Intermountain Health Employees: When and How to Work With a Financial Advisor

If you work at Intermountain Health, you have likely spent years caring for other people. As retirement gets closer, there may come a point when you need someone to help care for your financial life too.

Retirement comes with a lot of moving parts. You may be thinking about when to retire, how to turn your savings into income, when to claim Social Security, how Medicare fits in, and how to make tax-smart decisions along the way. Even for people who have saved diligently, it can feel like a lot to sort through.

That is where a good financial advisor can help.

Not everyone needs an advisor, and not every advisor is the right fit. But for many Intermountain employees, there comes a point when professional guidance can make retirement feel much clearer and less overwhelming.

When It May Make Sense to Work With a Financial Advisor

There are a few situations where working with an advisor can be especially helpful.

1. You Are Within 5 to 10 Years of Retirement

This is often one of the most important planning windows. It is much easier to make thoughtful decisions before retirement than after the fact.

An advisor can help you:

• estimate whether you are on track
• position your 401(k) for retirement income
• evaluate Roth conversion opportunities
• think through when and how to start withdrawals

2. You Are Facing a Major Decision

Maybe you are thinking about retiring early, going part-time, or stepping into a different role. Those choices can affect more than just your paycheck. They can also impact your benefits, taxes, healthcare, and long-term retirement plan.

A financial advisor can help you see how one decision may affect the rest of the picture.

3. You Feel Overwhelmed by Your Benefits

Intermountain offers valuable benefits, but that does not always mean they are easy to understand. Your 401(k), insurance options, and retirement-related decisions can start to feel overwhelming, especially when several decisions hit at once.

An advisor who understands Intermountain’s system can help clarify your options and help you avoid costly mistakes.

4. You Want Confidence About Replacing Your Paycheck

One of the biggest shifts in retirement is moving from a regular paycheck to living off Social Security, savings, and investments.

That can feel unsettling. A good advisor can help you build a plan for where your income will come from, how much you can safely spend, and how to make that income last. More than anything, that kind of plan can provide peace of mind.

What a Good Financial Advisor Should Help You With

A financial advisor should do more than manage investments. They should help you coordinate the bigger picture, including:

• creating a retirement income plan
• aligning your investments with when you will need the money, whether that be income needed now or income needed thirty years from now
• minimizing taxes on withdrawals
• planning for healthcare and insurance
• coordinating charitable giving and legacy goals

For many Intermountain employees, these decisions are closely connected. That is why it helps to work with someone who can bring all the moving parts together into one plan.

At Peterson Wealth Advisors, we use the Perennial Income Model™, a planning strategy designed to structure retirement income over time. The goal is to create a clear income plan rather than simply withdrawing money and hoping it works. This approach is designed to protect near-term income from market volatility, allow longer-term investments time to grow, and provide a clearer path for spending throughout retirement.

How to Choose the Right Advisor

If you decide to get help, choosing the right advisor matters. Here are a few things to look for:

Fiduciary standard. You want an advisor who is legally required to act in your best interest.

Fee-only compensation. Many people prefer an advisor who is paid directly for advice rather than through commissions.

Retirement planning experience. Retirement involves more than investments. You want someone who understands income planning, taxes, Social Security, and Medicare.

A comprehensive approach. The best advisors look at your full financial picture, not just your portfolio.

Final Thoughts

You have spent your career serving others. As you prepare for retirement, it is worth asking whether you want to handle every financial decision on your own or whether having a guide would help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

For some people, a financial advisor is unnecessary. For others, the right advisor can simplify important decisions, reduce stress, and help them retire with greater peace of mind.

Thinking about retirement and wondering whether professional guidance would help? Visit petersonwealth.com or call (801) 225-0000 to schedule a conversation.

Peterson Wealth Advisors is a registered investment adviser. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individualized financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional before implementing any strategy.