Find a Financial Advisor in Larimer County

Two incomes, one mortgage and a renewal notice in Fort Collins

Here is an example, invented for illustration. Maya is 41 and works in a research lab at Colorado State University. Her partner Evan is 43 and works remotely for a software company based in another state. They bought a house west of College Avenue a few years ago, and it is now their biggest asset by a wide margin.

This month a letter arrives from their home insurer. The premium has jumped and the deductible for wind and hail has changed. At the same time Evan’s employer has offered a share purchase plan, Maya is deciding between two retirement plan options through the university, and they have started to think about their first child.

Nothing about this is unusual in Larimer County. The sections below follow the order such a couple would probably meet their questions: a planner, an investment advisor, advisor pricing, wealth management, retirement and life insurance.

Larimer County by the numbers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, median household income in Larimer County is $93,765 and per capita income is $51,165. The median home value is $569,100, median gross rent is $1,716 a month, and owners with a mortgage pay a median of $2,305 a month. About 64.0 percent of homes are owner occupied. The median age is 36.8, 17.4 percent of residents are 65 or older, and 53.0 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in the survey period was 4.8 percent, and the 2025 population estimate is 377,292.

The lower owner occupied share reflects a large student and young renter population. Those renters often face the same decision: buy now at current prices, or keep renting and invest the difference.

Financial planners in Larimer County

A planner builds a written plan across cash flow, debt, insurance, savings and taxes. For a couple like Maya and Evan, a plan might compare buying a larger house with staying put, show how a baby changes the budget, and decide which retirement plan to prioritize.

Ask what the plan will contain and how often it is revisited. A good one-page summary of the next three decisions is more useful than a stack of charts. Our budgeting and saving guide can help you start.

Investment advisors in Larimer County

Investment advisors build and monitor portfolios. For professionals in Larimer County, common issues include employer stock, equity grants from a remote employer, and deciding where to hold different kinds of investments across a 403(b), a Roth IRA and a taxable account. The investing guide covers the basics before a first meeting.

Ask the advisor to explain the proposed mix in one paragraph and to show the fund fees. If you hold stock from an employer, ask how the advisor would reduce that concentration without a large tax bill.

Financial advisors in Larimer County: understanding the bill

Compensation can be a share of assets, a flat charge, hourly billing or commissions. Before signing, get the yearly total in dollars and a list of what it buys, such as plan updates or tax coordination. The financial advisor guide lists questions that help.

Younger Larimer County professionals with lower assets may prefer hourly or flat fee help. Advisors who serve Larimer County meet by phone or video, so you can speak between classes, shifts or flights, and the first conversation is free.

Wealth management in Larimer County

Wealth management coordinates investments, taxes, insurance and estate planning for households with larger or more complex finances. In Larimer County that often describes a long-time Fort Collins homeowner with significant equity, a small brewery or technology business owner, a physician or professor with a high income, or a family that owns a mountain cabin.

Home equity can be a large portion of net worth. A wealth team will look at whether the rest of your money is diversified, whether you carry too much in one asset, and how you would pay for care later. Colorado does not have a state estate tax, but federal rules apply and the estate planning guide explains the documents that protect a family in either case.

Retirement planning in Larimer County

Larimer County is a popular place to retire, with Loveland and Fort Collins drawing people who want the outdoors, health care and a university town. Home prices are high, so many retirees sell elsewhere and buy here with equity, or downsize within the county after children leave.

A retirement plan here usually answers three questions: when to claim Social Security, how to cover health care before Medicare, and how much to spend from savings each year. Colorado taxes income, with deductions for certain retirement income by age, so confirm current rules with the Colorado Department of Revenue or a tax professional. Our retirement planning guide explains the key ages.

University employees can face a choice between a state pension plan and an optional retirement plan. That decision is hard to reverse, so ask a planner to compare the paths before the deadline.

Life insurance in Larimer County

With high housing costs, a young family in Larimer County often needs more coverage than they expect. A rough starting point is to add up the mortgage, a few years of childcare and schooling, and income replacement, then subtract existing savings and group coverage.

