Key Takeaways:

  • Whether you feel confident about your financial situation or are unclear what move to make next, it can be challenging to manage your finances on your own.
  • A financial advisor is a professional trained to help individuals manage their finances and plan ahead.
  • Financial advisors can help with all kinds of financial matters by getting to know you and your entire picture, and tailoring a plan for your unique situation and goals.
  • Before meeting with a financial advisor, think about your needs and goals, gather key documents and prepare questions to ask.

Not just for the wealthy

In life, there are a lot of jobs you can handle yourself, like changing a light bulb or unclogging a drain. Others, like a pipe burst or kitchen remodel, you know to call in the pros. When it comes to your finances, though, it can be tricky to figure out which jobs are DIY. You know you can handle simple tasks like paying your bills, but what about making sure you're saving enough or creating a financial plan? If you’re feeling out of your depth it can help to have a knowledgeable professional to reach out to about your finances.

A financial advisor is a professional with training, knowledge and experience in helping people manage their finances and plan ahead. A common misconception is only wealthy people with complex situations can benefit from professional advice. In fact, financial advisors work with people in all different financial situations.

Simply working for a financial company doesn't make someone a financial advisor. They must pass industry-related exams, obtain certifications, etc. to help make sure they have a certain level of understanding and experience on a broad set of financial topics. And when you work with a financial advisor, you can benefit from the tools and resources they have access to that you otherwise wouldn't. All of this means more of your time could be spent on other things that really matter to you.

A helping hand

So how do you know when it's the right time to bring in an experienced professional to help improve the quality of your financial decisions?

By getting to know you and your entire picture, a financial advisor can tailor a plan for your unique situation and goals. If you've ever found yourself in—or just wondering about—these situations, it could be a smart move to call on a professional:

Your financial life could use a little TLC.

Maybe you're just starting out and want to make sure you're on the right track. Or you're a seasoned professional and looking for guidance on your equity compensation. It could be you just need a little help getting organized.

A major life event is expected.

Looking to buy a house? A little one on the way? Thinking about the cost of college? Milestones like these can significantly impact a person's finances.  

Retirement is top of mind.

You want to make sure that you have a plan designed to help you realize—and protect—the lifestyle you envision in retirement.  

You're thinking about needs beyond your own.

Whether it's giving to family members efficiently, or letting philanthropy take a front seat,  it's important to you to plan, document and communicate your intentions.

Before meeting with a financial advisor

A good first step is to gather important documents such as your financial statements. This, along with anything else they suggest you bring will help support your conversation. And to make the most of your time together, here are a few questions you could ask.

Ask yourself:

  • What does my vision for the future look like?
  • Do I have any concerns?
  • Who are the people that matter most to me?

Ask your financial advisor:

  • Can you tell me a little about you and your team?
  • How often can I expect us to be in touch?
  • What should I focus on between now and our next meeting?

Whether you feel confident about your financial situation or are unclear what move to make next, with so many goals competing for your limited financial resources it can be challenging to manage them yourself. With a knowledgeable professional in your corner you'll have the support you need to feel more confident about the choices you're making. And you'll be able to spend more time focusing on the future you envision and what matters most to you.

This is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions. It has not been prepared with regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific person. No representation or warranty, either express or implied, is provided in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained herein. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by other business areas or groups of UBS.

As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that clients understand the ways in which we conduct business, that they carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer. A small number of our financial advisors are not permitted to offer advisory services to you, and can only work with you directly as UBS broker-dealer representatives. Your financial advisor will let you know if this is the case and, if you desire advisory services, will be happy to refer you to another financial advisor who can help you. Our agreements and disclosures will inform you about whether we and our financial advisors are acting in our capacity as an investment adviser or broker-dealer. For more information, please review the PDF document at ubs.com/relationshipsummary(PDF, 143 KB).

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