‘I want to be sure I’m on the right path.’ I’m retiring in a few months with $145K, but I own my home and have no debt. I want to travel. What’s my move?

Question: “I was born and raised in New Zealand. I own my own home and have no debts. To date I have shares in Australian Financials — a fund that invests in the Smart Exchange Traded Funds’ Australian Dividend Fund — and the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. I’m retiring in a few months and I will need to use some of this money towards my holiday funds along with my NZ Pension. Are my stocks with the right company? The total value is $250,000 NZD, which is about $144,950. What kind of financial adviser should I be looking to hire to help me? I want to be sure I’m on the right path.”

Answer: It’s great that you seemingly have no debts and a pension heading into retirement. But without knowing more about your income, expenses and detailed financial goals, it’s tough to give you specific advice about your investments and path forward. That said, a financial adviser is probably a smart move for you – you can use this free tool from our partner SmartAsset to match you to financial advisers, as well as sites like CFP Board and NAPFA.

Have an issue with your financial planner or looking for a new one? Email questions or concerns to picks@marketwatch.com.

But first, some things to consider: “The CRSP index is a large cap growth index similar to the S&P 500 large cap growth index. There are some differences in how they define market cap, but the real question is whether or not you should be that heavily weighted towards large cap growth,” says Joe Favorito, certified financial planner at Landmark Wealth Management. “That depends on a number of personal variables such as personal monthly and annual expenses.”

Since you’re retiring in a few months and you may need some of these funds for your holiday and living expenses, Ryan Haiss, a CFP at Flynn Zito Capital Management, says it’s worth noting that an all-stock, large-cap growth portfolio is generally considered aggressive. “It’s typically better suited for a longer time horizon,” says Haiss.

The Australian Financials Fund you’re in puts money into an investment vehicle called the Smart Exchange Traded Funds’ Australian Dividend Fund, so instead of picking individual stocks, it buys shares of a dividend-focused ETF.

Right before retirement, you might not want to be all-in with stocks, but rather, you will want to look into diversifying your portfolio. You will also want to be sure you have an emergency fund that’s able to cover your cost of living should anything happen. As such, you won’t want to have your emergency fund or holiday fund in stocks as they should be readily available when you need them.

Do you need a financial adviser?

A financial adviser can help with many aspects of your financial future. “They can help you review your holdings, align them with your short-term cash needs and make sure your strategy matches your goals and risk tolerance,” says Haiss. 

In terms of working with an expert, Favorito recommends looking for a CFP if your goal is to seek professional help. “Preferably a fee-only adviser who is not compensated by the sale of products,” says Favorito. What’s more, Haiss suggests looking for a retirement-focused adviser who can help with distribution planning and overall portfolio strategy. 

Since you hold assets in multiple markets, finding someone with cross-border investing experience would benefit you. “Make sure to choose someone with experience working in the country where you currently reside,” says Alonso Rodriguez Segarra, a CFP and CEO at Advise Financial. 

To find a fee-only, fiduciary adviser who fits the bill, consider checking the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors where you can filter pros by location and expertise or the Financial Planning Association’s directory. You can also use this free tool from our partner SmartAsset to match you to financial planners.

Keep in mind that the going rate for advisers who use an assets under management model is 1% of AUM, while hourly advisers tend to charge between $200 and $500 per hour and project-based advisers cost anywhere from $1,500 to $7,500 or more depending on the scope of work.

Have an issue with your financial planner or looking for a new one? Email questions or concerns to picks@marketwatch.com.

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