1. Make sure the advisor focuses on you and your goals

Your financial life is unique, and the advice you receive should reflect that. Your advisor’s guidance should never default to someone else's circumstances, like your parents’ or partner's situation, regardless of how you connected with the advisor. 

Salma emphasizes the importance of ensuring a plan is personalized to each individual.

“The values that the next generation have are different than their parents’ values. I am part of a generation where you save, you hit retirement, and then start doing the things you love and planned for—like travelling or buying a vacation home,” says Salma. “Whereas the new generation is teaching us to live life while they're earning, so it’s really important that financial plans are tailored to the client and what matters to them.”

Take notice of whether the advisor asks about your goals, values, and life before they discuss a plan with you, as that’s an important part of ensuring your plan is right for you and serves your priorities. Remember, above all else, the foundation of good advice is feeling seen and understood. 

2. Expect questions before solutions

The best advice comes from asking thoughtful questions, and a strong advisor will spend most of your first meeting asking about you, your current situation and your goals rather than focusing on which products you might consider. Jumping straight to solutions often signals a one-size-fits-all approach and advice that is given without context is rarely effective. 

Salma believes in a client-led approach with open-ended questions. “It's very important to learn the client’s full story before getting to what the solutions or products might be. Because advisors in this industry come from a position of knowledge and competency, they sometimes jump ahead to the answer. Make sure you find an advisor who takes the time to get to know you and what your priorities are.” she says. 

3. Be your own advocate

Working with a financial advisor is a partnership, and you should expect to not only receive personalized advice but feel empowered to be in control of your financial plan. Show up to your advisor meeting prepared with questions and don’t hesitate to speak up if something isn’t clear or doesn’t feel right. 

You care about your financial future more than anyone else. Advocating for yourself improves outcomes by ensuring your concerns are addressed, fewer details are missed, and, ultimately, helps to build your confidence.

“This is the number one thing I always say to women,” says Salma. “Be your own advocate. Very often people come back and say to me, my husband is the person who did all the finances and I've been left out of that piece. It's very important that the woman is heard, and that she's addressed. She has the right to be her own advocate and ask those questions for herself.”

4. Prioritize advisors who educate and empower

An advisor-client relationship is about more than building a financial plan. A great advisor acts as a coach, not just a decision-maker, so it’s important to choose someone who explains concepts clearly, helps you learn, and grows your confidence over time without overwhelming you. The goal isn’t just to follow instructions—it’s to understand and feel in control of your financial future. 

“I'm all about the informed decision piece because when you own the decision, then you follow the decision and you follow the path. If you don't own the decision, you’re less likely to follow the plan and achieve your goals,” says Salma.

When you are educated, you make better decisions and become less dependent on others over time. Seeking out a Certified Financial Planner®  who looks at your situation and financial plan holistically is a great place to start. Adds Salma, “You need someone who's going to be a coach, who's going to walk you through that process, but you need a competent coach who understands what they're doing.”

5. Ensure the plan reflects your whole life, not just retirement

Your life has many stages, and your financial plan should reflect that. Look for advice that includes your current goals—like travel, buying a home, saving for your child’s education or starting or investing in a business—not only long-term retirement planning. 

When thinking about these conversations, Salma stresses how crucial it is to consider each part of a client’s plan. “It all has to be looked at because everything needs to be working together to run smoothly. You can’t disconnect a train car and expect the rest of the train to reach the destination.” 

A meaningful financial plan balances enjoying the present with preparing for the future. Ignoring short- and medium-term goals can lead to frustration, burnout, or missed opportunities to actually live your life along the way, and your financial advisor should support embracing where you are now as part of your plans.