New job, big purchase, inheritance, retirement on the horizon? Different money moments can call for different kinds of help. If you’re wondering what kind of support will help you move forward, the answer isn’t always straightforward. It depends on a number of factors, including what you hope to achieve, the complexity of your situation, and how hands-on you want to be. The good news is you don’t have to guess. Here are 4 steps to help you choose the right financial planning guidance for you.
1. Start with 3 questions
Before you make any decisions, take a beat to ask yourself:
- What is your goal? What’s the “why” behind your next money move? Your goals could include building emergency savings , preparing for retirement, navigating a major life change, planning for caregiving needs, or simply wanting to make sure your money is working hard to grow. Naming your goal is the first step to helping achieve it.
- How complex is your situation? Do you have things like equity compensation, multiple accounts, rental property, business ownership, or estate/tax considerations? Or maybe you’re just getting started and want to learn how to create a plan or open an account. Your personal situation will help determine what you need right now.
- What’s your money style? Do you prefer doing it yourself with tools and resources, guided check-ins, or full-service support? Think about how much time, skill, and energy you have to put toward managing your investments and plan.
2. Understand your options
Once you’ve identified a goal, think about the kind of support you need to reach (or accomplish) that goal. You might choose to do it all on your own, have your money managed for you, or a blend of the two. You could feel comfortable choosing your own investments but need help with an estate plan. Again, the help you need depends on you and your personal situation.
Here are a few of the types of financial planning help available:
- Do it yourself with tools and resources: If you feel good about navigating your finances and making decisions, tools like calculators, checklists, and educational content can help you budget, automate savings, learn how to invest, and more. Get started here .
- Financial planner: A financial professional can help you create an overview of your finances, organize your accounts, and develop a comprehensive plan or one aimed at a particular goal. They can also help you understand if a managed account may be right for your unique situation.
- Professional investment management: This is when an investment manager (or portfolio manager) handles investment decisions for you once you open and fund a managed account. There are a range of options available, including 1-on-1 dedicated advisors, a team of advisors, digital advisors (also known as robo advisors ), or a hybrid combination. Note, this is not a full list of options. Want to learn more? Read our guide on managed accounts .
3. Consider these tips to help you choose financial planning help
- Match the support to the moment. If you have a more complex situation, or a high-stakes decision to make, you may want to consider more personalized support.
- Be honest about your bandwidth. If your life is busy, consider solutions that automate the routine and reserve your energy for bigger decisions.
- Start small, level up as needed. A single planning session can help answer the questions you have right now and unlock momentum. You can always add ongoing advice later.
- Include your planning partners. Invite the people who help you plan—family, friends, or other trusted professionals—so your decisions reflect your real-life support system.
4. Get started with this tool
We pulled together an easy-to-use, interactive guide to help you get tailored suggestions in minutes. It walks you through a few straightforward prompts and points you to options that might match your needs and preferences, so you can take your next step with confidence.