Does a Financial Advisor Help (or Hurt) Your FI Journey? | Life After FIRE

Episode #621

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Could hiring a financial advisor help you reach financial independence and retire early? This isn’t a popular move in the FIRE community, but it gave today’s guest peace of mind, preserved her wealth, and helped her save on taxes in retirement. Stick around to learn if it’s the right choice for you, too!

Welcome to another episode of “Life After FIRE”! Today, we’re chatting with Amy, who was dealt a set of circumstances that altered her life and retirement plans. Amy and her late husband, Phil, arrived at their FIRE number in 2020. Just as they were preparing for early retirement, Phil tragically passed, and Amy was left to not only navigate a new normal but also take control of her finances. Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Amy hired a financial advisor, which turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made.

In this episode, Amy shares how she used money check-ins and a year of “experimental deprivation” to speed up her path to retirement. She also discusses the pros and cons of using financial advisors, the differences between the assets-under-management and fee-only models, and how to properly vet an advisor to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth!

00:00 Intro
00:45 Discovering FI
07:07 Money “Check-Ins”
12:32 Hiring a Financial Advisor
19:26 The Pros of Financial Advisors
28:45 The FI “Archetype”
34:42 How to Choose an Advisor
38:39 Do YOU Need a Financial Advisor?