MyPocketFP Podcast

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

• Jason Taylor • Episode 5

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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:
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MyPocketFP

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to My Pocket FP, the podcast where your wallet finally meets its financial planner and they actually get along. Join your host, Jason Taylor, certified financial planner, money mentor, and your guide to financial freedom. Whether you're planning for retirement or just trying to figure out where all your money went last weekend, we've got you covered. Get ready to take control of your financial life with smart tips, surprising insights, and yes, an app that fits right in your pocket. This is My Pocket FP, because your future deserves more than guesswork.

SPEAKER_02:

DIY finance is easier than ever before, but when does it make sense to bring in a pro? We're breaking down the moments when human advice beats algorithmic answers. Welcome back, everyone. I am Millie M, co-host and producer back in the studio with Jason Taylor, certified financial planner and creator of My Pocket FP. How are you, Jason?

SPEAKER_01:

Doing well, thank you, Millie.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome, awesome. So let's talk about when someone should call in a financial advisor versus using an app.

SPEAKER_01:

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 of mixing both you know the apps and a human side of financial planning. But to go back to the base question, the first thing you need to figure out is what is a financial advisor? What are you seeking financial advice for? And that's why you know the certified financial planner designation is a good one to look for because it's very broad and comprehensive. It looks at every financial aspect. Most people, when they think financial advisor, think of investments. Right. And there's a lot more to financial planning than just investments.

SPEAKER_02:

Definitely have to make sure your estate is intact and you know how you're spending your money today and things like that. So are those the type of financial decisions that are handled by a real advisor?

SPEAKER_01:

Right. And another big part about a financial advisor or reaching out to one is it's more personalized. You're not just, you know, assuming things and thinking it's you're looking at a similar situation to your own where it's actually a little different.

SPEAKER_02:

And I think people feel like they have to be millionaires or super wealthy to seek out a financial advisor. Have you seen that?

SPEAKER_01:

You know, that's kind of how the industry is built. You know, most advisors you go to, they say you have to have$500,000 or more to invest with me before I can help you. Right. Um, or you get someone straight out of college helping you who doesn't really have the you know education or the experience. Nothing against them, but they just haven't seen it and don't know it. Um, and it's not all financial planning is not all found in books.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, are there specific life stages or events that trigger the need for professional guidance?

SPEAKER_01:

You know, there definitely are. I mean, and unfortunately, one of the biggest ones is just graduating college or even graduating high school and getting your first paying job. That's a time, a good time to reach out to get some financial advice. The other is I I come across with you know young people going for advice is the the people the financial planners that usually do help those type of people are trying to sell them something.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. Well, those are those are young people, and I feel like nowadays young people are steering away from that human connection and they're dealing more with the apps. But I that's why you're here to let people know that even in those younger stages of high school and college, and I would imagine when you get a new position that pays you a lot more, you're like, what do I do with all this extra money?

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly. And a lot of times they don't know what to do, and so they they spend it or they just put in a savings account instead of investing it. And that's why we wanted to have an app with the option to email a certified financial planner.

SPEAKER_02:

Best of both worlds. I love that.

SPEAKER_01:

That's the goal, yes.

SPEAKER_02:

So, how do you help clients who feel overwhelmed by financial jargon or choices?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, simplification has been one of my goals since the beginning. English is not my major, so I don't use big words. Um, and I I've spent a lot of time, you know, I've I've created a coloring book and things like that with my daughters, really teaching them, you know, the basics of finance. And I bring that aspect when I meet with clients as well. Is I, you know, even in the coloring book, I had them define words in their words, which a lot of clients appreciate.

SPEAKER_02:

I need that coloring book for sure. Take me back to the good old days when money wasn't such a stressful thing. Um, but I love that you break it down in those um simple terms. So, what are the limitations of financial apps when it comes to personalization?

SPEAKER_01:

Uh you know, really the limitations, you know, it's it's mainly assumptions. You know, there's a lot of intricate things that go into a financial plan. Um, you know, even just looking at work benefits. You know, some people have a lot of work benefits and some people have none. And then there's, you know, W-2 employees versus contract employees where taxes are aren't taken out at all, which take a different type of planning for people. And so there's a lot of you know different nuances. Um you know, some people have babies in their 20s, some have have in their 40s. And so the planning of having a baby in college planning is different at those two ages.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow. Wow. So how do you recommend people balance cost and value when choosing between an app and an advisor?

SPEAKER_01:

Um The value prep proposition is a big one for you know any industry. But with financial planning, it really is, you know, they need to make sure they're having forward progress, whether they're working with an app or an advisor. And the one big advantage of having an advisor versus app might sound bad, but you have someone to hold your hand and kind of pull you along when you you're falling behind.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I love that you encourage talking about these things early because I think people just get so scared and they shy away. And it goes back to what we were talking about last time with mindset and you know, your history with money, what you think about it, why do you spend the way that you spend. So kind of dispelling some of those that mystique really young, I think will help people along their journey and having some of us need our hands held in 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 and confidence.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Millie.

SPEAKER_00:

Thanks for tuning in to My Pocket FP, where we believe small monthly changes can make big positive changes in your financial end game. If you're ready to level up your money game, head over to mypocketfp.com and download the app today. Your financial planner is now officially pocket sized and doesn't charge by the hour. Until next time, keep your goals high, your debt low, and your pockets smart.