At 52 years old, with $270,000 invested in a robo-adviser, you may be wondering if it’s time to reassess your retirement plan. After being divorced for four years, your financial situation might feel like it needs a change of course. Are you on track to reach your retirement goals? Or is it time to consider other options to ensure your future financial stability?

Step 1: Build a Solid Financial Plan

The first step in preparing for retirement is ensuring that you have a comprehensive financial plan. A plan provides clarity and a roadmap, which is essential as you approach what may feel like the halfway mark of your career.

Why a Plan is Crucial
At 52, retirement is becoming more of a mid-term goal than a distant milestone. Jordan Sowhangar, a certified financial planner at Girard, Univest Wealth Division, emphasizes the importance of creating a financial plan tailored to your retirement goals. "You should already have a plan in place for how you're going to achieve your retirement goals. This isn't the time to be passive about your financial future," Sowhangar explains.

Step 2: Set Clear Goals

Before you start making changes to your investments or thinking about how to grow your savings, it's important to understand what you’re working toward.

Critical Questions to Ask:

• How much will you need in savings to feel financially secure at retirement age?
• What income will you need monthly to live comfortably after retirement?

By answering these questions, you’ll gain insight into how much you need to save and how to approach your investment strategy moving forward. Sowhangar recommends revisiting your financial plan regularly—at least once a year—to ensure you're staying on track.

Step 3: Maximize Retirement Contributions

If you're 50 or older, take advantage of catch-up contributions to retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA. In 2025, for instance, you can contribute up to $31,000 to a 403(b) if you're over 50, which includes $7,500 in catch-up contributions.

Tax-Advantaged Savings
Tax-advantaged retirement accounts are among the best vehicles for growing your money, as they allow you to save without paying taxes on the gains each year. This strategy can help you grow your savings faster as you approach retirement age.

Step 4: Evaluate Your Current Investment Strategy

You mentioned that most of your savings, approximately $270,000, is invested in a robo-adviser. Robo-advisers are a low-cost way to manage investments, but they come with limitations.

Robo-Advisers vs. Human Financial Advisers
While robo-advisers can be efficient for setting up and managing portfolios based on your goals and risk tolerance, they lack the personalized guidance and support that a human adviser can provide. Alonso Rodriguez Segarra, a certified financial planner and CEO at Advise Financial, points out that while robo-advisers charge lower fees compared to traditional human advisers, they can’t offer the same level of human connection.

If you’re considering working with a human financial adviser, it’s important to know the different types of fee structures. Some advisers charge based on assets under management, while others offer hourly rates or project-based services. If you prefer working with a financial adviser temporarily or on an as-needed basis, hourly or project-based services may suit your needs.

Step 5: Work with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

To help maximize your savings and secure your retirement, consider hiring a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). CFPs are held to the highest standards of the industry and must complete rigorous coursework, pass exams, and commit to ethical guidelines. "Hiring a CFP can give you peace of mind, knowing that your financial plan is in good hands," says Segarra.

Working with a CFP can help ensure that your portfolio is properly allocated and optimized for growth, and that your overall retirement plan aligns with your goals.

Step 6: Adjust Your Course if Necessary

If you’re concerned that your savings might not be enough to meet your retirement goals, don’t panic. Sowhangar suggests that you might need to catch up on your savings over the next few years, especially if your savings rate has been lower than necessary. "It's never too late to start adjusting your strategy," he says. It’s not just about how much you’ve saved; it’s about how you manage and grow those funds moving forward.

Preparing for retirement isn’t about hoping everything will work out. It’s about taking proactive steps now to ensure a stable future. Whether you stick with your robo-adviser or choose to work with a human financial planner, make sure you have a solid plan in place. Start by setting clear retirement goals, maximizing your contributions, and reevaluating your investment strategy as needed.

A solid financial plan, regular check-ins, and professional advice can help you navigate the journey to retirement with confidence.

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