You’ve been thinking about it for months—maybe years. Should you work with a financial planner?

Maybe your finances feel scattered across different accounts and you’re not sure if you’re on track. Maybe you’ve got big goals but no clear path to reach them. Or maybe you just want someone to tell you: “Yes, you’re doing fine” or “Here’s what needs to change.”

Whatever brought you here, you’re probably wondering: What actually happens when I work with a financial planner?

Let me walk you through it. Not the technical, textbook version—the real, human version of how this partnership unfolds.

Step 1: We Start With Your Story

Financial planning doesn’t begin with spreadsheets and investment returns. It begins with conversation.

In our first meetings, I’m going to ask you questions that might surprise you: What does a perfect Tuesday look like five years from now? What keeps you up at night? If money weren’t an obstacle, what would you do differently?

Yes, we’ll also talk about the practical stuff—your income, debts, accounts, and assets. But the numbers alone don’t tell me what matters to you. I need to understand your values, your worries, your goals, and even your relationship with money.

This is where trust gets built. You’re sharing your financial life with me, and that’s not always comfortable. My job is to listen without judgment and understand the full picture—not just what’s in your bank account, but what’s in your heart.

Step 2: We Dream About Your Future

Once I understand where you are, we talk about where you want to go.

What are you working toward? Retirement at 60? Sending your kids to college without loans? Starting a business? Buying a second home? Traveling more? Working less?

Here’s the thing: you might come in with one goal in mind, and through our conversation, discover you actually have five. Or you might realize that what you thought you wanted isn’t actually what matters most.

This step is about getting crystal clear on your priorities. Because here’s a secret—you probably can’t do everything, but you can do the things that matter most. My job is to help you figure out what those things are and put them in order.

Step 3: We Take Stock of Where You Are Today

Now comes the assessment. Don’t worry—this isn’t a test you can fail.

We look at everything: your income and expenses, your savings and debts, your insurance coverage, your investments, your tax situation, your estate plan (or lack thereof). We’re basically doing a financial health check-up.

This is where people often discover surprises—good and bad. Maybe you’re saving more than you realized. Maybe you have a gap in your insurance coverage. Maybe your 401(k) has been sitting in a money market fund for eight years (it happens more than you’d think).

The goal isn’t to judge the past. It’s to understand your starting point so we can map out the best route forward.

Step 4: We Build Your Personalized Roadmap

This is where the magic happens.

Based on everything we’ve discussed—your goals, your current situation, your timeline, your risk tolerance—I create a customized financial plan. Not a generic template, but a roadmap built specifically for you.

This might include recommendations like:

• Adjusting how much you’re saving and where
• Rebalancing your investment portfolio
• Creating a debt payoff strategy
• Updating your insurance coverage
• Optimizing your tax strategy
• Setting up or updating your estate plan

I’ll show you different scenarios: “If we do X, here’s what happens. If we do Y, here’s the outcome.” Sometimes there are tradeoffs. Retiring at 58 might mean less travel in your 40s. Paying for your kids’ college might mean working a few years longer.

My job is to show you the options and the consequences of each choice. Your job is to decide what feels right for you.

Step 5: We Put the Plan Into Motion

A plan sitting in a folder doesn’t change your life. Action does.

Once you’re comfortable with the recommendations, we start implementing. This might mean:

• Opening new accounts
• Rebalancing investments
• Setting up automatic transfers
• Calling your insurance agent
• Meeting with an estate attorney
• Adjusting your 401(k) contributions

Some of this you’ll do yourself. Some of it I’ll help coordinate. Some of it we’ll do together. It depends on what you need and what you’re comfortable with.

The key is: we’re not just talking about what should happen. We’re making it happen.

Step 6: We Stay in Touch and Adjust as Life Changes

Here’s what most people don’t realize: financial planning isn’t a one-and-done event. It’s an ongoing relationship.

Life doesn’t follow your financial plan—your financial plan has to follow your life. You get a new job. You have a baby. The market crashes. Your parents need help. You decide to start a business. You get divorced. You inherit money.

All of these changes mean your plan needs to change too.

We’ll meet quarterly to check in on your progress and make adjustments. But life doesn’t wait for scheduled meetings—if something significant comes up, you can always reach out between our regular check-ins.

Think of me as your financial co-pilot. You’re driving, but I’m here to help navigate, especially when the route changes unexpectedly.

The Bottom Line

Working with a financial planner isn’t about someone telling you what to do with your money. It’s about having a partner who helps you get clear on what you actually want, then builds a strategy to make it real.

Here’s what surprises most people: this process is energizing. Yes, we’re talking about serious things—your retirement, your kids’ futures, your legacy. But there’s something genuinely invigorating about finally seeing the whole picture come into focus. About making decisions with confidence instead of second-guessing yourself. About watching your financial life transform from reactive to intentional.

That fog of financial anxiety you’ve been carrying around? It lifts. The scattered pieces start fitting together. You stop wondering “Am I doing this right?” because you know you are.

It’s the difference between drifting and driving toward something that matters.

If you’ve been on the fence about working with a planner, I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what the journey looks like. It’s less intimidating than you might think—and more empowering than you might expect.

Ready to start the conversation? Let’s talk about your story.