Question: “I have $500,000 in stock and income after taxes of $9,500 per month. My previous adviser passed away and I tried to get matched with a new adviser but everyone treats me like I have a contagious disease when I say I want to work with someone in person. I don’t understand why that is an unpopular choice. Do advisers still work with clients in person? How should I be going about this process?”

Answer: More and more advisers are working remotely, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find someone who will meet with you in person. “It’s the best way to communicate. Post-Covid, many advisers shifted to virtual meetings and both clients and firms have found it convenient, but that doesn’t mean in-person advising is dead,” says certified financial planner Mark Struthers at Sona Wealth Advisors. You can use this free tool to get matched with financial advisers, from our ad partner SmartAsset, as well as sites like CFP Board and NAPFA.

While the convenience and efficiency of a virtual relationship can be valuable, Struthers says body language and connection are lost that way. “Many fiduciary advisers still welcome face-to-face meetings, though they may no longer be set up for unannounced drop-ins,” says Struthers.

Furthermore, many pros still prefer in person. “Especially for the initial appointment as you are trying to get to know them. Most of us don’t make Zoom our primary method [of communication] unless a client has moved away and meeting in person is a challenge,” says certified financial planner Joe Favorito at Landmark Wealth Management.

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

Why are you striking out?

The virtual-only adviser may be more of a thing with younger professionals. “I would keep shopping for more seasoned people. You shouldn’t settle for a relationship that you’re not comfortable with,” says Favorito.

You also may be striking out due to your asset level. With just $500,000, you might not be meeting the asset minimum for some advisers. Fortunately, there are CFPs who work on an hourly or per project basis, which eliminates the need to have a certain level of assets. Hourly advisers typically charge between $200 and $500 per hour while project-based advisers can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $7,500 depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

“Many of the large firms have gone to a national advertising program to grow their businesses and the personal touch often gets lost in this relationship,” says Brad Clark, investment adviser representative and founder of Solomon Financial. “I have seen many clients over the years that worked with firms across the internet and when they needed help the most, the adviser was often difficult to reach. This can happen locally as well, but it’s probably less likely to happen when you can walk into their office.”

And it may be that you live in a small area and in fact there aren’t many advisers there. If you’re willing to drive a couple times a year, could you widen your search area?

This leads us to another point: One advantage of advisers working remotely is that you have a larger pool of professionals to choose from, as location isn’t a factor in finding a match. “This means you have a better chance of finding an adviser who’s a good fit for you, provided you’re okay working together over Zoom or Teams. The downside is that there are fewer advisers who are set up to meet in person — it’s nothing against you as a client, they just prefer to work remotely,” says Ken Robinson, certified financial planner at Sax Wealth Advisors and member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners.

So, if meeting in person is of the utmost importance to you, you’ll need to decide whether it’s more important to have an adviser who is well suited to the kind of guidance you’re looking for or one who will work with you in person but may charge more or not be as expert in your particular needs, says Robinson.

“The reality is that the industry has changed and you’ll likely need to adapt a bit, scheduling ahead, confirming availability and recognizing that some firms blend in-person with virtual service. The good news is that there are still plenty of advisers who prefer to build trust across a desk, not just a screen. It might take more time, but you can absolutely find someone who shares your preference for meeting in person,” says Struthers.

How to find the right adviser

“Finding the right adviser can be a lot like dating. The right adviser for you is probably out there but it can take a lot of persistence to find them,” says Robinson.

Clark suggests asking friends and family members that you respect and think might look for similar traits in an adviser for their recommendations. If you haven’t already, comb through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and XY Planning Network, which both allow you to search for advisers by location, so you can find someone nearby who understands the value of in-person relationships. You can also use this free tool to get matched with financial advisers, from our ad partner SmartAsset.

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

Questions edited for brevity and clarity. By emailing your questions to The Advicer, you agree to have them published anonymously on MarketWatch; they may appear anonymously in other media and platforms.