Podcast Summary: Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger
Episode: Finding a Financial Advisor
Date: November 10, 2025

Overview

In this episode of "Jill on Money," host Jill Schlesinger, CFP®, tackles the often-daunting process of finding the right financial advisor. The episode centers around a listener call-in from Jackie, a high-saver in New York City navigating her next financial steps. Jill provides practical advice, demystifies what to look for in a financial advisor, and shares concrete suggestions for seeking trustworthy guidance—always emphasizing transparency, trust, and the importance of the fiduciary standard.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jackie's Financial Situation and Goals

• Jackie's Background:
  • Age: 46, Single, No kids
  • Salary: $135,000/year, plus a generous bonus and long-term incentive plan at work
  • Stable, low-cost lifestyle (low rent, no big debts, spends mainly on travel)
• Savings & Investments:
  • $575,000 in savings accounts (admittedly too much in cash)
  • $500,000 in a 401(k), maxed out annually
  • $190,000 in a brokerage account (managed digitally via Vanguard’s Personal Advisor at 0.3% fee)
  • $20,000 in an HSA (half invested)
  • $35,000 in checking
• Financial Challenge: Realization that too much is sitting in savings, unclear what to do next, and now seeking trustworthy personalized advice.

“I have way too much money in a savings account and I feel almost, you know, almost like I don't know what to do.” — Jackie (07:31)

2. Why Seek a Financial Advisor?

• Trust and Guidance over Product Sales:
  • Jackie’s top concern is to find “somebody I can trust… Please give me the best guidance. Don’t…sell me anything I don’t need.” (09:40)
  • Jill underscores the importance of hiring a fiduciary—someone legally required to act in your best interest.
• When You Need an Advisor:
  • Large increase in savings, complexity of investments, or life changes can signal the need for advice.
  • Direct, ongoing planning (not just investment management) is key, especially for retirement and potential family support issues.

3. How to Find and Vet Advisors

• Referral Networks:
  • Recommendations often come from CPAs, tax preparers, friends, or colleagues.

    “Usually it comes from a referral…it can come from, you know, if you work with a CPA or you have a tax preparer or…a friend.” — Jill (09:53)

  • Workplace connections can help—others in your company may have advisors they recommend.
• CFP Board as a Resource:
  • While the CFP Board website lists qualified advisors, simply holding a credential isn’t everything. Not every CFP is the right fit.

    “It’s not…like every designation doesn’t automatically mean that somebody is like the best person for you.” — Jill (12:38)

• Asset Minimums Often a Barrier:
  • Many planners require higher minimums ($1-2 million), and 401(k) assets sometimes don’t count towards those.
  • This is a “big downfall of the profession,” Jill admits, highlighting a service gap for clients like Jackie—and many listeners.
• Jill’s Actionable Next Step:
  • Jill offers to personally refer Jackie to a couple of trusted names, recognizing the personal connection needed to overcome “the daunting” search process. (12:27)

4. Practical Next Steps and Resources

• 13 Questions to Ask a Potential Advisor:
  • Jill directs listeners to her website’s resource section, which includes a list of key questions to ask when interviewing potential advisors.
• Estate Planning:
  • Jill reminds Jackie (and listeners) that proper planning includes wills and estate documents—often neglected.

“They’ll make you do a will and do all the estate planning so I don’t have to be the nudge. They can nudge you.” — Jill (13:02)

• Listener Participation:
  • Listeners are encouraged to contact Jill with their own questions via the show’s website.
  • Participation can be anonymous or as a call-in guest.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Piling Up Savings & Feeling Stuck

  “I literally looked at my bank accounts one day and I’m like, I have way too much money in a savings account and I feel almost…I don’t know what to do.”
  — Jackie, 07:31

• On the Value—and the Difficulty—of Finding Help

  “A lot of the financial planners…won’t take somebody who has your level of assets…That’s…I think it’s like, actually one of the big downfalls of the profession.”
  — Jill, 11:28

• On Credentials vs. Fit

  “It’s not…like every designation doesn’t automatically mean that somebody is like the best person for you.”
  — Jill, 12:38

• On Doing the Hard Work of Planning

  “They’ll make you do a will and do all the estate planning, so I don’t have to be the nudge. They can nudge you.”
  — Jill, 13:02

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:40] Start of listener Q&A: Jackie introduces her situation
• [03:48] Jackie explains her background and finances
• [05:48] Breakdown of savings and investments
• [07:31] Jackie’s turning point: recognizing too much in savings
• [09:40] Jackie’s concerns about trust and transparency with advisors
• [11:28] Jill explains barriers in the profession for mid-wealth clients
• [12:27] Jill offers to provide trusted advisor names
• [13:04] Jill lists resources available for listeners seeking advisors

Tone and Style

Jill’s tone is upbeat, supportive, and direct, aiming to demystify complex financial topics. She never patronizes—always meeting listeners where they are. The episode is both practical and reassuring, encouraging listeners to take confident next steps in their financial lives.

Bottom Line for Listeners:
Finding a trustworthy financial advisor can be daunting, especially when you fall between “starter” and “ultra-high net worth” categories, but it’s possible with the right questions and a focus on fiduciary responsibility. Use referrals, ask hard questions (see Jill’s list), and don’t assume a credential alone guarantees the right fit. Above all, planning is worth the effort—for your investments and your peace of mind.