When should people look into hiring a financial planner?

Asked by: Ike Gorczany  |  Last update: November 28, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (9 votes)

Graduating college, getting married, expanding your family and starting a business are some major life events that might cause you to reevaluate your financial situation. A financial advisor can help you manage these life events while making sure you get or stay on track.

When should you hire a financial planner?

However, as a general guideline, many people consider hiring a financial advisor when their financial situation becomes more complex, such as when they have significant assets, multiple income streams, are planning for retirement, dealing with taxes, or need help with investment strategies.

At what income should you get a financial planner?

Very 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 also be higher, such as $500,000, $1 million or even more.

When should you engage a financial planner?

If you're not on track to achieving your goals, an adviser can help you put the right strategies in place. Or assist you to set more realistic goals. Financial advice can be useful at turning points in your life. Like when you're starting a family, being retrenched, planning for retirement or managing an inheritance.

Under what conditions should people hire a professional financial planner?

You are approaching a major life transition (starting or selling a business, retirement, etc.). You need a financial plan to address a specific need (credit score, college funds, tax savings, diversifying your investment portfolio, etc.). You currently manage an estate or trust or will in the future.

Do I Really Need A Financial Advisor? When To Hire A Financial Advisor

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What is a disadvantage of hiring a financial planner?

Costs are one of the primary drawbacks of hiring a financial advisor. It's typically to pay fees that are based on a percentage of your assets under management (AUM). Some advisors, however, may charge flat fees or hourly fees for their services.

At what net worth should I get a financial advisor?

However, in general, it's wise to start working with a financial advisor or wealth management team once you've built a nest egg of $1M in investable assets.

What are the 3 rules of financial planning?

But despite all the advice, tips, ideas, and new digital tools to manage your personal finances, these three golden rules will never change.
  • Golden Rule #1: Don't Spend More Than You Make. ...
  • Golden Rule #2: Always Plan for the Future. ...
  • Golden Rule #3: Help Your Money Grow. ...
  • Your Banker as a Source of Money Management Advice.

How much money do I need to hire a wealth manager?

Any minimums in terms of investable assets, net worth or other metrics will be set by individual wealth managers and their firms. That said, a minimum of $2 million to $5 million in assets is the range where it makes sense to consider the services of a wealth management firm.

Is it worth getting a financial planner?

Investing in a financial advisor can be a wise decision for high-net worth individuals, families, inheritors, and retirees. You'll get expert guidance to help you define and set wealth goals, personalise investment strategies, and have ongoing support to make sure you stay on track.

What is a reasonable rate for a financial planner?

While the typical annual financial advisor fee is thought to be 1%, according to a 2023 study by Advisory HQ, the average financial advisor fee is 0.59% to 1.18% per year. However, rates typically decrease the more money you invest.

What is considered high net worth?

High-net-worth individual (HNWI) is a technical term used in the financial services industry for people who maintain liquid assets at or above a certain threshold. Typically, they are defined as holding financial assets (excluding their primary residence) valued over US$1 million.

How much cash is too much to hold?

Cash-on-hand guidelines you could use:

Experts generally recommend having enough cash to cover 3–6 months of living expenses in an easily accessible account, such as a high-yield savings account. This safety net can act as a buffer against unexpected expenses like job loss, medical bills or car repairs.

How much money should you have before getting a financial planner?

If your investable assets are under $250,000, it's likely best to seek help from a financial planner and invest on your own until you build up a larger nest egg. The simple reason is that you get more value from your advisory firm as your assets grow and your financial situation becomes more complex.

What are two things everyone should look for when hiring a financial planner?

In the financial industry, advisors have two different “standards of care” they're legally held to when working with clients: a suitability standard of care and a fiduciary standard of care. Being a fiduciary is one of the very first things I'd look for in a new advisor. You've probably heard this term before.

How much does it cost to see a financial planner?

Most advisors charge a 0.25 to 1 percent fee to manage your assets, though some may charge an hourly rate of $200 to $500, and others may offer an annual retainer of $7,000 or more. Be sure to watch out for advisors that earn commissions based on what products they get you to invest in.

At what point do you get a financial advisor?

There is no specific rule for when it is time to get a financial advisor. There are few things to consider, though, if you're trying to decide if you need a financial advisor. If you have enough money in your bank account to start investing, you might want to find an advisor.

What is typical fee for wealth manager?

On average, you can expect to pay between 0.5% and 2% of your total assets under management annually, $150 to $400 per hour, or a flat fee ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for a comprehensive financial plan.

What is the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner?

Key Takeaways. A financial planner is a professional who helps individuals and organizations create a strategy to meet long-term financial goals. "Financial advisor" is a broader category that can include brokers, money managers, insurance agents, or bankers. No single body is in charge of regulating financial planners ...

What is the 70/20/10 rule money?

First, calculate your monthly take-home pay, then multiply it by 0.70 to get the amount you can spend on living expenses and discretionary purchases, such as entertainment and travel. Next, multiply your monthly income by 0.20 to get your savings allotment and 0.10 to get your debt repayment.

What is the 50 30 20 rule?

Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 1234 financial rule?

One simple rule of thumb I tend to adopt is going by the 4-3-2-1 ratios to budgeting. This ratio allocates 40% of your income towards expenses, 30% towards housing, 20% towards savings and investments and 10% towards insurance.

Is 1% too high for a financial advisor?

On average, financial advisors charge between 0.59% and 1.18% of assets under management for their asset management. At 1%, an advisor's fee is well within the industry average. Whether that fee is too much or just right depends entirely on what you think of the advisor's services and performance.

At what salary do you feel rich?

$520,000. That's how much income Americans think they would need, on average, to feel rich, according to Bankrate's Financial Freedom Survey published in July. That salary would put you comfortably among the top 2% of American earners, according to Census data.

Do millionaires use financial advisors?

Most millionaires likely use some type of financial advisor to grow and protect their wealth. Whether that is an investment manager or wealth advisor can vary but not using the financial expertise of an advisor to help grow your wealth could be risky unless you have the right knowledge and skills to do it yourself.