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 with these options below.
1. Pro-bono financial planning services from a CFP
Start here if you want live, personal help at no cost. A certified financial planner, or CFP, is a credentialed professional who is trained to look at your whole financial picture, and they're fiduciaries, which makes them legally required to give advice that's in your best interest, not theirs.
Some volunteer their time to give free, one-on-one help to individuals who can't afford a paid advisor, often through a non-profit or their professional organization. There are many programs intended for specific groups, such as Savvy Ladies for women, Wings for Widows for widows and widowers and Triage Cancer for cancer patients and caregivers. If you’re looking for a CFP that matches your scenario, the Foundation for Financial Planning funds pro-bono nonprofits throughout the country (their current list of grantees can be found here) and through local chapters of the Financial Planning Association.
» Prep for the first meeting: Questions to ask a financial advisor
For a more accessible program, look into Advisors Give Back, which matches qualifying individuals to a volunteer CFP for a free initial phone call. You create a financial plan with your advisor, then have four weeks to carry it out. I tested the service’s match flow, and appreciated that the questionnaire tried to match me to a CFP in my area, as they’d be most familiar with my city’s cost of living.
Pro-bono help is best suited for a specific question or short-term challenge, as many programs cap the amount of times you can meet with your advisor. If you want long-term help from a financial advisor or active management (that is, they make decisions for you in your investment accounts), most financial advisors offer a free initial consultation. This can help you determine if short-term or long-term help is best for you right now.
🤖 Can I use an AI tool for free financial advice?
Yes, but with caveats. AI tools like Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT can be useful for understanding financial concepts, comparing account types, or preparing for a financial meeting, but for personal advice and strategy, there are limitations.
An AI tool won't know your full financial picture unless you share it — and sharing sensitive financial details with AI carries privacy risks. AI can also provide outdated information or misinterpret what's suitable for your situation. On top of that, AI isn't held to a fiduciary standard like a CFP, meaning there's no legal obligation to give advice that's in your best interest.
Part of a financial expert’s job is to think ahead for you and prepare you for things you might not be aware of. A good rule of thumb: Use AI for education and general guidance, but turn to a human professional for decisions that involve your specific situation, significant sums of money, or complex topics with legal, tax, or financial consequences.
2. Investment management through a robo-advisor
If your main goal is investing rather than broader financial planning, a robo-advisor can be a low-cost (and even sometimes free) option for staying hands-off with the decision making while still trusting your money is being invested appropriately for your goals. During our annual review of robo-advisors, here are the ones we found that reduce the cost barrier to entry:
- Fidelity Go: At account balances below $25,000, clients pay no account management fee to invest with Fidelity Go. Above this amount, the fee is 0.35% annually and you get access to human advisors. That means if you have $25,000 invested, you can expect to pay around $87.50 for the year.
- Ally Invest: The Cash-Enhanced Management Portfolio charges no management fee, but the downside is that it requires a 30% cash allocation. This may be too much in cash for those who want to be more invested in the market. An alternative is the Market-Focused Managed Portfolio, where the account management fee is .30%, but the cash allocation is only 2%.
- SoFi Robo Investing: While SoFi doesn’t offer free management, it does offer more human advisor access compared to the two above. Its account management fee is 0.25% with a $50 account minimum. While every SoFi Robo Investing client can have one meeting with an advisor, SoFi Plus members (a premium add-on) can meet with an advisor as often as they need.
3. Financial guidance through your bank or investment accounts
If you have an account with a bank or credit union, chances are it has free tools or some sort of free financial guidance. If your bank or credit union has physical locations, you can likely walk into the branch and speak to an advisor in person, though you may need to make an appointment.
Online brokers are also a good source of free financial education, if you already have an account with one. During our annual review of brokers, we graded providers on educational support, and two stood out for having more than just articles and calculators:
- Charles Schwab: Schwab has a video library, in-depth courses, podcasts and email newsletters for investors. In particular, their Schwab Coaching webcasts show their education coaches demonstrating concepts and strategies live on Schwab’s trading platforms.
- E*TRADE: E*TRADE’s Insights and Knowledge center has educational videos, a webinar program for novice to advanced traders, and daily market webcasts Monday through Wednesday. There’s also a paper trading feature that lets you get familiar with their platform and try out trading strategies before putting real money in the market.
🤓Nerdy Tip
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.4. Free planning consultations from your employer or 401(k) provider
Have a workplace retirement plan? Your plan administrator likely offers free tools and guidance on how to manage your account — sometimes, even free one-on-one consultations with a professional are available.
Fidelity, for example, has in-house planning consultants that work with clients on reviewing investing and savings strategy, retirement, and recommended next steps. All consultants are registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Industry (FINRA) and based in the U.S., and many are also registered advisory representatives. At NerdWallet, our 401(k) plan is administered by Fidelity, and I’ve found it easy to schedule calls and get help exactly when I need it.
Whoever your administrator is, you can find what’s available to you by logging into your portal and looking for links that mention “tools” or “planning.” If you can’t find anything, pick up the phone and ask a customer support representative, or check with your company’s human resources department.
Separately, don’t forget to check other employer benefits, too. Financial education or planning resources may be part of your package. 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. Again, your HR department is probably a good place to ask about what's available.
5. Free or cheap financial apps for budgeting, credit monitoring and account tracking
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.
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- 1.Alight. 2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study. Accessed May 11, 2026.
