Financial Advice for People Who Don't Love Finance

Tyrone earns $165K working at a growing software company. He’s married to Lisa, a freelance designer with variable income. They have two kids, ages 7 and 4. Between RSUs, a 401(k), and multiple savings accounts, Marcus feels “financially successful” but increasingly unsure if everything is working together. 

Priya makes $150K working at a late-stage startup and receives equity on top. She’s contributing to her 401(k) and HSA and has built a six-figure savings cushion. But now she’s stuck — unsure where to go next with her career and growing income.

Marcus is a real estate associate earning $130K; Lana’s a school counselor earning $80K. They have two children, Tyler (6) and Evelyn (4), and want to make sure they’re setting them up for success. They’ve considered getting a financial advisor, but are wary of traditional advisors trying to sell them products.

Jenna earns $115K as a benefits manager for a large, Fortune 500 company. She’s a single mom with a 12-year-old son, Parker. She’s taken advantage of the company’s generous retirement match, is a homeowner, and has an emergency fund. Now, she wants to plan longer term, but is unclear on where to turn.

Alexis just started her first full-time role as a physician assistant at a large hospital system, earning $130K. It’s the most money she’s ever made, but it doesn’t feel that way yet. She’s carrying $150K in student loans, recently moved into her own apartment, and is trying to “do everything right” from day one. She contributes to her employer's retirement plan but isn’t confident she chose the right options. Most of her decisions feel reactive, not intentional.

Ethan is a second-year associate at a large law firm earning $220K. His income jumped fast, his hours are long, and his finances suddenly feel “grown-up” in a way he didn’t expect. He’s been approached by a traditional advisor who’s pushing whole life insurance and complex products he doesn’t fully understand. Nothing feels obviously wrong, but it also doesn’t feel right. Ethan wants guidance, not a sales pitch.

Rachel and Tom earn a combined $275K and have worked with a traditional financial advisor for years. He’s competent and well-meaning, but hard to reach. Meetings are infrequent, questions pile up, and anything outside a narrow scope gets deferred or brushed off. They don’t want to replace their advisor. They want a second opinion and a way to pressure-test decisions before the next annual meeting.

Luis handles all the finances. He enjoys it, tracks everything, and feels confident in their plan. Megan trusts him, but feels left out of the details and overwhelmed when money conversations get technical. When they try to talk about finances, it often turns into frustration. Luis explains. Megan feels talked at, not talked with. Both want alignment, but the process keeps breaking down.