the conversation back to the financial topics that matter and maintain a professional, impartial approach.

7. Your Relationship History

Whether you’re currently dating, recently divorced, or navigating a long-term relationship, your romantic life can be a sensitive topic. However, unless it directly affects your financial picture, such as joint bank accounts, spousal income, or alimony payments, there’s no need to get into the details of your love life. Relationship drama or romantic feelings often don’t have a bearing on sound financial advice. Your financial advisor needs to focus on the big picture—your assets, goals, and future plans—not the intricacies of your relationships. Sharing too much personal information can lead to discomfort and a shift in focus from what’s important.

8. Your Future Plans Beyond Financial Goals

While you should absolutely discuss your financial goals with your advisor, you don’t need to share every personal dream or aspiration you have. If you’re planning to move to a new country, start a business, or take a gap year, these are things to consider, but not necessarily information your advisor needs to know. Keeping the focus on how you want to manage your wealth allows your financial advisor to stay on track with your monetary goals. Personal dreams and plans might create distractions that steer away from practical financial decisions. Keep the conversation focused on securing your financial future.

Respect Your Boundaries

While being open with your financial advisor is important, it’s equally important to recognize that not all personal details need to be shared. By focusing on the information that impacts your finances directly, you ensure that your advisor can give you the best possible advice without unnecessary distractions. Set clear boundaries to maintain a professional, yet trusting relationship. Remember, your financial advisor is there to help you navigate your financial future—not to be a sounding board for personal issues.

Are there other personal details that you feel are better left out of conversations with your financial advisor? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

11 Pieces of Advice Your Financial Advisor Isn’t Giving You About Retirement Savings

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Latrice Perez

As a mother, Latrice has embraced the opportunity to educate her children on essential life skills, with a special focus on financial literacy, the nuances of life, and the importance of inner peace.

Top 12 Reasons You Should Fire Your Financial Advisor

May 1, 2024 by Teri Monroe Leave a Comment

Hiring a financial advisor is a significant decision that can greatly impact your financial future. One in three Americans have sought advice from a professional financial advisor. However, not all financial advisors are created equal. There may come a time when it’s necessary to part ways with your current advisor. Here are the top 12 reasons why you should fire your financial advisor.

1. Lack of Communication

If your financial advisor is unresponsive or fails to keep you updated on your investments and financial plan, it may be time to move on. Open communication is crucial in any client-advisor relationship. As a rule of thumb, you should talk to your financial advisor at least once or twice a year.

2. Poor Performance

Consistently poor performance in your investment portfolio compared to market benchmarks or your financial goals is a clear sign that your advisor may not be effectively managing your assets. If your portfolio is underperforming in both good and bad markets to a risk-adjusted benchmark, then there may be an issue. It’s best to not look at your investments over a few months or a year to gauge performance. However, if over 5 years you haven’t made progress this could be a red flag, and it may be time to fire your financial advisor.

3. Conflicts of Interest

If your advisor’s recommendations seem to be influenced more by their own interests or incentives rather than your financial well-being, it’s a red flag that shouldn’t be ignored. Also, it’s important to ask your advisor if they are a fiduciary. Fiduciaries are legally or ethically bound to put their client’s best interests ahead of their own.

4. High Fees

Excessive or hidden fees can eat into your investment returns over time. Fees should always be clear and presented upfront. If you feel like you’re paying too much for the services provided by your financial advisor, it’s worth exploring more cost-effective alternatives.

5. Lack of Expertise

Financial advisors should have the knowledge and expertise to guide you through various financial situations. If your advisor lacks expertise in areas relevant to your needs, it could be detrimental to your financial health.

6. Inappropriate Risk Tolerance

Sometimes, you and your advisor may have a mismatched investment philosophy. If your advisor consistently pushes you into investments that are too risky or too conservative for your comfort level, it’s a sign that they’re not considering your risk tolerance and investment objectives.

7. Overtrading

Excessive trading in your investment accounts can lead to unnecessary transaction costs and tax consequences. If your advisor seems to be excessively trading without a clear strategy, it could be detrimental to your long-term financial goals.

8. Lack of Personalization

Of course, your financial advice should be tailored to your specific financial situation, goals, and preferences. If your advisor provides generic advice or fails to consider your individual circumstances, it may be time to find someone who will provide more personalized guidance.

