- The Friendletter
- Posts
- Do you NEED a Financial Planner? (And 6 questions to ask when interviewing one!)
Do you NEED a Financial Planner? (And 6 questions to ask when interviewing one!)
11/18/25 - Tuesday
Hey friend!
Let’s be honest, “hire a financial planner” is advice that gets thrown around like confetti.
But what if you don’t have six figures in your 401(k)? Or you’re still figuring out how to get one?
Here’s the truth: not everyone needs a financial planner right now. But everyone can benefit from financial clarity.
A good planner helps you create a game plan for your money that fits your life, not the other way around.
The tricky part is knowing when to bring one in and how to find the right fit.
If you do decide to hire a financial advisor, not all are created equal. there are some questions don’t hire just anyone with “advisor” in their title.
Some planners are fee-only fiduciaries (that’s good — they work for you, not commissions). Others may earn more when you buy certain products (not so good).
🤔 So before you commit, ask these six questions:
How do you get paid?
You want to make sure they’re being paid by you (fee-only), not through commissions for selling financial products.Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?
Advisors can say they are fiduciaries, but unless they are held to a fiduciary standard by a professional board of ethics, they’re not bound to it 100% of the time.
What types of clients do you work with most?
Every advisor has their sweet spot. You want to work with one who knows and loves working with your type of financial situation.
What services do you actually provide — investing, budgeting, tax planning?
Some offer more than others; not every advisor is a one-stop shop, and many don’t need to be.
What does the first year look like?
You want to know everything you’re getting if you work with them!
How will we measure success?
This will be a vibe check. If everything is logistically right and you feel good about their answer, it could be a sign that they’re a good fit for you. If not, you may need to interview another choice.
Asking these upfront keeps you in the driver’s seat. Because financial planning should feel like teamwork, not a sales meeting.
💵 And there’s no need to hire a financial advisor just to roll over an old 401(k)!
Capitalize helps you easily manage and roll over old 401(k)s or other workplace retirement accounts into an IRA. Their platform streamlines the process, offering clear guidance and support at no cost.
Capitalize works with major providers, making consolidating your retirement savings simple, secure, and stress-free. **
🪄 Not ready to hire an advisor but want to learn more about investing?
Jen is opening her investing course, Invest Simple, for one week!
For $49, you’ll learn to build wealth with confidence through a step-by-step course that breaks down investing for median-income earners.
You can find all this information for free online but we’ve laid it out in an easy to follow and finish course to save you time!
Discover how to start investing, choose the right accounts, avoid costly mistakes, and grow your money through simple, sustainable strategies.
No jargon, no guessing, just practical guidance toward lasting financial freedom.
May your investments be loved as well as your pets,
Jen
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.