Question: “How often should your adviser give you a check-in? Since the market crash a few months ago, my adviser hasn’t called to check in with me or reassured me at all. Is this a red flag?”
That said, you may not need to go that route yet. You don’t mention whether you’ve reached out to your adviser requesting a phone call. “If your adviser doesn’t respond, this is a red flag, however, not calling to reassure is not,” says certified financial planner Jen Grant at Perryman Financial Advisory. “This is one of the most interesting aspects of 2025. If you only listen to the news, you would think your portfolio is under water and you need to start worrying about eating macaroni under a bridge. In fact, the stock market has done surprisingly well for the first half of the year.”
Furthermore, you might want to review your statements to get a better understanding of what’s happening with your portfolio. “Numbers are the facts you need to assess your circumstances. Then, call your adviser. They should be able to explain what’s going on and how that impacts your portfolio,” says Grant.
While the standard guideline for client reviews is typically once per year, Hilary Stalker, certified financial planner at CapWealth, says every advisory firm sets its own guidelines based on personal preference, account value and market conditions. “It’s common practice at our firm to reach out proactively when markets get shaky or when news breaks that can negatively impact the market. If you have questions or concerns, you are well within your rights as a client to reach out to your adviser,” says Stalker.
There’s no exact standard period of time that you should hear from your adviser, but most advisers at least have an annual review. “Many of us like to check in on a quarterly basis on top of an annual review. The market downturn earlier in the year wasn’t as much of a crash as it was more of a common pullback that was within the statistical average annual intra-year decline,” says certified financial planner Joe Favorito at Landmark Wealth Management. Hence, your adviser may not have felt there was anything of substance to discuss. “If you have concerns, or want to speak to your adviser more frequently, communicate that to them so the proper expectations are set and you are both on the same page,” says Favorito.
Ideally, you should have a couple of check-ins per year, plus a comprehensive annual review to revisit your financial plan, goals and investment strategy. “Not hearing from your adviser during a market downturn isn’t always a red flag if you already have a solid financial plan in place. Market volatility is normal and a well-constructed plan should account for it. In these cases, staying the course is often the best action and constant communication may not be necessary,” says certified financial planner Ryan Haiss at Flynn Zito Capital Management.
If you’re feeling anxious, considering changes or just want clarity, Haiss says your adviser should absolutely be available. “Great advisers act as part-time financial coaches and part-time psychologists, especially during uncertain times. Their job is not only to manage your investments but to help you manage your behavior,” says Haiss.
For his part, certified financial planner Anthony Ogorek says anytime you feel neglected by your adviser should be a concern to you. “As an adviser, I can tell you that whether you need advice or not, your adviser should be offering client touch opportunities throughout the year, whether they be on Zoom, call, office meeting or via email. I suggest that you discuss with your adviser how many client touches you would like a year,” says Ogorek.
When looking for a new adviser, seek out a fee-only fiduciary who puts your best interests ahead of their own at all times. This helps eliminate the potential for conflicts of interest to arise. CFPs are often considered the gold standard in financial planning as they have to complete extensive education requirements, pass exams, perform thousands of hours of work-related experience and uphold a fiduciary duty to earn their credential. Just as importantly, you want to find an adviser you feel comfortable talking to, as the client-adviser relationship is one built on trust and transparency. You can use this free tool from our ad partner SmartAsset to get matched with advisers, as well as sites like CFP Board and NAPFA.
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