9. Ethical Concerns

Any unethical behavior or breaches of trust should not be tolerated. If you suspect your advisor of engaging in unethical practices, such as unauthorized trading or misrepresentation of investment opportunities, it’s crucial to take action.

10. Inability to Explain Strategies

Your advisor should be able to clearly explain the strategies behind their recommendations and how they align with your financial goals. If you find yourself confused or uncertain about the reasoning behind their advice, it may be a sign of incompetence or lack of transparency.

11. No Clear Financial Plan

A comprehensive financial plan is essential for long-term financial success. If your advisor fails to provide you with a clear and actionable plan to achieve your goals, it’s time to find someone who will help you map out your financial future.

12. Loss of Trust

Ultimately, trust is the foundation of any successful client-advisor relationship. If you no longer trust your advisor to act in your best interests, it may be time to seek a new advisor who can rebuild that trust.

Making The Decision

Firing your financial advisor is not a decision to be taken lightly, but there are certain warning signs that should not be ignored. If you find yourself experiencing any of the above issues with your current financial advisor, it may be time to fire them. Remember, your financial future is too important to leave in the hands of someone who isn’t meeting your needs and expectations.

12 Crucial Money Lessons Baby Boomers Passed Down to Their Millennial Kids

Teri Monroe

Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. Teri holds a B.A. From Elon University. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.

Which Is Better For A Small Business: Financial Advisor vs. Accountant

August 8, 2022 by Tamila McDonald Leave a Comment

financial advisor vs accountant

When you run a small business, having a strong financial team by your side is a difference maker. However, you may need to choose between different types of financial professionals. Financial advisor vs. accountant is a common debate among small business owners. If you’re wondering which option is best for you. Here’s what you need to know.

Financial Advisor vs. Accountant: What’s the Difference?

While financial advisors and accounts may have similar knowledge in some cases. They represent two different specialties, each with unique areas of expertise.

In many cases, an accountant focuses on the basics of your financial picture. Thus, ensuring that your ledger remains balanced. Additionally, they typically help with finding tax-saving strategies that align with your situation. That could involve how assets are managed from a tax perspective, recommending specific types of retirement accounts, ensuring you capture every deduction, or similar steps.

Financial advisors are a bit different. While they may also recommend strategies that are beneficial to your taxes, their main goal is to assist you with seizing financial growth opportunities. Along with financial planning, investment advice is commonly a part of what a financial advisor offers.

The unique perspective each of these professionals provides means they can work together to ensure your entire financial picture is well managed. However, not all small businesses can afford to hire both.

Pros and Cons of a Financial Advisor

Financial advisors are adept at planning and recommending paths that can lead to financial growth. Often, they focus heavily on the investment side of the equation, though many will also examine other areas to seek out opportunities. For a small business, financial growth can be a priority, particularly if they’re in a startup phase and are dealing with financial uncertainty or there are plans for various kinds of expansion.

Another area financial advisors focus on is insurance. They can assist with choosing the correct coverage for your business, ensuring any assets are adequately covered and that all critical scenarios are addressed in that coverage.

However, financial advisors don’t typically handle the more transactional side of the equation. Handling ledgers, tracking payments and expenses on a daily basis, and similar services aren’t commonly what a financial advisor offers. This leaves those tasks to someone else, which may not be ideal if you don’t have time to handle them personally and don’t have other financial professionals on board.

Pros and Cons of an Accountant

In many ways, accountants are more transactional. They track and log the flow of money in and out of a business, and make recommendations that often feel more logistical. For small businesses with complex financial activities, this can be a boon. It ensures someone is solely focused on the company’s earnings, expenses, taxes, and reporting, reducing the odds of errors and increasing your chances of securing tax savings.

Accountants can also assess the financial impact of various moves. For example, if you’re considering an acquisition, an accountant can help analyze the situation and produce estimates that give you a clearer picture regarding how proceeding may impact you financially.

When it comes to drawbacks, accountants aren’t as growth-oriented. While they may recommend investment accounts, they usually limit that to options that result in a tax benefit, as that results in a savings for the company. In some cases, this can make the level of financial guidance feel incomplete, suggesting you were looking for advice in the growth arena.

Financial Advisor vs. Accountant: Which Is Better for a Small Business?

Neither financial advisors nor accountants are inherently better for small businesses. Instead, you need to factor in your financial needs, allowing you to select the best option for your unique situation.

