“Nobody is coming to save your money. Not your job, not your partner, not a lottery ticket. You have to save yourself — and the smartest women don’t do it alone.”
Listen, I need to tell you something that took me way too long to learn: getting a financial advisor is not a rich-people thing. It is not a “maybe when I make more money” thing. It is a grown-woman move that you deserve to make right now, especially if you are anywhere near 35.
I know what you are thinking. “I don’t have enough money for a financial advisor.” Girl, that is exactly the lie that keeps us broke, stuck, and guessing with our money while everybody else seems to have a plan. Let me break this all the way down for you.
By the time you finish reading this, you are going to understand why a financial advisor is one of the best investments you can make in yourself, how to find one that is not going to talk down to you, and what to actually do first.
Why 35 Is the Magic Number (And Why You Should Not Wait)
Here is the thing about your 30s. This is when your money starts to have real momentum — or real consequences. You have been working long enough to have some savings, maybe a 401(k) you have been ignoring, some debt you are chipping away at, and a growing list of goals like buying a home, starting a business, or just not panicking every time your car makes a weird noise.
By 35, the financial decisions you make start compounding. And I mean that literally. The money you invest now has decades to grow. The habits you build now stick. The mistakes you avoid now save you thousands later. A financial advisor helps you see the whole board instead of just the move right in front of you.
And before you say it — no, you do not need to be making six figures. You do not need to have a perfect credit score. You do not need to have it all figured out. You just need to be ready to stop guessing.
💡 Quick Tip
Before you meet with any financial advisor, pull your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com and write down three money goals. Walking in prepared means you walk out with a real plan instead of a sales pitch.
What a Financial Advisor Actually Does (It Is Not Just Investing)
A lot of us hear “financial advisor” and picture some guy in a suit telling us which stocks to buy. That is only a tiny piece of it. A good financial advisor looks at your entire financial life — your income, your debt, your savings, your retirement, your taxes, your insurance, and your goals — and helps you connect the dots.
They will tell you things like: you are contributing too little to your 401(k) to get the full match (that is free money you are leaving on the table). Or: that life insurance policy you got talked into is not the right fit. Or: here is how to pay off your credit cards without draining your emergency fund.
Think about it like this. You go to a doctor for your health, right? You do not try to diagnose yourself off Google. Your money deserves the same kind of professional eyes. A financial advisor is basically a doctor for your finances.
What a Financial Advisor Helps You Do:
✅ Build a real budget that actually fits your life
✅ Pay off debt strategically instead of randomly
✅ Invest in a way that matches your goals and your risk level
✅ Plan for retirement without needing a finance degree
✅ Save on taxes with moves you did not even know existed
💊 What Works: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins – This book breaks down investing in plain English. Read it before you meet with any financial advisor so you know what questions to ask and you do not get talked over.
What Actually Works
Okay so you are convinced you need one. Now let us talk about how to actually find a financial advisor that is worth your time and your money. Because yes, there are some out there who will waste both.
First, know the difference between a fiduciary and a non-fiduciary. A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest. A non-fiduciary can sell you products that make them commission even if it is not the best move for you. You want a fiduciary. Say it with me: fiduciary. Do not skip this step.
Second, understand how they get paid. Some charge a flat fee. Some charge a percentage of your assets. Some make commission on products they sell you. There is no single “right” way, but you need to know which one you are dealing with so you can spot a conflict of interest.
Third, look for someone who actually gets your life. If you are building a business, find an advisor who works with entrepreneurs. If you are caregiving for a parent, find someone who understands that financial pressure. If you are single and childfree, you do not need the same plan as someone with three kids and a mortgage. Your financial advisor should see you, not just your bank account.
Women are projected to control $30 trillion in assets by 2030. Let that sink in.
Yeah that is wild right. The money is moving into our hands. But having money and knowing what to do with it are two different things. That is why the financial advisor conversation matters so much right now.
The Truth Nobody Tells You
Here is the part that nobody says out loud: a lot of women wait until something bad happens to get a financial advisor. A divorce. A layoff. A death in the family. A health scare. And by then, you are making decisions from a place of stress and fear instead of strategy.
The women who are winning with money? They got help before the crisis. They built the relationship, learned the language, and had a plan in place so when life happened, they were not starting from scratch.
You do not need a crisis to justify getting help. You need a future. And you deserve to have somebody in your corner who is looking out for it.
“The best time to get a financial advisor was five years ago. The second best time is today — before life makes the decision for you.”
And listen, if you are nervous about the cost, I get it. But think about what you are already spending on things that do not grow your money. That subscription you forgot about. The impulse buys. The late fees. A financial advisor can often save you more than they cost, especially once they help you fix your tax strategy or your investment allocations.
This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real.
Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.
Start Here
You do not need to have it all figured out to take the first step. You just need to take the first step. Here is exactly what to do this week.
Your First Three Moves:
✅ Write down your top three money goals — be specific with numbers and dates
✅ Search for fee-only fiduciaries in your area or online (NAPFA and XY Planning Network are good starting points)
✅ Book one free consultation call — you are not committing to anything, you are just gathering information
That consultation call is where you get to ask the questions that matter. How do you get paid? Are you a fiduciary? What do you specialize in? Do you work with women in my situation? If they dodge any of those questions, keep it moving.
The right financial advisor will feel like a partner, not a salesperson. They will explain things without making you feel dumb. They will celebrate your wins and help you course-correct without shame. That is what you are looking for.
You might also love this article – one of our most shared.
And if you are sitting here thinking “I am not ready,” hear me when I say this: readiness is not a prerequisite. Action is. You become ready by starting, not by waiting until you feel ready. That day is not coming. This is your sign.
You have been doing the work. You have been showing up. You have been figuring it out on your own. But you do not have to do the money part alone. A financial advisor is not a luxury. It is a tool. And you deserve access to the tools that help you build the life you are working so hard for.
This Is Your Sign to Stop Doing It Alone
Women inside TechMae have been exactly where you are. Come find your people.
