Why Hire an Advisor (and What We Do)

When is it time to hire a financial advisor? Good question.

If you're asking the question, it might be worth finding out.

Honestly, we do more than pick investments. That's usually the first question I get when on a golf course, at a dinner table, wherever it comes up. Where should I be investing? Is the market going up or down? It's a fair question, and it does ripple into a lot of things. A good market tends to build confidence, and businesses are more apt to hire, invest, and expand. A rocky one raises real concerns.

That's just one side of the picture.

Ideally, your plan doesn't hinge on how the market's doing this month. You've thought about the next few years, the long term, and what happens if your life changes.

If you're a business owner, you should have an answer to two questions: What is my business actually worth? What is my plan for succession; sell or handing it to your kids?

Here's a short list of what I've actually worked on recently: optimized Social Security timing for a client. Revisited a cash balance plan contribution for a business owner. Talked through the sale of a business that's coming in the next couple of years. Helped a client think through ways to offset income. Walked through the pros and cons of funding different accounts. Helped someone navigate benefits during a job change.

And yes, kept up with what is happening in the market, so I can speak to it when it comes up.

All in, finance is personal. Everyone's working toward their own version of it. My job is making sure they stay on the path they actually want to be on.