What to Expect from a Financial Advisor in the First 30 Days

Whether you're a corporate executive managing stock options, a business owner planning an exit strategy, a family balancing multiple financial priorities, or a retiree optimizing your savings, finding the right financial advisor is crucial for a successful long-term partnership. We always say that starting a relationship with a financial advisor is somewhat like dating— you should find someone whose personality, approach, and communication style resonates with you. Do you like the way they explain things? Are they relatable? Would you feel comfortable calling them anytime with questions? Can you see yourself working with them for decades to come?

When you think you’ve finally found that special professional, here’s what you can typically expect in the first 30 days of your relationship (and beyond), starting with your initial conversation:

The Initial Discovery Phase

During your first week working with a financial advisor, you can expect a thorough discovery process, especially if your advisor is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional (or CFP® Professional). A CFP® Professional has advanced training to take a more holistic approach to your finances. They look beyond just investments to create an integrated strategy for your entire financial life, so their process is likely to be more in depth and can include:

* Comprehensive information gathering: Detailed collection of your assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and existing financial products. You might receive a checklist to help you gather all of the information needed to build a financial plan and strategy.

* Goal setting conversations: In-depth discussions about your short and long-term objectives

* Risk tolerance assessment: Evaluating your comfort level with various investment approaches

* Family dynamics exploration: Understanding who's involved in your financial decisions

Financial conversations shouldn't happen in isolation. Your advisor should welcome family members, partners, or trusted friends to join meetings if you'd like them present. This inclusive approach helps ensure everyone important to your financial life is on the same page.

Strategy Development

With your information gathered, your advisor will probably take some time to develop a comprehensive financial plan with personalized recommendations:

* Initial financial plan and presentation: A comprehensive overview of your current situation

* Investment strategy proposals: Approaches aligned with your goals and risk tolerance

* Gap analysis: Identification of areas needing attention

* Priority setting: Determining which financial matters to address first

During this phase, advisors should collaborate with other professionals in your life. Whether you have an established relationship with an accountant, attorney, or other specialist, your advisor should be happy to coordinate 1:1 conversations with them, or meetings that you also join. They should also introduce you to trusted professionals from their professional network when specialized expertise is needed.

Implementation and Education

The final phase of your first 30 days focuses on putting plans into action:

* Account setup and transfers: Establishing necessary investment accounts

* Insurance and estate planning review: Addressing your protection needs and connecting with insurance brokers, estate attorneys, or other professionals to get you what you need

* Tax efficiency strategies: Exploring opportunities to optimize your tax situation

* Financial education: Building your knowledge about key concepts

Beyond the First 30 Days

While the first 30 days establish the foundation of the relationship, the true value of your new financial advisor relationship emerges in the months and years that follow. A great financial advisor should be your first call anytime you have a money question—not just at tax season or when big life changes happen.  Whether you're wondering about a market movement, considering a major purchase, or facing an unexpected financial decision at 10:30 PM before signing an important document, your advisor should be available by phone, text, and email to answer questions like:

* "The markets are in turmoil. Do I need to take action to protect myself?"

* "Can I retire now and continue to do the things I love?"

* "Can my parents afford assisted living?"

* "I have a 401k from my old job. What do I do with it?"

* "I need a new car. Should I finance or pay cash?"

* "What's the best way to invest my annual bonus?"

* "How do I avoid having concentrated stock in my portfolio?"

* "My spouse just had a health crisis and can't work. What do we do?"

The financial advisor expectations you establish in these first months set the tone for a productive long-term relationship. Whether you're managing substantial wealth or building toward your financial goals, having a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional who understands your unique situation—and who you genuinely enjoy working with—can make all the difference in your financial journey.

Meet Primary Financial Advisors

At Primary Financial Advisors, we expect our clients to call us first, anytime they have a question related to money. Our President and Founder Brian Sullivan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional who is passionate about helping corporate executives, families, retirees, and business owners plan for the future intelligently, optimize their wealth and resources, and get the most out of life. We work with clients locally in Massachusetts and virtually across the United States, providing ongoing support through regular meetings, proactive communication about market changes, and adjustments as your life circumstances evolve.

If you’d like to learn what it’s like to work with a financial advisor, or if you have unanswered questions about money, set up a 15-minute conversation with us!

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Any opinions are those of Primary Financial Advisors and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Neither Raymond James Financial Services nor any Raymond James Financial Advisor renders advice on tax or legal issues, these matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.