When DIY Money Meets Human Advice: Choosing the Right Help for Your Stage of Life

When Should I Call In A Financial Advisor Vs. Using An App?

Your money deserves more than generic advice, and we’re here to prove it. We dive into the messy, human side of financial decisions—where benefits are uneven, taxes shift with every life change, and confidence comes from clarity, not complexity. With Jason Taylor, CFP and creator of MyPocketFP, we explore how to blend the speed of modern finance apps with the judgment of real planning so you can stop guessing and start moving.

We pull apart the myth that financial advisors are only for the wealthy and outline the real scope of planning beyond investments: cash flow, debt strategy, tax awareness, benefits elections, insurance needs, retirement paths, education planning, and estate basics. Jason shares why life triggers—your first paycheck, a major raise, switching from W-2 to contractor, or welcoming a child—are the moments when human advice can save time, money, and stress. We talk about the power of plain English (and even a finance coloring book) to replace jargon with understanding, so you can make choices you’ll actually stick with.

You’ll hear where algorithms shine and where they fall short, especially around assumptions that don’t match your reality. We lay out a simple framework to measure value—consistent savings growth, smarter tax moves, reduced borrowing costs, and calm decision-making through market noise—and why accountability from a real person can be the difference between intentions and progress. If you’ve wondered when to rely on an app and when to call a pro, this conversation gives you a practical, modern blueprint.

Subscribe for more clear, human-centered financial guidance, share this episode with a friend who just got a new job or raise, and leave a review to help others find the show. Ready to put a planner in your pocket? Visit mypocketfp.com and get the app today.

To learn more about MyPocketFP visit:
https://www.MyPocketFP.com
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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:03):
Welcome to My Pocket FP, the podcast where your
wallet finally meets itsfinancial planner and they
actually get along.
Join your host, Jason Taylor,certified financial planner,
money mentor, and your guide tofinancial freedom.
Whether you're planning forretirement or just trying to

(00:24):
figure out where all your moneywent last weekend, we've got you
covered.
Get ready to take control ofyour financial life with smart
tips, surprising insights, andyes, an app that fits right in
your pocket.
This is My Pocket FP, becauseyour future deserves more than
guesswork.

SPEAKER_02 (00:52):
DIY finance is easier than ever before, but
when does it make sense to bringin a pro?
We're breaking down the momentswhen human advice beats
algorithmic answers.
Welcome back, everyone.
I am Millie M, co-host andproducer back in the studio with
Jason Taylor, certifiedfinancial planner and creator of
My Pocket FP.
How are you, Jason?

SPEAKER_01 (01:13):
Doing well, thank you, Millie.

SPEAKER_02 (01:15):
Awesome, awesome.
So let's talk about when someoneshould call in a financial
advisor versus using an app.

SPEAKER_01 (01:21):
Yes, you know, as always, there's no simple
question.
And this is this very question,is why we developed this uh this
app and this this concept ofmixing both you know the apps
and a human side of financialplanning.
But to go back to the basequestion, the first thing you
need to figure out is what is afinancial advisor?

(01:44):
What are you seeking financialadvice for?
And that's why you know thecertified financial planner
designation is a good one tolook for because it's very broad
and comprehensive.
It looks at every financialaspect.
Most people, when they thinkfinancial advisor, think of
investments.
Right.
And there's a lot more tofinancial planning than just
investments.

SPEAKER_02 (02:06):
Definitely have to make sure your estate is intact
and you know how you're spendingyour money today and things like
that.
So are those the type offinancial decisions that are
handled by a real advisor?

SPEAKER_01 (02:18):
Right.
And another big part about afinancial advisor or reaching
out to one is it's morepersonalized.
You're not just, you know,assuming things and thinking
it's you're looking at a similarsituation to your own where it's
actually a little different.

SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
And I think people feel like they have to be
millionaires or super wealthy toseek out a financial advisor.
Have you seen that?

SPEAKER_01 (02:42):
You know, that's kind of how the industry is
built.
You know, most advisors you goto, they say you have to have
$500,000 or more to invest withme before I can help you.
Right.
Um, or you get someone straightout of college helping you who
doesn't really have the you knoweducation or the experience.
Nothing against them, but theyjust haven't seen it and don't
know it.
Um, and it's not all financialplanning is not all found in

(03:05):
books.

