Does the age of your financial advisor matter? (2024)

According to various studies and publications, the average age of financial advisors is somewhere between 51 and 55 years, with 38% expecting to retire in the next ten years.

But does the age of your financial advisor really matter?

Does the age of your financial advisor matter? (2)

Travis Maus

Chief Executive Officer, Senior Wealth Manager

Average age of Financial Advisors

For most of your life, a financial advisor is a coach, your biggest fan, and in many cases considered a close friend. They cheer you on and steer you to a brighter financial future by helping you make good decisions and sometimes even saving you from yourself.

It can feel wonderful to know that someone is watching out for those things that are most important to you. Then “life happens,” and you get older. With age comes retirement, elder care, and then your own estate. No one is immune to this.

What does financial planning cover?

Financial planning is the practice of contingency plan design. Plans are made for so many life happens moments, such as retirement, stock market crashes, disability events, health crises, early death, nursing homes, college tuition, relocation, income reductions, tax law changes, Social Security timing, etc.

There seems to be a plan for everything, except for what happens when your financial advisor (a.k.a. contingency plan expert) has their own life happens issues.

How important is age, and is there a better way?

Age obviously matters, but how are you supposed to contingency plan for losing decades’ worth of trust, experience, and sometimes even friendship?

💡 “Fee-only advisors cannot charge commissions or hidden fees because they are fiduciaries…”

Having a team of financial advisors is how you can plan around losing one financial advisor. It’s also how you can gain access to even more experience and expertise, all while working with younger financial advisors.

A financial planning team should work for you in a fee-only capacity. Fee-only advisors cannot charge commissions or hidden fees because they are fiduciaries who are required to put each individual client’s needs first, so they are most concerned with the outcome of their financial advice.

This is important because as you age, you should be confident that your financial advisor will protect you and those you love from financial mismanagement.

Considerations

No one knows when a life event will happen that will necessitate their dependence on a financial advisor, but we do know the likelihood increases with age.

Shouldn’t you make sure that your financial advisor will be there for you and always obligated to put your needs first when you or your family needs them the most?

Listen to Podcast

Watch Our Intro

Schedule Free Consultation

S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC (S.E.E.D.) is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the Securities Exchange Commission. S.E.E.D.’s team provides investment fiduciary and financial planning services to clients. Our fees are disclosed, easy to understand, and not predicated on product sales.

Does the age of your financial advisor matter? (2024)

FAQs

How old should your financial advisor be? ›

The average age of the profession also contributes a bit. Many financial advisors are in their late 50s and closing in on retirement.

How do you know if your financial advisor is good? ›

Here are four traits you want to look for when gauging whether a Financial Advisor is suitable for you:
  1. They work with you. ...
  2. They take a holistic view of your finances. ...
  3. They develop and customize your investment strategy. ...
  4. They have the support of an investment team. ...
  5. There is a lack of transparency.

At what net worth should you hire a financial advisor? ›

Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.

Is 30 too old to become a financial advisor? ›

“Our industry is all about people and we need a diverse range of professionals to cater for a wide range of clients, so age should not be a limiting factor,” he says. There is nothing to prevent anyone of working age becoming an adviser based on age alone.

What is the average age of an adviser? ›

The age group with the most advisers was 50-59, which dominated 33.2 per cent of the overall total. After that its was 40-49 (26.5 per cent), 30-39 (17.6 per cent), with over 60s following closely behind with 17 per cent.

How old is the average financial planner? ›

According to Adviser Ratings, consumers could expect the average adviser to be 49 years old with an annual salary of $145,000. In regards to educational levels, the average adviser was university degree qualified, whilst only 50 per cent of practice advisers met the educational requirements.

How do I know when to change my financial advisor? ›

Here are seven warning signs that it's time to choose a new financial advisor.
  1. They're unresponsive. ...
  2. They don't check in with you. ...
  3. They're inattentive. ...
  4. They have high fees. ...
  5. They push you toward certain investments. ...
  6. You're unhappy with your portfolio's performance. ...
  7. They don't have a good relationship with you.
Jul 21, 2023

Can I trust my financial advisor? ›

Most financial consultants, brokers, insurance agents and advisors are not fiduciaries. You will fare better with fiduciary certified financial planners and registered investment advisors. They may still mismanage your money, but if they run afoul of your financial interests, you can take them to court.

Is paying a financial advisor worth it? ›

A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.

Should you put all your money with one financial advisor? ›

Whether you should consider working with more than one advisor can depend on your overall goals and financial situation. If you're fairly new to investing and you haven't built up a sizable net worth yet, for instance then one advisor may be sufficient to meet your needs.

What are the disadvantages of having a financial advisor? ›

Potential negatives of working with a Financial Advisor include costs/fees, quality, and potential abandonment. This can easily be a positive as much as it can be a negative. The key is to make sure you get what your pay for. The saying, “price is an issue in the absence of value” is accurate.

How much money should you bring to a financial advisor? ›

Advisors that charge a percentage usually want to work with clients with a minimum portfolio of about $100,000. This makes it worth their time and will allow them to make about $1,000 to $2,000 a year.

Should I have a financial advisor in my 20s? ›

Should I get a financial advisor in my 20s? Not every decision requires a financial advisor, but if you prefer to have someone to talk to about major financial decisions, or if you'd like someone to manage your assets, then an advisor may make sense for you.

What age should you start financial planning? ›

Starting financial planning at any age is a wise decision, and it's great that you're considering it. Here are some steps you can take to begin your financial planning journey: Set Clear Financial Goals: Determine your short-term and long-term financial goals.

Should you get a financial advisor at 18? ›

Many of us see working with a financial advisor as something only for people nearing or living in retirement—or for those with a lot of money who want others to manage it. But even if you're young, an advisor can help get you on the right financial track.

What is the average age of a CFP? ›

How a young CFP hit the ground running. The average age of a financial planner in the U.S. is nearly 51. With 43% over age 55, it's hardly a youthful profession.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 5705

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.