Questions to Ask Your Financial Planner (And How to Prep for the Conversation)

Talking to a financial planner can feel… intimidating. Maybe you don’t want to ask a “dumb” question. Or you’re worried they’ll tell you you’re behind. And half the time, it might feel like they’re speaking another language.

But these conversations shouldn’t make you feel small or overwhelmed. They should help you feel informed, clear, and in control of your next move.

At Beyond The Green, we’ve helped hundreds of clients prepare for these exact conversations. Because when you walk in with the right questions and the right mindset, everything changes. You stop second-guessing and start leading the conversation.

Here’s how to do just that.

Step One: Set the Stage With Your Goals

Before you open your laptop or sit down with your planner, you HAVE to get clear on what you’re working toward. Your financial planner can help you build the strategy, but you need to bring the vision.

At Beyond the Green, we help our clients:

• Identify short- and long-term financial goals
• Estimate future costs for life events (babies, homes, career changes)
• Get specific about timelines and dollar amounts

Step Two: Ask the Right Questions

You don’t need to be fluent in investing lingo to have a productive conversation about your goals and how your investments help you get there. You need clear, grounded questions that tie your life goals to your financial picture. We coach our clients to walk into meetings feeling like pros, even if they’ve never worked with a planner before.

🏡 If you’re planning to buy a home

We help our clients understand the month-to-month and annual cost of owning a home (mortgage, utilities, maintenance, lifestyle expenses, and more) so they can walk into a meeting with a financial planner knowing how much they can afford to spend on a down payment. 

Then, you can ask your planner:

“If I put $X down on a home, how will that impact my investment plan for other goals like retirement or family planning? ”

👶 If you’re growing your family

We’ve helped clients prepare financially for every stage of parenthood—from planning for unpaid leave to estimating daycare costs to deciding how much (and when) to start saving for college. We walk clients through the real numbers so they understand how much they’ll need and when they’ll need it. 

Then, you can ask your planner:

“If I take X months off for parental leave, what adjustments would we need to make to stay on track for retirement? For buying a home? ”

💰 If you’re focused on investments + retirement

We don’t manage portfolios, but we do help clients understand what questions to ask and how to interpret the answers. Before your meeting, we’ll help you clarify your goals, define your timeline, and identify what kind of growth or stability you actually need so you can walk in ready to advocate for yourself and make sense of the strategy your planner recommends.

Then, you can ask your planner:

“What’s the gap between what we have and what we need to reach our retirement goals? Are there any tax-advantaged opportunities we’re not taking advantage of? ”

Step Three: Ask for a Clear Picture

Before you leave the meeting, ask your planner to:

• Explain what each account is meant to do if you are unsure (short-term support, long-term growth, retirement savings, etc.)
• Show you how your current financial setup supports the future you want
• Flag anything that’s not aligned with your timeline or priorities

At Beyond The Green, we help clients process what comes out of these meetings. We’re the ones you turn to after the call to say, “Okay… but what does that actually mean for me? ” We help you digest the info, prioritize what matters most, and make a plan that fits your day-to-day life.

Step Four: Walk Away With a Real-World Plan

A good planning session should end with clarity, not confusion. You should leave knowing:

• Where you’re on track—and where you’re not
• What needs your attention now vs. later
• What decisions are coming up, and what info will you need to make them

Our clients leave these conversations feeling empowered—not overwhelmed. With us in your corner, you leave those meetings confident, informed, and ready to take the next step.

The best meetings aren’t the ones filled with jargon. They’re the ones that give you answers, clarity, and a clear path forward. Ask the real questions. Get real guidance. And keep making decisions that move you closer to the life you actually want.