I'm a financial planner who puts saving first, but there are 3 things I think are always worth the money (2024)

FAQs

I'm a financial planner who puts saving first, but there are 3 things I think are always worth the money? ›

As a financial planner, my priorities are saving and wealth building. But there are times when spending from your cash flow is wise, such as on family experiences. I also think it's worth it to spend money on your health and on professionals who can save you time.

If you're making big decisions that affect your financial security, then you need a fiduciary advisor to give you the best chance at unbiased advice.

A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.

Investors who work with an advisor are generally more confident about reaching their goals. Industry studies estimate that professional financial advice can add up to 5.1% to portfolio returns over the long term, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated.

A financial planner can make more sense if you want a deeper analysis of specific components of your finances or desire a well-rounded, long-term plan. For example, if you want to strategically buy stocks and other assets to help you achieve long-term goals, a financial planner might be better equipped to help.

Both Fidelity and Fisher Investments have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), although Fidelity is unaccredited. A+ is the highest possible rating and suggests both companies receive relatively few customer complaints and resolve disputes promptly and appropriately.

1 – Ask them directly: A genuine fiduciary will straightforwardly affirm their role and commitment to act in your best interests. 2 – Review the advisor's credentials: Certifications such as CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) or AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) often indicate a fiduciary standard.

Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.

In other words, even professionals can't beat the market with consistency. That means that the right expectation is typically to target a portfolio that tracks the market as closely as possible with a balance between risk (stocks) and stability (bonds) that matches your goals and risk tolerance.

What are the disadvantages of a financial planner? ›

The benefits of becoming an advisor include unlimited earning potential, a flexible work schedule, and the ability to tailor one's practice. The drawbacks include high stress, the hard work needed to build a client base, and the ongoing need to meet regulatory requirements.

Final Thoughts On Why You Don't Need A Financial Advisor

Simply put, they don't offer good value or ROI compared to what they cost. If you really want to unlock financial freedom, doing it yourself is the way to go. And now that you know it's not only possible – but easy – you can get started.

But, if you're already working with an advisor, the simplest way to determine whether a 1% fee is reasonable may be to look at what they've helped you accomplish. For example, if they've consistently helped you to earn a 12% return in your portfolio for five years running, then 1% may be a bargain.

Most of my research has shown people saying about 1% is normal. Answer: From a regulatory perspective, it's usually prohibited to ever charge more than 2%, so it's common to see fees range from as low as 0.25% all the way up to 2%, says certified financial planner Taylor Jessee at Impact Financial.

There is no advisory fee for accounts with less than $25,000. Investments of $25,000 or more are charged 0.35% per year, but that level gets you unlimited one-on-one financial coaching sessions.

The number of different services and areas of expertise advisors provide makes finding the right financial advisor for your situation key — doing so means you won't end up paying for services you don't need, or working with an advisor who isn't a good fit for your financial goals.

There are a few ways you can check if a financial advisor is legitimate. You can check with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by visiting their BrokerCheck website or calling (800) 289-9999. You can also check the SEC's Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.