Common questions. Straight answers.

You share your situation, goals, and what you're trying to solve through a short intake, either online or on the phone. We use that to match you with a local, vetted financial planner whose specialty fits, then you set up a free introductory call directly with them. There's no cost to use the matching service and no obligation to move forward.

No. We're a referral and matching service. We connect you with independent, experienced financial planners across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. We don't manage money, give investment advice, or charge you a fee for the match. The planner you work with is a separate, independently licensed professional.

No. The matching service itself is free. Any fees you pay come later, directly to the planner you choose, and depend on how that planner is compensated, which we'll walk you through before you ever meet with one.

Most people hear back within one to two business days after completing the intake. If your situation is straightforward, like a single rollover question, it can be faster. We'd rather take an extra day and get the match right than rush it.

A fee-only planner is paid directly by you, through a flat fee, hourly rate, or a percentage of assets, and doesn't earn commissions on products. A fee-based planner charges fees but can also earn commissions on certain products they sell. A commission-based advisor is paid mainly through the products they place. None of these is automatically wrong, but each changes the incentives in the room, and it's worth knowing which one you're sitting across from.

A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, not just recommend something suitable. Not every financial professional operates under a fiduciary standard at all times, so it's a fair question to ask directly before your first meeting: are you acting as a fiduciary for this relationship?

The planners we match with cover a range of specialties: retirement income planning, 401k rollovers, tax and estate coordination, small business retirement plans, and general wealth management. We match based on what your intake tells us you actually need, not a one-size-fits-all planner.

Yes. Tell us your preference during intake, whether that's fee-only, a flat project fee, or something else, and we'll factor that into the match. If a planner's fee structure doesn't work for you after the intro call, you're never obligated to continue.

Two free tools cover most of it. FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org) shows licensing, employment history, and any disciplinary disclosures for brokers and firms. SEC IAPD (adviserinfo.sec.gov) covers registered investment advisers. Both take about five minutes and are worth checking before your first real conversation about your money.

Watch for unexplained gaps in employment history, multiple customer disputes or regulatory disclosures, pressure to make a decision fast, and vague answers about how they're paid. A planner with nothing to hide will walk you through their record without hesitation.

We check that every planner in our network is properly licensed and in good standing before we ever refer them. That said, we still encourage you to run your own BrokerCheck and IAPD search before your first meeting. It takes five minutes and it's your money.

It's a reasonable approach, especially for a bigger decision like a rollover or an estate plan. Most planners offer a free introductory call specifically so you can ask questions and see if the fit is right before committing to anything.

A good rule of thumb is five to ten years before you plan to retire, when the questions shift from how much you're saving to how that money will actually pay you every month. Tampa Bay's large pre-retiree population tends to start this conversation later than they should, often right at the finish line instead of with runway to adjust.

You generally have four options: leave it with your former employer, roll it into your new employer's plan, roll it into an IRA, or cash it out. Cashing out usually triggers taxes and an early-withdrawal penalty if you're under 59 and a half, so it's worth a conversation before you decide, not after.

You can claim as early as 62 or as late as 70, and the difference in monthly income is significant and permanent. The right age depends on your health, other income sources, and whether you're still working. There's no single right answer, which is exactly why it's worth running your specific numbers with someone before you file.

It changes the math, but it doesn't replace a plan. Florida has no state income tax, which helps retirement account withdrawals go further, but you still need a real income plan for Social Security timing, required minimum distributions, and healthcare costs. New Florida residents especially should have a plan reviewed for the move, not just assume the tax savings covers everything.

A general picture of your income, savings, debts, and any account statements you have on hand, like 401k, IRA, or brokerage statements. You don't need it perfectly organized. Most planners just want a realistic starting point so the conversation is grounded in your actual numbers, not guesses.

Ask how they're paid, whether they're acting as a fiduciary, what their typical client looks like, and how often you'll hear from them after the plan is built. Their answers tell you as much about the fit as the plan itself.

It shouldn't be. A first meeting is meant to be a conversation about your situation and whether the planner is a fit, not a close. If it feels like a pitch from the first five minutes, that's useful information on its own.

The planner will typically outline next steps directly with you: gathering documents, building out a plan, or scheduling a deeper strategy session. From that point, you're working directly with the planner, not with Tampa Wealth Pro. We're the introduction, not the ongoing relationship.