While both a financial advisor and an accountant deal with money, their roles and areas of expertise are fundamentally different. An accountant is primarily focused on the historical and present-day financial health of an individual or business, specializing in the accurate recording of financial transactions, preparing and filing tax returns, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They are the experts in the "what happened" of your finances. In contrast, a financial advisor's role is to help you plan for the future, focusing on long-term goals such as retirement planning, investment management, and wealth accumulation. They use your current financial situation to create a strategic roadmap to achieve your future financial aspirations

Your accountant will be able to provide the financial advisor with historical data on your personal finances. They will be able to help identify trends that will be useful for the advisor to develop a gameplan for your future. They will collaborate on options that provide benefits for the current year as well as future years. The financial advisor will be able to implement the gameplan and keep your accountant in the loop to adjust your tax returns as necessary.

The cost of retirement planning varies based on the level of service you need. At Personal Pension Advisors, we offer transparent, competitive pricing with options that include flat fees, hourly rates, or percentage-based fees on managed assets. Initial consultations are completely free of charge and require no commitment. On average, financial planning fees range from 0.5% to 2% of assets under management, $150 to $400 per hour, or $1,000 to $3,000 for a comprehensive retirement strategy and are paid directly to the advisor you are working with.

All Advisors that we partner with are fully licensed. This means that they have their Series licenses, some designation (CFP, ChFC, WMCP, etc) that is nationally recognized, and are fully licensed to sell products or open accounts in their registered state. They are all fiduciaries and have an obligation to work in the best interest of clients. They often specializes in state pension benefits, retirement income planning, tax efficiency, and estate planning—ensuring you can securely transition into and thrive in retirement.

The sooner, the better! Many people begin planning about 10 years before retirement, but starting earlier can help you make informed decisions on pension contributions, tax strategies, and investment growth. Even if you’re close to retirement, it’s never too late to get expert guidance. Wealth does not happen over night, the earlier you plan, the more time you have to accumulate wealth!

While managing your own retirement is possible, working with a specialized retirement advisor ensures that your pension, Social Security, and investments are optimized for long-term financial security. Whether you need withdrawal strategies, tax planning, or estate guidance, we provide the expertise to help you maximize your retirement income and avoid costly mistakes.