Most people don’t wake up and say, “You know what sounds fun today? Talking about retirement accounts.” (However, if that’s what happened this morning, I’m not judging you. But maybe slow down on the melatonin.)
Talking to a financial advisor has probably been on your mind for a while (not just this morning), and no one likes that nagging feeling that they should be doing something and putting it off. But I’ve been around the financial planning block long enough to know that what’s likely making you hesitate to schedule that appointment is one of the following:
- You just don’t feel like it.
- Meeting with an advisor sounds boring/scary/embarrassing all at the same time.
- You think you’re not organized enough to take the first step.
As for the first reason, I get it. Many an “adulting” task has fallen to the end of my to-do list because I just don’t wanna (insert whiny voice here). The second reason – pretty much everyone feels like that before they make the appointment. Then they quickly realize that planning for the future is actually pretty fun.
And the last?
Not an issue.
In the back of your mind, you’re probably picturing some 90s sitcom scene where the main character goes to meet with their accountant with a shoebox full of wadded up receipts and the CPA shames them into trying to do better.
Hey – those sitcom CPAs are just mean. Not us financial advisors.
But seriously, your first meeting with a financial advisor – or me specifically – is not a high-stakes job interview, a pop quiz, or a final exam. Think of it more like a coffee date – except instead of awkwardly trying to remember your date’s dog’s name, we’ll be talking about your money.
What’s Helpful to Bring (Mentally, Not in a Briefcase)
- A rough sketch of your accounts. You don’t need to know your balances down to the cent. If you can say, “I’ve got about $350k in my 401(k) and something hanging out in a Roth,” we’re good. That’s plenty to help me figure out the next steps.
- Your goals – even the vague ones. “I want to retire someday,” “I’d like to help my kids with college,” or “I just want to stop feeling like I’m playing Whac-A-Mole with my bills.” Perfect. The dream is clarity, but we can start with “I just don’t want to panic every time I open my bank app.”
- Your questions. Seriously – bring all of them. From “Am I saving enough?” to “Wait, so do I actually own my company stock or is it just pretend money?” Nothing is too basic, and nothing is too complicated.
What You Can Leave Behind (For Now)
- The giant stack of statements. Unless you just love carrying heavy paper around, leave them at home. If we decide to work together, we’ll get to all the details later.
- Your financial shame. Trust me – you are not the only one who feels like you should “know more by now.” My job is to help you organize, strategize, and breathe easier, not to give you detention for having 401(k)s all over the place.
- Perfectionism. Spoiler alert: you don’t have to have it all figured out. If you did, you wouldn’t need me. And honestly, if you’re already that organized, you’re probably a Capricorn like me – and we can bond over spreadsheets later.
Come to your first financial planning meeting prepared to share a snapshot of where you’re at and what you’re hoping for. That’s it. You bring your big-picture numbers and your hopes for the future, and I’ll bring the expertise. From there, we’ll figure out if working together makes sense – and if so, we’ll dive deeper into the details later.
Curious what financial planning could do for you? Let’s find out together. Book your first meeting, and come as you are – no prep work required.
