How to Find Cheap or Free Financial Advice
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Sometimes there is such a thing as a free lunch, at least when it comes to getting help with your finances. You can find a wealth of financial advice from financial advisors and other resources for free or at a low cost. Here's how to find cheap or free financial advice.
1. Your bank or credit union
If you have an account with a financial institution such as a bank or credit union, chances are it has free tools or some sort of free financial guidance. This might mean searching for articles or calculators on the institution's website. Walking into a branch to speak to an advisor in-person is another option, if your bank or credit union has branches.
The amount of financial advice that banks and credit unions offer varies widely, so if this aspect is important, prioritize it when shopping for new accounts.
2. Your employer or 401(k) provider
Have a workplace retirement plan? Make sure you’re taking advantage of all the additional perks the plan administrator offers, including free financial advice. And don't forget to check in with your employer, too. According to a 2025 survey by Alight Solutions covering 2,500 employees across the U.S, 68% said the current or potential personalized financial management programs offered by their employers are valuable. Your human resources department is probably a good place to ask about what's available.
3. Pro-bono financial planning services
The Foundation for Financial Planning offers free financial planning services for people who are financially vulnerable or low-income, including wounded veterans, domestic violence survivors, cancer patients and others.
Other organizations that may offer free or discounted financial advice include Advisers Give Back, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Financial Planning Association and the Financial Counseling Association of America.
4. Free financial advisor consultations
Some in-person investment advisors offer a free consultation for prospective clients. Of course, you won't get all your financial questions addressed in one meeting. The consultation generally focuses on your goals and what it would be like to work together.
Make the most of that first consultation by arriving prepared with questions to assess whether the advisor can address your current and future financial goals.
Remember that you are under no obligation to begin working with the advisor after the meeting.
5. Robo-advisors
Robo-advisors are automated services that use algorithms to manage your investments. They aren't free, but the fees can be as low as 0.25% of your account balance and are generally deducted directly from your investment account.
Financial advisors usually cost more than robo-advisors, but price tags vary depending on the depth of the relationship and the breadth of services. Some financial advisors offer financial planning (creating comprehensive money goals and strategies for you) and/or investment management (helping decide what specific investments to buy and sell). These companies typically charge either a flat fee or a percentage of your account balance. The average cost of a financial advisor is around 1% of assets under management but it can be as low as 0.30% for services that work well for someone whose finances aren’t very complex.
If you're sold on working with an in-person advisor, a financial coach may be a cheaper option, though they may not be able to give you specific investment advice.
6. Free or cheap financial apps
Many apps offer budgeting advice or other services, such as:
Help creating and sticking to a budget by providing a snapshot of where your money is going.
Finding ways to cut expenses.
Viewing and understanding your credit score.
Keeping an eye on investment accounts.
Suggesting better accounts and credit cards to help you get a higher interest rate or earn more benefits.
The costs and services vary by app, but most of NerdWallet’s picks for budgeting apps and personal finance tools are free, including the NerdWallet app.
7. Your broker
Many brokerages have educational resources to help you learn how to invest. Some offer investing courses, as well as videos, quizzes and learning labs.
Below is a list of the three brokers NerdWallet reviewed that earned the highest possible score for our “educational support” metric:
Charles Schwab offers an array of multimedia content and in-depth curriculum for retail investors, as well as live markets commentary and analysis. Schwab requires no minimum to start investing, and it also rates highly for its tradable securities, research and data and customer support. Check out our full Charles Schwab review for more info.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has thousands of articles and videos, as well as educational features baked into its platform, including “why invest” details for stocks. With no minimums and an easy-to-use platform, our team says the platform is great for beginners who want to buy and sell investments. Learn more in our full J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing review.
Merrill Edge offers online courses alongside articles, videos, webinars and calculators. Merrill Edge has no minimum investment requirement, and it’s highly rated for customer support. See our full Merrill Edge review for more details.
» Need to get started? View our list of the best brokers for beginners
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