If you’re concerned about balance sheets, financial reports, transaction tracking, and tax preparation, an accountant is typically the way to go. Accountants specialize in that type of financial tracking, and they’re particularly adept at identifying tax-saving strategies that allow you to reduce what you owe legally.

For guidance about investments, insurance, and long-term financial plans, a financial advisor could be a better fit, as much of their focus is on financial growth and preservation strategies. They’re also skilled at asset management, which can be beneficial in some scenarios.

Consider what you need from a financial professional, and use that to guide your decision. That ensures you bring the right one on board. However, you can also consider hiring both. Financial advisors and accountants can work together to manage the entire financial picture. That ensures that every base is covered, which could be the better choice in the long run.

When it comes to financial advisor vs. accountant for small businesses, do you agree with the points above? Did you choose one over the other and would like to discuss your reasoning? Did you choose one only to discover that it either wasn’t the right fit or was the perfect match? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Tamila McDonald

Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Financial Advisor

November 4, 2020 by Jacob Sensiba 1 Comment

If you’ve ever considered a career as a financial advisor, there are some things you’ll want to consider before jumping in headfirst. There are definitely some perks like being your own boss and earning what you’re really worth, but there are some pitfalls too. Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of being a financial advisor to help you make your decision.

The UpSide

You can be self-employed

While working for a firm, either public or private, is an option, so is working for yourself. You can set up an office at home to save money on office rental and even set your own schedule in a way that works with your lifestyle. If you don’t want clients coming to your home office, you can set appointments at their home or office and go to them.

There’s no salary limit

Working in another field usually comes with a salary based on your experience and the company’s pay schedule. As a financial advisor, you set your own fees for the services you provide and can even earn commissions on the products you sell. Your earning potential is up to you.

Start-up costs can be low

If you’d like to be self-employed, this is definitely a plus. Of course, you’ll have to pay licensing and other business fees, which can be a little costly but are usually a one-time or annual expense. As far as your monthly expenses, you can keep these to a minimum, especially if you work from home. Monthly website fees and a little online advertising can cost about $300 – $500 a month. Be mindful of Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O). You must be cognizant of fees assessed by your firm, if you decide not to work for yourself.

You get to help others

Whether you’re working with individuals or small families, you can help them reach their goals of buying a home, saving for their child’s college education, or putting money away for retirement instead of living paycheck to paycheck. A job where you get to do something useful and help others is a great way to spend your days.

Get your own finances in order

As you’re developing your practice, as well as going through the licensing process, you’ll have to learn a lot about finance. Every part of the “financial journey” needs to be an area of expertise. When you’re helping others meet their goals, you’ll be able to get your own finances in order using the knowledge you acquired.

The Down Side

There’s a lot of stress

In order to be successful, you have to be great with numbers and a pro at multitasking as you’ll be switching from one thought to another all day long. The only way to make more money is to take on more clients, which leads to more stress. You have to learn how to manage your day instead of letting your day manage you.

It’s a lot of work

Depending on where you live, your state and even your county will have licensing and certification requirements that you will have to meet. You may need a college degree or special training. And in most cases, you will need to be sponsored by a brokerage firm which means you’ll need to work for one for a bit. You’ll need to acquire a lot of knowledge about finances, as well as sales, marketing, and psychology. Continuous prospecting and licensing are needed to propel your business forward.

You have to be a people person

While you’ll begin receiving referrals at some point, finding clients of your own will be difficult in the beginning. You have to be committed to going to networking events, calling people, asking for referrals, and marketing your services. This can mean working a lot of hours when you’re just starting out.

There are certainly some great perks to being a financial advisor, but there are some challenges to consider before deciding to make this your career choice.

Related Reading:

Hiring a Financial Advisor

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Financial Advisor

Different Ways Financial Advisors Charge

Jacob Sensiba

Jacob Sensible is a financial advisor with decades of experience in the financial planning industry. His journey into finance began out of necessity, stepping up to support his grandfather during a health crisis. This period not only grounded him in the essentials of stock analysis, investment strategies, and the critical roles of insurance and trusts in asset preservation but also instilled a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and wealth management. Jacob can be reached at: jake.sensiba@mygfpartner.com.

mygfpartner.com/jacob-sensiba-wisconsin-financial-advisor/

Jemstep Portfolio Manager Review: Finding the Asset Allocation Middle Ground

April 2, 2013 by Joe Saul-Sehy 15 Comments

How do you review your investments? We give Jemstep a test-drive to see if it’s worth your time and money.

