Now that 2026 is here, many people are eager to make progress on their New Year’s resolutions. Personal finance goals always rank high on such lists. If attending to your finances is long overdue, you’re not alone and 2026 offers a fresh start.
A big question for young adults embarking on this challenge is whether to enlist professional help. Personal finance can be daunting, and while online financial guidance is easily accessible, vetting it and trying to think long-term can be intimidating, especially at the start of your career.
If how to best manage your finances feels like guesswork, that may be the first sign you should hire a financial planner.
Not just retirement. Younger people may think financial planners are for people who are close to retirement, but that isn’t the case. While retirement planning is a topic of discussion, there are many aspects of one’s financial life that may require expert guidance.
At my firm, we see young professionals grappling with complex items such as equity compensation, real estate investments, home purchases, business ownership, and education planning all the time. Each of these topics may warrant professional advice.
Other common life events that drive people to seek professional advice include job changes, having a child, getting married, the death of a loved one, and receiving an inheritance.
The scenarios above are usually accompanied by an array of financial questions. For younger professionals, relying solely on the information they can find online may not cut it. Working with a financial planner can provide peace of mind when life events become complex and making the right decision is potentially more meaningful.
Don’t wait. When these catalysts spark interest in planning, it is usually reactive. But proactively seeking a planner can allow for a greater sense of direction when these major life events occur and, in some cases, can allow one to prepare ahead of them.
The alternatives can leave a lot to be desired. A simple online search could return 10 different avenues to managing financial matters. The resulting whirlwind of information can lead to a loss of confidence about which choices will be the best ones.
Turning to older family members may be equally unhelpful. Often, older family members offer unsolicited advice that is based on their experiences. In most cases, young people’s experience today couldn’t look more different than that of their parents or grandparents.
Jump in. So, when is it time to hire a financial planner? Everyone’s situation will be different of course, but below are my top three reasons to begin working with a professional:
- You have the means to afford a planner. Most fiduciary planners will let you know during a consultation whether your financial situation is complex enough to require a formal engagement.
- You no longer want to handle finances on your own.
- You want to feel more confident and stop guessing when it comes to your financial decisions.
What if you don’t have a large investment portfolio and you are considering an advisor with an investment minimum? I’d urge you to keep looking. While some wealth management firms have asset minimums, engaging a financial planner doesn’t necessarily require having a lot of money.
Many registered investment advisory firms, such as the one I work for, offer fee-only planning engagements. These offerings are simply a fee for financial planning and advice. There is absolutely no requirement of asset minimums to begin a relationship.
Young people are experiencing some of the most dynamic times of their lives—at a personal, professional, and financial level. Working with a financial planner can give you confidence you are on the right path and result in the peace of mind that many young professionals are looking for.
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