Free consult with financial planner

[Anonymous]

My job gives me a benefit of 30 minutes a year with a financial planner. I've never been to one and don't know what to expect. Can we accomplish anything in 30 minutes? Any advice for making the most of the time? I'm in my early 40s, married, kids, two-household income., if that matters.

[Anonymous]

I have never met with a financial planner either, but I would say you should go in with a list of your assets, and you should also take some time to think about your financial and life goals (write these down, too). Are you sending your kids to private school, do you want to retire at 59.5 and travel, are you expecting an inheritance in the forseeable future? Thinking of buying real estate? Are there any changes you could make that would benefit your tax situation? Write down all your thoughts and questions so you can refer to them during the meeting. 30 minutes doesn't sound like a huge amount of time, but if you get even a couple tips out of it, it should be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Beware of sales pitches.