As OG bemoaned last week when writing about his broken garage door, at some point, calling a professional is the right move. In the comments, there were some wonderful discussions about finding “experts” without consulting with a person locally by using YouTube videos, better online tools and calling trusted friends.

The Middle Ground in Asset Allocation

There’s plenty of middle ground between wingin’ it and hiring a financial advisor when picking the right basket of investments. One tool I’ve had the opportunity to test drive is Jemstep. After meeting a Jemstep rep at FINCON last year, I was impressed enough with the product to have Simon Roy, the firm’s president, on our 2 Guys & Your Money podcast. He informed me that they were upgrading the product, and now it’s available.

The “New” Jemstep Portfolio Manager

Jemstep is a program that helps you diversify your investments. You know that dartboard you’ve been throwing at? No longer. Jemstep takes the guesswork out of discovering which investments you should be using and pinpoints suitable replacements for duds (or, surprisingly, good investments in asset classes that really don’t meet your investment needs). During my trial run, JemStep told me some things I’d (shamefully) already knew: I’d let my winners run a little too long, and Jemstep recommended cutting back in those “overgrown” areas where the risks now exceeded the chance for rewards.

How Jemstep Portfolio Manager Works

The Jemstep approach is consistent with that of an advisor. First, JemStep asks you questions about your goals. What do you need your portfolio to do? It asks questions about how far away the goal is, how much you may need to access at a time, and other relevant questions. I found this process fun. The interface is intuitive and the style of the website draws you in.

Jemstep asks you for information about your retirement goal, among others. The interface is easy to use, and the blue lines below tell you just how far you still have to go: I have to still fill in information on my finances and investment preferences.

Once you’ve answered goal-related questions, you can upload your portfolio directly from your broker or add in funds manually. Finally, JemStep does it’s work and voila….gives you the correct asset allocation for your goal.

Jemstep Portfolio Manager basic recommendations

Here is the basic recommended portfolio. With these changes, I stand to gain over $9,000 per year in retirement. Yee-haw!

The premium version of Jemstep includes lists of what investments you should sell (in many cases only trim back), which investments you should accumulate, and new suggestions for your portfolio (often in asset classes that don’t exist in your portfolio). Here’s what that looks like:

Jemstep not only tells me which investments to sell, but alerts me to potential capital gains taxes. Every sell recommendation is accompanied by a detailed reason why this investment is on the chopping block. In this case: Apple is one of my worst performers and I have too much individual stock for a portfolio of this size.

The Cost

The Jemstep pricing model isn’t surprising. You can access basic advice for free (this includes the asset allocation you should be using, plus the differences between your portfolio and the suggested one). The premium model, which includes continuous tracking, rebalancing advice, a detailed breakdown of recommended sale quantities and investments, is also free for people just starting out. Pricing begins at $17.99 per month for portfolios over $25,000, and increases based on the amount of money Jemstep is helping you manage. While some who are looking for a freebie might be turned off by the price, this is less than the 1% fee often charged by a financial pro. Want professional advice in your corner without having to sit in an office with some team of people? Great. Jemstep won’t call you with hot stock tips and is there when you need it. In exchange, you’ll pay a model comparable to those used by seasoned investors for less than half the cost.

What I Like, What I Don’t

Here’s what I love: this asset allocation is a proven winner that points you toward the low cost, high return investments in a balanced portfolio. If you’ve ever wanted to have a well-managed portfolio but didn’t know where to start, Jemstep is a great place to begin. Different than some generic asset allocation models that I’ve used, JemStep points you toward specific investment options. For the person who wants to make sure they have low cost investments with a proven track record, Jemstep is for you.

Jemstep partnered with Windham Capital Management to create their recommendations. When back-tested against the S&P 500, Jemstep’s recommended portfolio was impressive: all five of their model portfolios outperformed the S&P 500 over the last 14 years with significantly less risk.

Here’s what I don’t like: results. Yes, JemStep provides impressive results, but will you use them? As I’ve stated before, financial advisors exist for one reason: to make sure that the job is finished. When people left my office, the portfolio moves were complete and people could go about their lives, knowing that the important decisions had been made. A JemStep rep was excited to tell me that 12% of JemStep users actually made changes to their portfolio “because it’s so hard to get people to take action.”

She’s right on.

While 12% usage is a great number for an often-free tool used by people on the internet, you should examine yourself. Are you going to follow through and actually take the advice on JemStep? If you don’t trust yourself to do the job, pay more and hire a human being who’ll give you a shove.

