To help you decide what kind of financial advice is best for you, see if your situation is similar to this hypothetical client:
Kiplinger's Guideto the Financial Pro Marketplace
- Find the Right Financial Advice at the Right Price
- The Best Financial-Planning Options for Single Savers
- How to Vet a Financial Adviser
- The Best Financial-Planning Options for Families Saving for Retirement and College
- What You Must Know About the Fiduciary Rule
- The Best Financial-Planning Options for Near-Retirees
- My Search for a Financial Adviser
The Garcias are a 65-year-old couple who plan to retire in a year. They have more than $1 million in 401(k)s and taxable and retirement accounts. Goals include investing their savings, which will supplement pensions and Social Security, so they will stay ahead of inflation without running out of money. They'd also like to pay off the remaining $75,000 balance on their mortgage.
With more than $1 million in assets, this couple can afford to pay for personal advice, and they may need it. They're facing a host of complex decisions, and they don't have time to recover from financial mistakes before they retire.
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Among the issues an adviser can address: how to invest their nest egg so it will stay ahead of inflation without exposing them to too much risk; when to file for Social Security; and the most cost-effective way to pay for health care, including long-term care.
A robo adviser probably won't provide everything the Garcias need because managing their investments is just one of the many tasks they face going forward. They'll want to work with a planner who has expertise in a wide range of areas, from estate planning to minimizing taxes on their retirement income.
"Comprehensive financial advice is so critical; it's more important than investment advice," says Ed Gjertsen, vice president of Mack Investment Securities and former president of the Financial Planning Association. "If I don't look at whether you have a will and power of attorney and something happens to you, whatever we've made in the markets could be obliterated."
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