Why You Don’t Need a Financial Advisor
There’s a version of financial life where the answers are straightforward:
Save consistently
Invest broadly
Keep fees low
Stay out of the way
And if that’s where you are, you probably don’t need an advisor.
All the tools are already there for you.
AI can help you build an investment plan.
There’s an app on your phone that will get you a portfolio.
And if you need advice, you can get it free on YouTube or TikTok.
For many, that’s enough.
But what happens when wealth creates more questions than answers?
Where Complexity Starts to Creep In
In my experience, wealth doesn’t just grow. It grows and spreads.
It spreads out across accounts, entities, geographies, generations, and priorities.
Maybe you’re navigating a business sale.
Or inheriting a portfolio that’s tax-heavy and emotionally loaded.
Maybe your estate plan makes sense to your attorney, but not to your family.
Or your investments are solid but no longer serve your life (or the one you want).
At that point, the issue isn’t whether you can manage it on your own.
It’s whether doing it yourself makes sense.
So, What’s the Role of a Financial Advisor?
Like in any profession, there is a wide range of philosophies and ways of doing things.
A good advisor doesn’t tell you what to do.
They help you see what you haven’t thought about yet.
A good advisor asks better questions.
Ones that help you rise above the noise and say, “Hmm…”
A good advisor has been down this road before.
And because of that they can help you spot the blind spots before they become detours.
Sometimes, the real value isn’t in more information — it’s knowing which information truly matters to you.
What You’re Actually Paying For
Advisor fees are easy to count and see; they’re printed right on your statement.
The cost of the mistakes they help you avoid, however, are not.
How’s that for transparency?
Missteps around timing, tax, trust structures, or legacy don’t always show up right away.
But they are compounding in the background, just like everything else…
If you’ve built something meaningful — the kind of wealth that comes with complexity — maybe the better question isn’t:
“Do I really need an advisor?”
Maybe it’s:
“What’s the cost of getting this wrong?
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network did not assist in the preparation of this report, and its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network or its affiliates. The material has been prepared or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Additional information is available upon request.
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network does not provide legal or tax advice.
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Edwards Asset Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.