How Often Should You Meet With a Financial Advisor?

Let’s say you’ve taken the first step and have already decided to speak with a financial advisor. You already know that financial planning and wealth management goals are vital to your long-term financial health. Do you know how often you should speak with your advisor about investments and strategies?

A financial advisor could help you best determine if you are on track to meet your long-term financial goals.

How Often Should You Speak With Your Financial Advisor?

Financial planning and portfolio management are personalized services, and advisor meetings can vary depending on the degree of help needed. Some advisors review more complicated financial affairs daily or monthly, but straightforward investments may only need occasional management.

The ideal frequency depends on the client. Many financial advisor clients track their investments digitally, so meeting too frequently can be more burdensome than useful. You may meet more when you first open an account so your advisor can better understand your needs. Over time you can meet occasionally to review, and then you should ramp up the frequency as you approach retirement.

At the bare minimum, you should expect to speak with a financial advisor once a year. Experts recommend meeting at least annually to review your financial strategies as your living circumstances change. These reviews can be in person or via video calls. Many advisors choose to text or email more frequent updates as necessary.

When Should You Speak With Your Financial Advisor?

Meeting with a financial advisor can be beneficial when major life events or changes in financial goals occur. For example, if you start a family, receive a windfall, or face health challenges, it’s wise to consult your advisor.

Career changes are another key reason to schedule an additional meeting with your advisor. These shifts can influence your income, retirement planning and benefits, making it helpful to review your financial strategy. Additionally, if you’re approaching retirement, a meeting can help ensure your retirement plans are on track. Together you’ll review your savings, Social Security strategies, and income withdrawal plans for the years ahead.

Financial events, such as market changes or shifts in investment performance, also provide reasons to meet. Reviewing your portfolio after a market fluctuation or major tax event, like a property sale, can help realign your goals.

Similarly, an advisor can help create your funding strategy for large purchases such as a home, tuition, or new business. You can also benefit from regular check-ins, even without significant changes. These routine reviews keep your financial plan updated, reflecting any shifts in goals, income, or expenses over time.

Moreover, if you encounter economic or legislative changes—like new tax laws or fluctuating interest rates—discussing their potential effects on your savings, investments, or loans with an advisor can provide peace of mind. In times of financial uncertainty or anxiety, it’s also helpful to reach out for reassurance, guidance, and risk management advice.

Long-term adjustments, such as revisiting estate and legacy plans, updating wills or beneficiaries and reviewing insurance coverage, are essential as family situations evolve. Ultimately, regular meetings with your advisor help ensure your financial plan adapts as your life, priorities and the economic landscape change, keeping you on track toward your goals.

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Communication Is Key

In the end, you are choosing a specific financial advisor because that person or firm offers the services you feel you need. Fee-only financial advisors are preferable, as you can be assured that they are not recommending investments to you to pad their bottom line. These professionals charge hourly, monthly or flat fees to advise you and manage your assets, and more frequent meetings may mean more consultation time to be paid.

Regardless, you should feel free to contact your advisor before making important decisions that may impact your finances. For example, investors understandably feel nervous during market downturns, especially when account balances fall, but you should speak to your advisor before panic-selling. Financial advisors are there to guide you through major decisions, so you should always feel comfortable discussing your financial goals.

How to Prepare for a Meeting With Your Financial Advisor

Knowing when to meet with your advisor is one thing. Getting the most out of that meeting is another. A little preparation beforehand can make the conversation more focused and more useful for both of you.

Start by gathering any documents your advisor may need to review. Recent account statements, tax returns, pay stubs or other income records, insurance policies, and any updated estate planning documents are all worth having on hand. If your advisor uses a client portal, uploading these ahead of time lets them review your situation before the meeting and spend more time on strategy and less on collecting information.

It also helps to write down your questions in advance. It’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask once the conversation gets going. Whether you’re curious about a recent market event, wondering how a life change affects your plan, or considering a specific product or strategy, having a list keeps the meeting on track.

Personal Inventory

If anything has changed in your life since the last meeting, make a note of it. Any personal or professional shift in your spending habits can affect your financial plan. Mentioning these upfront gives your advisor the context they need to offer relevant guidance rather than working from outdated assumptions.

Before the meeting, take a few minutes to think about your goals and whether any of them have shifted. Something that felt like a top priority two years ago may matter less now, and new goals may have come up that your advisor doesn’t know about yet. Being upfront about where your head is helps keep the plan aligned with what you actually want.

It’s also worth going in with a sense of what you want to come away with. That might be a specific action item, a revised asset allocation, an answer to a tax question, or simply confirmation that things are still on track. Having that clarity helps both you and your advisor use the time well and avoids the feeling of walking out wondering what the meeting accomplished.

Bottom Line

Experts recommend that you meet at least once a year with a financial advisor to discuss your investment plan and review your risk tolerance and cash flow objectives. You should always be clear with your advisor on how often you expect to communicate, as this may vary depending on the financial professional and your specific circumstances.

Tips for Building Wealth

Not sure what investments and strategies will help you meet your long-term goals? For a solid financial plan, consider speaking with a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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