Do you feel more confident tackling complex challenges on your own, or when you have a team of experienced professionals guiding and supporting you? When it comes to managing your financial future, working with a team often leads to stronger, more consistent outcomes than working on it alone.

Even the most accomplished individuals rely on a network – mentors, advisors, strategists and specialists – to help them stay focused and make informed decisions. The same principle applies to building and managing your wealth.

Taking a proactive approach to your finances is an excellent habit. But navigating everything from goal setting and investment planning to tax and estate strategies is an enormous task to handle by yourself. According to a study from Vanguard, those who work with a professional, eight in ten have an 80% or greater probability of achieving a secure retirement. That’s why assembling a comprehensive wealth management team is essential.

Here's your guide to creating that team.

Your Wealth Management Team

You

You are at the center of this process. Your role is to determine and share your priorities and what financial success looks like to you. Whether your goals include growing your assets, retiring early, buying a second home, or traveling the world, your vision drives the planning process. From there, your responsibility is to surround yourself with a trustworthy team that can help turn that vision into a reality.

Your Financial Advisor

Your advisor plays a key leadership role in translating your goals into an actionable strategy. They will help you create a detailed, personalized financial plan that guides decisions. They determine investment strategy based on your risk tolerance and time horizon, your estate plan, and tax management strategies appropriate for your situation.

And this work isn’t done in isolation. They coordinate with other specialists, including investment analysts, tax professionals, estate attorneys, and others to ensure every piece of your financial picture is managed strategically with care and precision.

Your Planning Specialists

Planning is the epitome of wealth management and some of you have plans that are just more complicated than others. If your situation needs more specialized expertise, a financial advisor, who can connect you with the right resources, is valuable.

For example:

• You are a small business owner and need more specialized insight into how selling your business impacts the rest of your financial and estate plans.
• You want to learn how a pension plan can help you accelerate your retirement savings.

In either scenario, you will want to talk to an advisor or actuary that can help you account for all the complicated details. This part is about determining a goal and creating an actionable plan to achieve it.

→ Are you paying more in taxes than you should? It may be time for a tax consultation. Learn more here.

Your Investment Research Teams

One of the biggest advantages of working with a well-supported financial advisor is access to a dedicated team of investment professionals. These analysts monitor the market, evaluate opportunities, and help design a portfolio that aligns with your long-term goals and risk tolerance.

Rather than juggling both financial planning and investment analysis alone, your consultant collaborates with these specialists to ensure a balanced, research-driven approach. This division of expertise helps deliver better outcomes and more consistent results.

Your Trust & Fiduciary Experts

As you accumulate your wealth, you need to also protect it – and plan for what happens to it in the future. This often involves thinking about how you want your legacy to live on and having those wishes reflected and managed accordingly in an estate plan.

Because estate laws are complex and change frequently, working with an estate attorney is non-negotiable, as is working in coordination with your financial advisor to ensure your assets are handled properly to avoid costly errors, minimize tax liability, and safeguard your plan and legacy.

→ Learn more about the importance of estate planning here.

(Bonus) Your Family

Depending on your age, goals, and life stage, it may be helpful to involve close family members in your financial journey. This could include your spouse, partner, children, or other trusted individuals. Involving them early provides transparency, builds financial literacy, and creates a support network that can be vital in times of transition or unexpected change.

→ Get conversation starters for discussing finances with kids, grandkids, parents, or your partner.

Building Brighter Financial Futures, Together

And remember, when building your team and working with a financial advisor, it’s an ongoing partnership with open communication that puts you and your goals first – you should never feel like you’re alone.

For us, at Manning & Napier, we practice a team-based approach that puts you and your priorities first. We believe that working with an advisor isn’t about handing off control – it’s about collaboration. You stay at the center of the process, supported by experienced professionals whose job is to help you navigate complexity and stay on track toward your financial goals.

Let us help you build the right team for lasting financial success.