Just had someone ask me again yesterday about when they should actually start working with a financial advisor. Seems like a lot of people are wondering the same thing, so I figured I'd share what I've learned from being in this industry.

The honest answer? It really depends on your situation. I've seen colleagues work with clients who have anywhere from six figures all the way up to eight or nine figures in net worth. But here's the thing most people don't realize - the averages can be misleading.

At a lot of advisory firms, you'll see average client portfolios sitting around $1 million to $10 million. But that number gets skewed pretty easily. One mega-wealthy client can pull the whole average way up. The actual median is usually closer to $1 million, which tells you more about what a typical client actually looks like.

Now, the question everyone really wants answered: at what net worth should you get a financial advisor? From what I've seen, if you're sitting on around $500,000 or so, that's where it starts making real sense. Below that, honestly, you're probably better off with a robo-advisor. The math just doesn't work out - you'd be paying advisory fees for minimal actual service. Plus, the advisors willing to take on smaller accounts are often just starting out themselves.

If you're under $100,000, definitely stick with the robo-advisor route or something like Vanguard. You'll save yourself a ton on fees and get solid diversification without paying for white-glove service you're not going to use.

But here's what gets interesting. Even if you don't have a huge net worth yet, you might still benefit from paying a flat fee for a one-time planning session. I've seen people get a basic financial checkup for a few hundred bucks that completely changed their approach. No ongoing fees, just focused advice on what's working and what needs adjustment.

The real value of working with an advisor isn't just about picking stocks. We help with tax strategies, rebalancing, and honestly, keeping you from making panic decisions when the market gets crazy. That emotional anchor is worth something.

So if you're trying to figure out at what net worth should you get a financial advisor, think about it this way: if your financial situation is getting complex - multiple income streams, investments, tax considerations - that's when professional help starts paying for itself. You don't need to be a millionaire. You just need enough assets where optimization actually matters and where a bad decision could cost you real money.

The key is finding someone who's actually a fiduciary and has real experience. That matters way more than whatever threshold you hit.