5 Steps to Finding a Financial Advisor When Moving to a New City

Moving can be an exciting time in your life: new opportunities, new faces, new activities.

But, it can also be a time filled with new challenges.

You’re adjusting to financial changes—buying or renting a house, a different cost of living, new employer benefits—all at a time when your life already feels unsteady, and you’re outside of your comfort zone.

In your old city, you knew the people and businesses you could trust with the important things in your life. And now, you’re faced with finding new go-tos.

So, how do you find a trustworthy financial advisor who can help you tackle new challenges and make you feel at home?

We can help. Here are five steps to take when searching for your next advisor, even when you haven’t settled in quite yet.

1. Ask for recommendations.

While you’re learning the lay of the land in a new place, you spend time asking around for recommendations. It’s an easy question to ask when it’s something as simple as “I love your hair. Where do you get it done?” or “My car’s making a weird noise. Know a good mechanic?”

But, who do you ask about a new financial advisor?

Look to professionals you meet throughout the moving process. For example, you can ask your realtor or a new colleague. They likely use an advisor themselves or will have someone they trust in their network.

2. Speak with more than one advisor.

Finding a financial advisor is a higher-stakes process than, say, a hairdresser. Your hair will grow back, even if your worst-case scenario happens. Your finances are a much different story.

Do as much research as possible when finding an advisor, but don’t stop after you’ve found a few good contenders. Most will offer a free consultation call or visit. Take advantage of that opportunity to get to know the person.

How they make you feel and how they respond to your questions will say a lot about how much you can trust them, and whether or not they fit your expectations.

3. Know what questions to ask.


Finding someone you can trust sometimes comes down to your intuition. Ask potential advisors plenty of questions to get a good feel for who you would be trusting with your financial future.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

  • How are you compensated?
  • Do you follow fiduciary standards?
  • How would you describe your investment approach?
  • How do you keep my financial goals in mind?
  • How (and how often) do you communicate with your clients?
  • Do you have recommendations or client successes you can share?

4. Choose the advisor who makes you feel most at home.

It’s a new city, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be comfortable. You have a brand new opportunity to build a network of professionals whom you know and trust. Soon, you’ll be the well-seasoned local who recommends the “city’s best financial advisor.” You won’t always be the new kid in town, so why not start feeling at home right away?

The Nail Wealth Team is helping your neighbors right here in Franklin. Reach out to our local office to set up a consultation appointment. We can talk you through how we help our clients meet their dream financial goals. You’re sure to feel like part of our family.

For a hometown touch, contact us today to learn more.

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Jeffrey T. Dobyns

CFP®, CLU, CHFC

President, SageSpring 

Jeffrey T. Dobyns

President, SageSpring 

Beyond crunching numbers and investment strategies, at SageSpring, we’re about building relationships. When you encounter Founder & President of SageSpring, Jeff Dobyns, it’s easy to understand why this is at the very heart of who we are as a firm. You won’t find stuffy formalities with Jeff; instead, you can expect to find him sharing a warm smile, communicating a compelling vision, or patiently untangling life’s complex challenges with clients. He believes in truly getting to know clients, understanding their aspirations and priorities, and navigating their financial plans with a tailored, comprehensive approach. Our team members have often been caught taking notes on Jeff’s effortless relationship skills from a distance, and we admire them for striving to learn from one of the best. 

Jeff’s financial expertise and wisdom are the perfect match to his innate people skills. Jeff holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChLU®) designations, and has held executive positions with financial planning firms for more than two decades. 

His dedication extends beyond the office to the boardroom and the local community, where Jeff is passionate about giving back. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Men of Valor, a prison ministry and mentoring program. Jeff also serves on the board of Send Musicians to Prison, which shares hope, healing and restoration with the imprisoned through musicians & artists. Jeff actively supports other initiatives in the community by sitting on the board of The Signatry of Middle Tennessee and the Halftime Institute of Nashville. 

Witnessing his four children, Gracyn, Hunter, Tanner, and Logan, excel on the field is almost just as rewarding, if not more, than celebrating the victories of seeing his clients overcome obstacles and build wealth. Spending weekends boating on the lake, hiking mountain trails, and fishing with his family are the moments Jeff cherishes most. It’s this grounded perspective that reveals the true meaning of wealth for Jeff: not just numbers on a page, but the freedom to create experiences that enrich your life and the lives of those you love. When you choose the Dobyns McMillin Wealth Team, you choose more than financial expertise. You choose a partner who champions your dreams, celebrates your victories, and walks besides you on the path to achieving your unique goals.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.