A licensed advisor when you want a human
Software is fast and cheap. Some decisions still deserve a conversation with a person who is accountable to you. StockLift lets you ask a question, book a consultation, or request a financial plan from a licensed financial advisor, using the same portfolio picture the app already shows you.
When an advisor is the better next step
A calculator is a poor place to resolve anything with legal or tax consequences. Concentrated employer stock, equity compensation, trusts and estates, cross-border tax questions, and a retirement date you cannot move all reward a professional's time.
Arriving with an aggregated view of what you own makes that conversation shorter and more useful.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
Advisors differ in how they are paid, what standard applies to their recommendations, and what they are licensed to do. Ask directly, and get answers in writing.
- How are you paid, and by whom besides me?
- Are you acting as a fiduciary at all times, and in what capacity?
- What services am I buying — a plan, ongoing management, or both?
- May I see your Form CRS and disciplinary history?
Verify credentials yourself
Registration and disciplinary records are public. You can look up an investment adviser through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system and a broker through FINRA BrokerCheck before your first meeting. Both links are in the references below.
How to prepare so the meeting is worth paying for
Advisor time is expensive and finite, so arrive with facts rather than questions about facts. A list of accounts and rough balances, your actual contribution rate, any concentrated or restricted holdings, and the two or three outcomes that matter to you will cover most of a first conversation.
It also helps to state your constraints plainly: a date, a number, a position you will not sell for personal reasons. Advisors can plan around a constraint they know about and cannot plan around one they discover later. Being direct about what you are unwilling to change saves an entire meeting.
How this fits with StockLift
Advisors you reach through StockLift are licensed professionals you choose to engage. Being available in the app is not an endorsement of any individual or of specific investments, and StockLift does not become your adviser by making the introduction.
Frequently asked questions
What can I request in the app?
You can ask a question, book a consultation, or request a financial plan from a licensed financial advisor.
Is StockLift acting as my adviser?
No. StockLift provides research and portfolio analysis tools and access to independent licensed professionals.
Do I need an advisor to use the app?
No. Portfolio tracking, analysis, and the pre-trade checklist work without engaging anyone.
How do I check an advisor's background?
Use the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site and FINRA BrokerCheck, and read the Form CRS relationship summary they are required to provide.
References
Information on this page is educational and is not personalized investment advice. StockLift provides portfolio tracking, analysis tools, and access to licensed financial advisors. StockLift does not execute transactions — any investment decision happens at your own brokerage, and all investing involves risk of loss.