SPEAKER_02 (03:07):
Well, are there specific life stages or events
that trigger the need forprofessional guidance?

SPEAKER_01 (03:13):
You know, there definitely are.
I mean, and unfortunately, oneof the biggest ones is just
graduating college or evengraduating high school and
getting your first paying job.
That's a time, a good time toreach out to get some financial
advice.
The other is I I come acrosswith you know young people going
for advice is the the people thefinancial planners that usually

(03:33):
do help those type of people aretrying to sell them something.

SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
Right.
Well, those are those are youngpeople, and I feel like nowadays
young people are steering awayfrom that human connection and
they're dealing more with theapps.
But I that's why you're here tolet people know that even in
those younger stages of highschool and college, and I would
imagine when you get a newposition that pays you a lot
more, you're like, what do I dowith all this extra money?

SPEAKER_01 (03:59):
Exactly.
And a lot of times they don'tknow what to do, and so they
they spend it or they just putin a savings account instead of
investing it.
And that's why we wanted to havean app with the option to email
a certified financial planner.

SPEAKER_02 (04:13):
Best of both worlds.
I love that.

SPEAKER_01 (04:15):
That's the goal, yes.

SPEAKER_02 (04:17):
So, how do you help clients who feel overwhelmed by
financial jargon or choices?

SPEAKER_01 (04:23):
Well, simplification has been one of my goals since
the beginning.
English is not my major, so Idon't use big words.
Um, and I I've spent a lot oftime, you know, I've I've
created a coloring book andthings like that with my
daughters, really teaching them,you know, the basics of finance.
And I bring that aspect when Imeet with clients as well.

(04:44):
Is I, you know, even in thecoloring book, I had them define
words in their words, which alot of clients appreciate.

SPEAKER_02 (04:53):
I need that coloring book for sure.
Take me back to the good olddays when money wasn't such a
stressful thing.
Um, but I love that you break itdown in those um simple terms.
So, what are the limitations offinancial apps when it comes to
personalization?

SPEAKER_01 (05:11):
Uh you know, really the limitations, you know, it's
it's mainly assumptions.
You know, there's a lot ofintricate things that go into a
financial plan.
Um, you know, even just lookingat work benefits.
You know, some people have a lotof work benefits and some people
have none.
And then there's, you know, W-2employees versus contract

(05:32):
employees where taxes are aren'ttaken out at all, which take a
different type of planning forpeople.
And so there's a lot of you knowdifferent nuances.
Um you know, some people havebabies in their 20s, some have
have in their 40s.
And so the planning of having ababy in college planning is
different at those two ages.

SPEAKER_02 (05:50):
Wow.
Wow.
So how do you recommend peoplebalance cost and value when
choosing between an app and anadvisor?

SPEAKER_01 (06:00):
Um The value prep proposition is a big one for you
know any industry.
But with financial planning, itreally is, you know, they need
to make sure they're havingforward progress, whether
they're working with an app oran advisor.
And the one big advantage ofhaving an advisor versus app
might sound bad, but you havesomeone to hold your hand and

(06:23):
kind of pull you along when youyou're falling behind.

SPEAKER_02 (06:27):
Well, I love that you encourage talking about
these things early because Ithink people just get so scared
and they shy away.
And it goes back to what we weretalking about last time with
mindset and you know, yourhistory with money, what you
think about it, why do you spendthe way that you spend.
So kind of dispelling some ofthose that mystique really

(06:48):
young, I think will help peoplealong their journey and having
some of us need our hands heldin order to be able to live our
best lives financially.
So we appreciate your insight,Jason, and we'll catch you next
time for financial clarity andconfidence.

SPEAKER_01 (07:05):
Thank you, Millie.

SPEAKER_00 (07:10):
Thanks for tuning in to My Pocket FP, where we
believe small monthly changescan make big positive changes in
your financial end game.
If you're ready to level up yourmoney game, head over to
mypocketfp.com and download theapp today.
Your financial planner is nowofficially pocket sized and
doesn't charge by the hour.

(07:31):
Until next time, keep your goalshigh, your debt low, and your
pockets smart.