Raising Kids, Managing Money, Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s When to Get Help

By: Michael Foster, CFA, CFP®

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Knowing when to hire a financial advisor can be difficult. Do I need to have “made it” financially? What if I’m not close to retirement yet?

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The truth is that some of the most important financial decisions happen in your 30s and 40s, when you’re building a family, growing your career, and juggling more priorities than ever before.

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So when should a young family think about hiring a financial advisor?‍

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1. You’re Making More Money But Are Unsure What to Do With It

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Your income is growing but so are your expenses. Between daycare, a mortgage, student loans, and life generally, it can feel like the money disappears as fast as it arrives.

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We help our clients with things like:

• Creating a cash flow plan for saving and investing with intention.
• Using budgeting technology to save time and stick to a budget.
• Looking forward to track progress towards short and long-term goals.

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2. You're Not Sure You're “Doing It Right”

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Even if you're saving and living within your means, there’s a difference between being organized and effective planning for your future.

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If you're asking questions like:

• Should we be contributing more to Roth or traditional in our retirement plans?
• How does my stock option plan help me?
• Are we on track for retirement and college savings?
• How does that bigger mortgage payment affect our budget?

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We help bring clarity and a second set of eyes to help you avoid costly missteps.

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3. You're Having (or Recently Had) a Baby

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A new child changes your financial picture in addition to your sleep schedule.

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Key questions you’ll want answers to:

• How much should we save for future education?
• Do we need life insurance? How much and what type?
• Should we update or create our estate plan?
• How do we plan for parental leave and potential childcare costs?

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This is one of the most impactful times to bring in a financial planner who can help you think 5, 10, and 20 years ahead.

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4. Your Finances Are Becoming More Complex

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When you were younger, your financial life was likely pretty simple. Maybe it looked something like paycheck → checking account → spend back in the day.

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Now, it’s… a little more complicated to say the least:

• Investments across different accounts and taxation.
• HSAs, 529s, RSUs, ESPPs, and acronyms galore. OMG!

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We help young families simplify complexity and coordinate all the moving parts into a cohesive plan. Simplicity!

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5. You Want Peace of Mind, Not Just More Information

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There’s no shortage of financial advice out there, good and bad. Trying to sift through it all yourself can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already maxed out at work and home.

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We seek to provide our clients with more than just information. Instead we provide:

• A sound investment philosophy.
• A plan.
• Accountability.
• Confidence that you're doing the right things at the right time.
• Humans you can talk to when you have questions.

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So, When’s the Right Time?

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If you wait until you’re “wealthy” to hire an advisor, you may miss the very window where good planning can make the biggest difference.

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We help our clients make better decisions with their money, avoid costly mistakes that take years to unwind, and build wealth intentionally, instead of reactively.

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We work with young families all the time by helping real people build toward financial independence, not just manage it.