Overall Impression

If you’re managing your own money and aren’t sure how to do it well, give Jemstep a shot and follow the recommendations. If you don’t like your advisor or wonder if the recommendations you’re receiving are any good, take the time to use JemStep to give yourself a “second opinion.” The tool is robust enough that you’ll know immediately if your advisor isn’t diversifying your portfolio in a way that makes sense for your goals.

Jemstep can be found at Jemstep.com. I am not an affiliate of Jemstep and was not compensated for this review.

Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets. Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.

joesaulsehy.com/

What Do You Do When Things Go Wrong? – 2 Guys and Your Money

March 4, 2013 by Joe Saul-Sehy 12 Comments

Have shows come automatically to your iPod! Use the 2 Guys iTunes page here.

Listen to shows on your smartphone! Try the Stitcher app here.

30 episodes and going strong! To celebrate, we’re bringing our best show yet.

OG lost a computer last week, forcing him to take a week off from the podcast (thanks to Doug for filling in!). That means that it’s a good week to talk about risk management… What can go wrong? What should you do about it? Joe & OG tackle some lessons gleaned from Hollywood stars who’ve lost fortunes, PK discusses credit, Lance from Money, Life & More and Greg from Club Thrifty join Joe to discuss covering your bases with insurance, and finally, we give you our Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Portfolio.

As usual, show notes will fill in throughout the day Monday

2 Guys & Your Money Show 30: Notes

<> Open

<1:50> H&R Block offer: Save 15% on your tax prep!

<4:56> Lessons learned from stars who’ve run into money trouble

<15:58> PK’s Fractional Sense: Credit

1 in 20 have a catastrophic error on their credit report

Link in PK’s segment: annualcreditreport.com

<23:54> Shortwave: Lance from Money, Life & More and Greg from Club Thrifty join us to discuss contingency planning.

Don’t want to sit at your computer and listen to the show? Take it with you! Use either iTunes or Stitcher to listen to the show on the go.
Link to the 2 Guys iTunes page here. Listen on the Stitcher app here.

<40:11> Let’s Give Something Away

Our March Giveaway is Here! This month win one of Laura Vanderkam’s eBooks.

Link to our Giveaway

<> Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Portfolio

OG Top 5

5) Create a system to monitor your portfolio

4) Options (writing covered calls)

3) Stop loss

2) Diversification. Proper asset allocation

1) Nothing. We are our own worst enemy.

Joe Top 5

5) Dollar Cost Averaging

4) Rebalance

3) Scheduled meetings

2) Options (buying puts)

1) Stop loss

<> End: Films

– OG – Flight

– Joe – House of Cards

Joe Saul-Sehy

joesaulsehy.com/

Two Guys & Your Money #14 – The Worst 5 Ways to Hire a Financial Advisor

October 15, 2012 by Joe Saul-Sehy 7 Comments

Have shows come automatically to your iPod! Use the 2 Guys iTunes page here.

Listen to shows on your smartphone! Try the Stitcher app here.

“Top 5” is SO last week….this time we took a different approach.

With OG at Mickey’s house, my mom’s neighbor Doug co-hosts (even though he THINKS he’s just coming to the basement to help with the furnace….).

PK tells us how your vote ISN’T wasted, even if you live in an overwhelmingly blue or red state.

The roundtable gives us their best advice from the past month.

We’re giving away the classic The E-Myth, Why Most Small Businesses Fail and What To Do About It

(You have several ways to win: 5 entries to tweet about the show, 5 to like us on Facebook and 25 if you guess the voice on the podcast.)

Click Here For Our October Giveaway Page!

Show Notes

<> Open

<> Yahoo’s Top 13 Wastes of Money. Are you guilty of any of these? Joe and Doug weigh in on our favorites, and the ones we think might not really be a waste.

<> PK from DQYDJ.net: 3rd Party voting.

<> Let’s Give Something Away: Our October book giveaway is in full swing. You don’t even have to listen to the show! Click here for the three ways to win.

<> On the Shortwave: Our best advice from the last month

<> Worst 5 Ways to Hire an Advisor

<> Show End

Doug: Black Book (German film about the Dutch resistance. Rated R. Thumb up, but not for kids)

Joe: 6 Days to Air (Documentary about the making of South Park. Thumb up, but not for kids)

Joe Saul-Sehy

joesaulsehy.com/