Term life is usually the most affordable fit for those years. Self-employed workers, such as contractors, consultants and brewers, have no employer plan, so a private policy is their only option. Disability insurance deserves a look too. See the life insurance guide for the differences among policy types.

Mountains, canyons and the cost of fire and flood

Larimer County has felt major wildfires and floods. The Cameron Peak Fire in 2020 was the largest wildfire in Colorado history, and the High Park Fire burned west of Fort Collins in 2012. The Big Thompson Canyon flood of 1976 and the floods of 2013 also hit the county hard.

That history shapes insurance. Many carriers have raised premiums or tightened coverage for homes near the foothills. Review your policy for the replacement cost basis, any wildfire mitigation requirements, and whether outbuildings and debris removal are covered. Flood insurance is separate, with its own waiting period. Keep a record of your belongings with photos.

A planner can also help you build an emergency fund large enough to cover a deductible and temporary housing after a loss.

Is your insurance keeping up with your home?

Describe your property and an advisor who serves Larimer County will walk through coverage and cash reserves with you.

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The university, the hospitals and the brewing and tech scene

Colorado State University in Fort Collins is the county’s anchor employer and brings research jobs, faculty, staff and thousands of students. Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and McKee Medical Center in Loveland support a large health care workforce. Fort Collins is also known for craft brewing, and many residents work in small technology, engineering and manufacturing firms.

Each group has its own planning angle:

• University employees should compare retirement plan options, look at any tuition benefit and plan for summer or grant-funded gaps.
• Health care workers often have 403(b) plans, shift pay and loan repayment programs worth checking.
• Small business owners need a retirement plan, such as a SEP or solo 401(k), and a succession idea.
• Remote workers keep an eye on state tax filing and equity pay from employers elsewhere.
• Parents saving for college can read the college savings guide to learn how 529 accounts work.

Estes Park, second homes and short term rentals

Estes Park draws visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park, and many cabins and condos in the area are second homes or short term rentals. Owning one adds layers: rental income taxes, local licensing, insurance written for rental use, and the cost of maintenance and snow removal.

Before you buy or keep a mountain property, work out the full yearly cost, including insurance, taxes and repairs, and compare it with the income you could realistically earn. Ask how the property would pass to your children, since co-owning a cabin among siblings can strain relationships without clear rules in writing.

Bike lanes, the I-25 drive and remote desks

Where a Larimer County household lives shapes what it spends. Fort Collins is known for its bike paths and walkable neighborhoods near campus, which can mean one car instead of two. Families in Timnath, Wellington and Berthoud often drive more, and some commute south toward Longmont, Boulder or Denver on I-25. A second vehicle, tolls, fuel and time are real costs, and a planner can put a monthly figure on them.

Remote work has added another wrinkle. A resident who works for a company elsewhere may receive stock grants, bonuses taxed at withholding rates that do not match the final bill, and benefits tied to the employer’s location. Keep a calendar of vesting dates and set aside cash for the tax due when shares vest. If you rent out a basement or a garage apartment, check local rules, insurance and how the income affects your taxes.

Finally, think about where you want to be in fifteen years. Some Larimer County couples plan to stay in the foothills, while others expect to sell and move closer to children. That choice changes how much to hold in cash, how much house to buy now and when to start long-term care planning.

Areas we serve in Larimer County

Advisors who serve Larimer County work with households throughout the county, including Fort Collins and Loveland. They also help families in Estes Park, Berthoud, Wellington, Timnath, Johnstown and Windsor border areas, Red Feather Lakes, Bellvue and Livermore. Everything can be done by phone or video, whichever suits your schedule.

How to choose a financial advisor in Larimer County

Settle these eight points before you hire.

1. Get the complete annual price quoted in dollars and on paper.
2. Ask if every recommendation comes with a fiduciary obligation.
3. Search the SEC and FINRA public databases for the advisor’s record.
4. Verify designations like the CFP and what they demand.
5. Ask how often they work with university plans, stock compensation or foothill property.
6. Clarify who picks up when you call between reviews.
7. Make sure a separate custodian holds your assets under your name.
8. Find out the exit process and any closing charges.

Interview two or more advisors and compare how they answer.

Frequently asked questions