Your bank or credit union
You might be able to speak with a banker who can walk through your finances and make recommendations. For instance, they might review your accounts with you and help you get the most out of your money. In addition, some banks have financial education resources on their websites.
If you need a plan for getting out of debt, a financial coach might work best. If instead you're thinking about long-term investing, retirement income strategies, and estate planning, look toward a financial planner. Also, make sure the advisor works in your best interest.
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.
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.
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.
The "Big 4" refers to the four largest accounting firms and includes Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY. All four companies provide audit, assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax compliance services. Deloitte. "Deloitte Ranked 6th on World's Best Workplaces 2023."
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.
For most people, having around 70% of their current take-home pay, is the amount of money they need in retirement to keep the lifestyle they have now. To work out how much you might need, this is a good place to start. But keep in mind, how much you may need will change depending on your expenses and what you earn now.
If you want access true expertise, Pillemer recommends searching outside of yourself and beyond your immediate circle. Specifically, he recommends seeking out an older person—a much older person – who embodies the “self” you would like to be.
Be sure to keep your financial advisor updated on any potential changes at work (especially if you plan to make any career changes), how you feel about your chances for promotion at your job, if your employer-provided benefits may be changing, what you would do if you lost your job, etc.
Choosing between Edward Jones and Charles Schwab hinges on individual circumstances and financial objectives. While Edward Jones excels in personalized financial advising and strong client-advisor relationships, Charles Schwab stands out for its comprehensive range of financial services and transparent fee structures.
The answer depends on various factors, as fee structures and rates differ from advisor to advisor. According to a 2023 report by Advisory HQ, financial advisors may charge a fixed fee ranging from $7,500 to $55,000 or an asset-based fee averaging around 1.02% of assets under management (AUM).
In addition, millionaires are much more likely to work with a financial advisor (69%), more than double the amount of the general population (33%).
Edward Jones serves as an investment advice fiduciary at the plan level and provides educational services at both the plan and participant levels, if applicable.
While a 1% annual fee may seem like a small price to pay for professional investment guidance and financial planning, it can significantly erode portfolio returns over long time horizons. Even seemingly minor differences in fees add up in a big way when compounded year after year for decades.
$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.
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.
Industry standards show that financial advisor fees generally range between 0.5% and 1.5% of AUM annually. Placement of a 2% fee may appear steep compared to this average. However, this fee might encompass more comprehensive services or cater to more unique, high-maintenance portfolios.
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.
While both offer guidance on investments, taxes and other financial matters, financial advisors generally focus on managing an individual's investment portfolios, while financial planners take a look at the entire financial picture and an individual's long-term goals.