When to meet with a Financial Advisor
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
Life changes fast—your financial plan should change with it. Whether you’re switching jobs, receiving an inheritance, approaching retirement, or navigating divorce, each milestone has tax, cash-flow, insurance, and estate implications. Knowing when to meet with a financial advisor helps you capture opportunities, avoid mistakes, and stay on track.
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help clients align investments, annuities, insurance, and retirement income—then revisit the plan whenever life changes. If you’re within five years of retirement, start with our Pre-Retirement Checklist.
20 Life Events That Should Trigger a Meeting
1) New job or career change
A job change usually brings new retirement plan options, employer benefits, and tax adjustments. Review your old 401(k) or 403(b) to decide between rollover, conversion, or consolidation. An advisor can coordinate your employer match, group life, and disability benefits—ensuring you’re not over- or under-insured. If your new position includes stock options, consider tax diversification strategies or an IRA-to-annuity rollover for stable accumulation.
2) Pay raise, bonus, or stock compensation
When your income jumps, your lifestyle tends to follow. Protect your gains by automatically redirecting a portion into long-term savings or guaranteed income vehicles. Advisors often recommend tax-advantaged annuities or Roth conversions to harness compound growth while staying ahead of inflation. Compare guaranteed growth options on Short-Term MYGA Annuities.
3) Starting a business or side practice
Entrepreneurs face unique risks: fluctuating income, tax exposure, and lack of employer benefits. A financial advisor can help set up a retirement plan (SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k)), evaluate Business Overhead Disability Insurance, and create liquidity reserves for slow months. They can also help structure buy-sell agreements and fund them efficiently through life or disability coverage.
4) Marriage or domestic partnership
Marriage combines more than hearts—it merges financial responsibilities. Coordinating insurance, estate planning, and tax filing status early avoids later surprises. Review joint life insurance options and joint-life annuity income to provide guaranteed lifetime support for both partners.
5) Divorce or separation
Divorce affects everything from retirement accounts to annuity ownership. Advisors help divide assets strategically to preserve tax advantages and minimize surrender charges. Learn more in How Annuities Are Divided in Divorce and What Happens to Your Annuity in a Divorce?.
6) New child or adoption
Parenthood changes priorities overnight. Advisors can guide you through setting up life insurance, 529 college plans, and income protection strategies. Ensure that both parents’ incomes are protected with policies like Key Employee Disability Insurance to maintain family stability if one can’t work.
7) Major purchase or sale (home, business, property)
Large transactions require smart liquidity management. A sale might create tax liabilities, while a new mortgage may shift debt ratios. Advisors can help reposition equity into safe-growth assets such as Fixed Indexed Annuities with Lifetime Income Riders to preserve future purchasing power.
8) Inheritance or windfall
Sudden wealth can create emotional decisions. An advisor helps slow the process—building a tax plan, charitable giving structure, and diversified investment schedule. Many clients use part of an inheritance for guaranteed lifetime income; compare options on Current Annuity Rates.
9) Health change or new diagnosis
A health setback can derail financial goals. Review your cash reserves, insurance deductibles, and long-term care coverage immediately. If you’re still healthy, consider a Hybrid Long-Term Care Policy or Return-of-Premium LTC plan to protect retirement income.
10) Caring for aging parents
Family caregiving can strain finances and time. Advisors coordinate family budgets, evaluate Partnership-Qualified LTC Insurance, and create contingency income streams for caretakers who reduce work hours. They can also ensure medical power-of-attorney and estate documents are in place.
11) Approaching retirement (5–10 years out)
This is the time to lock in guaranteed income sources. Advisors stress-test portfolios against market downturns and evaluate products that protect principal. Explore lifetime income riders and coordinate Social Security strategies to optimize total retirement income.
12) Retirement date is set
When the countdown begins, your focus shifts to income distribution. Advisors help select the right Social Security claiming age, pension payout option, and annuity start date. Review annuity payout scenarios and coordinate with Social Security planning for lifetime stability.
13) Market volatility or rate shocks
Market drops can have a lasting impact if withdrawals continue unchecked. An advisor can rebalance risk, establish cash buffers, and shift a portion to guaranteed instruments such as income annuities with death benefits to protect heirs.
14) Paying off major debt
Freeing cash flow opens opportunity. Advisors can redirect old debt payments into tax-advantaged accounts or $500,000 annuity income strategies for future security.
