Financial Coach vs Planner vs Advisor: How to Pick the Right Partner

Ever been told to “just talk to someone at your bank” when you have a finance question? It’s one of those vague money suggestions people love to throw out alllll the time, but no one ever explains who that person is, what they actually do, or if they’re even the right fit for you.

If you’re trying to take your money seriously (whether that means building wealth, getting organized, or making smarter long-term decisions) you need to know who’s who in the financial world. Because not all money pros do the same thing.

As financial coaches, we’re obsessed with demystifying this stuff. Part of our job is helping you understand who does what, what questions to ask, and when to bring in the right person so you stop crowd-sourcing advice and start building a real financial support system.

Let’s break it down. 

Where a Financial Coach Comes In

Working with a financial coach can be a game changer when it comes to navigating conversations with other financial professionals. It’s our job to translate, to know a little bit about what everyone does so we can guide our clients to the right people and support them in having conversations with their team. We help our clients get clear on their goals, build the foundation of their financial life (budget, debt, savings, mindset), and prepare them to work with other partners (like a planner), not just blindly hand things over. It’s a relationship, after all. 

What It Looks Like to Walk Into a Financial Planning Meeting Prepared

When Marisa came to us, she was earning a $120K base salary with the potential to hit $200K in annual bonuses — but her monthly cash flow was tight and making her extremely stressed day to day. We figured out that her take home pay was not covering all of her monthly expenses because she maxing out her 401(k) and HSA. She was doing everything “right” on paper for her future, but it was creating unnecessary financial strain. We knew we needed to strike a balance between long-term planning and helping her feel less stressed right now.

She had a clear vision for the future: early retirement, yearly travel built in, and a long-term goal of purchasing a home in southern France. But with an impending move, her financial picture was shifting fast and she wasn’t sure how to talk to her financial planner about any of it.

We hopped onto a meeting with our client and her financial planner, and they suggested adjusting her long-term goals. But we knew the issue wasn’t her dreams and goals. It was the pressure of aggressive contributions right now that were making everything feel out of reach.

So we pushed to explore multiple scenarios that decreased her monthly 401(k) contributions. And sure enough, the numbers made more sense. Scaling back to the employer match for just 3 years freed up $2,300/month — enough to cover her current needs without sacrificing her future. We also adjusted her annual travel budget, set a target cash reserve, and mapped out a quarterly review to reassess after her next bonus. 

This is what financial coaching looks like. We don’t just help you organize your money, we help you show up to high-stakes conversations with clarity, strategy, and a strong sense of what you actually want. Think of us as your financial translator, strategist, and accountability partner.

What is a Financial Planner?

A financial planner helps you create a long-term strategy based on your goals, values, and current financial reality. That can include retirement planning, managing investments, supporting estate planning conversations, recommending college funds, mapping out funds to buy a home, and knowing when to not do all of that at once.

They’re not just there to tell you to “spend less.” A good planner looks at the full picture and helps you build a plan that supports the life you actually want, not some one-size-fits-all version of success.

Financial Planner vs. Financial Advisor

These terms get thrown around like they’re interchangeable, but they’re not.

A financial advisor is a general title. It could mean they sell insurance, manage investments, or offer financial guidance — but they might not have any certification, and they aren’t necessarily required to act in your best interest. 

A financial planner, especially one with the CFP® credential, has specialized training and helps you plan across multiple areas of your financial life. They're more focused on long-term financial strategy, and ideally, on you.

What is a Fiduciary?

A fiduciary is someone who is legally required to act in your best interest. Not all advisors or planners are fiduciaries, so you have to ask. You can also check their status on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

If they’re not a fiduciary, that doesn’t mean they’re unethical, but it does mean you’ll want to ask more questions about how they get paid and what drives their recommendations.

How Do You Know If You’re Ready?

If you're earning consistently, saving regularly, and starting to ask bigger questions (like, how do I invest beyond my 401(k), can I afford to buy a home, how do I plan for my kid’s future) that’s when a financial planner can be incredibly helpful.

But if you're still laying the groundwork (learning how to budget, get out of debt, build an emergency fund, or just understand where your money is going) start with a coach. We help you get organized, build confidence, and get clear on your goals before you bring in someone to help you plan for the big picture.

And if you're somewhere in between? We’ve got you there, too. Reach out to our team today to see how we can help.