When should I start working with a financial advisor?

The earlier the better, but there is no wrong time to start. The clients who benefit most from proactive planning are typically in their late 40s and 50s, when retirement is close enough to plan for seriously but far enough away that meaningful decisions can still be made. That said, we also work with clients who come to us in the middle of a life transition — a divorce, an inheritance, a business sale — where the immediate need for guidance is acute.