15) Tax law changes
Tax reform affects RMDs, Roth conversions, and annuity distributions. An advisor can coordinate investment placement and use bonus annuities to offset taxable transitions or surrender costs.
16) Beneficiary or estate updates
Outdated beneficiaries cause inheritance conflicts. Review wills, trusts, and insurance designations annually. Learn more at Annuity Beneficiary & Death Benefits.
17) Insurance coverage gaps
Life and income protection need periodic review. Professionals such as physicians or attorneys should maintain High-Income Disability Insurance and ensure group benefits aren’t their only protection.
18) Considering long-term care solutions
Planning early helps you qualify for more options and lower premiums. Advisors compare traditional LTCI with hybrid life-LTC products, tax benefits, and Partnership-Qualified plans.
19) Charitable or legacy planning
Whether you want to create scholarships or family trusts, advisors coordinate tax-efficient giving and ensure your gifts align with your income plan. Explore Qualified Charitable Distributions to give directly from IRAs tax-free.
20) Any “gut-check” moment
If you’re uneasy about market direction, taxes, or spending rates, it’s time for a check-in. A 30-minute review can prevent major missteps and uncover new opportunities—especially around Social Security timing and retirement income projections.
Why Reviews Matter: The 4% Rule Isn’t a Plan
Static withdrawal rules ignore today’s realities—longer lifespans, inflation spikes, and market sequencing risk. If a downturn hits early, a portfolio can be permanently impaired. One solution is carving out a portion of assets for contractually guaranteed income, so essentials are covered regardless of markets. Compare real-world payouts here:
Don’t Overlook Long-Term Care & Taxes
A health event can derail even the best plan. Build protection with strategies that preserve income and reduce taxes:
Profession-Specific Income Protection
Your career is your greatest asset. If a disability interrupts earnings, the right policy keeps you on track.
Talk with an Advisor
Questions about income, taxes, or timing? We’ll review your plan, identify gaps, and map the next best step.
Related Topics to Explore
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FAQs: When to Meet with a Financial Advisor
How often should I meet with a financial advisor?
At least once per year, plus anytime a major life event occurs—job change, marriage/divorce, inheritance, market shock, or within 5–10 years of retirement. Use our Pre-Retirement Checklist if you’re approaching retirement.
What life events should trigger a review?
New job or compensation, starting a business, buying/selling a home, marriage or divorce, new child, inheritance, health changes, or caring for parents. If retirement is near, compare guaranteed income options on Current Annuity Rates.
Is the 4% rule still reliable?
It’s a starting point, not a plan. Longevity, inflation, and early-retirement market drops can make it risky. Learn more in What Is the 4% Rule? and compare lifetime income options.
When should I talk to an advisor about retirement income?
Five to ten years before retirement. That’s the window to layer Social Security timing, pensions, and guaranteed income. See How Much Does a $1 Million Annuity Pay?
What should I bring to my first meeting?
Recent statements (investment, bank, annuities), tax return, insurance policies, estate docs, and a list of goals and concerns. If you own annuities, bring the contracts so we can review income riders and surrender terms.
Do I need an advisor if I’m still working?
Yes—benefits elections, rollovers, disability coverage, and tax planning are most impactful during high-earning years. Explore income protection options like High-Income Disability Insurance.
Should I meet after receiving an inheritance?
Absolutely. Coordinate taxes, titling, and risk. Many clients earmark a portion for guaranteed income using annuities—compare options on Current Annuity Rates.
How do long-term care needs affect the timing?
Discuss LTC earlier than you think. Evaluate traditional LTCI, hybrid LTC policies, and Partnership-Qualified LTC while you’re still healthy.
What if markets are volatile—should I wait?
No. Volatility is exactly when to review risk, cash reserves, and income safety nets. If needed, carve out guaranteed income so essential expenses are covered regardless of markets.
Can an advisor help with divorce and annuities?
Yes. Annuities have riders, surrender periods, and tax rules. Start with How Annuities Are Divided in Divorce and What Happens to Your Annuity in a Divorce?
How do I know if I’m saving enough?
Stress-test your plan against longevity and inflation. Use our annuity income series—e.g., $500k, $750k, and $1M—to benchmark lifetime income.
How do I get started?
Request a review on our Contact Page or call 800-533-5969. If you’re retirement-focused, begin with the Pre-Retirement Checklist.
