Find a Financial Advisor in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County at a glance

Palm Beach County is the northernmost of South Florida’s three big counties and the largest in land area east of the Mississippi River, reaching from the Atlantic coast to Lake Okeechobee. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, the median household income is $83,581, per capita income is $52,359 and the median home value is $447,300. The median age is 45.3, the oldest of the three South Florida counties, and 24.8 percent of residents are 65 or older. About 40.5 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 70.1 percent of homes are owner occupied. Median gross rent is $1,916 a month, owners with a mortgage report median monthly costs of $2,383, and unemployment in the survey period was 5.5 percent.

The numbers point to a county of homeowners, many of them older, with comfortable incomes on average. The averages hide wide gaps, though. A hedge fund manager in Palm Beach, a farmworker near Belle Glade and a retired teacher in Lake Worth Beach live in the same county with very different budgets.

Financial advisors in Palm Beach County

People in Palm Beach County look for a financial advisor for several reasons. Some are newly retired and want a steady paycheck from savings. Others have just moved from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut and want to reset taxes, accounts and estate papers. Younger families in Royal Palm Beach or Jupiter want help with college costs and insurance, while business owners think about selling.

Because the county is spread out, with roughly an hour between Jupiter and Boca Raton in traffic, remote meetings are convenient. Advisors who serve Palm Beach County regularly meet by phone or video, share documents securely and bring in a tax professional or attorney when a plan needs it.

Money, industry and employment in Palm Beach County

The county’s economy runs on tourism, real estate, health care, agriculture and a growing financial sector. Resorts and restaurants on Palm Beach and in West Palm Beach employ a large service workforce, while a stream of investment firms and family offices has opened in recent years, drawn by the tax climate. Palm Beach International Airport connects the area to the northeast, and the Port of Palm Beach handles cargo at Riviera Beach.

Science and technology have a presence too. Scripps Research and the Max Planck Florida Institute work in Jupiter, and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and Palm Beach State College educate thousands of students. Hospitals such as those in the Boca Raton and West Palm Beach areas employ many nurses and doctors. In the western part of the county, sugar cane and vegetable farms around Belle Glade and Pahokee, plus equestrian businesses in Wellington, add rural income streams that follow harvests and show seasons.

Wealth that moves to Palm Beach County

For decades, wealthy families have settled in Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens. More recently, executives and business owners from northern states have changed their residency here. A move like that raises specific questions. What counts as proof of domicile? How many days can you spend in your former state? Which accounts, trusts and wills need to be updated? Mistakes can invite an audit from the state you left.

Working through a relocation checklist with an advisor, an estate attorney and a tax professional is wise. Keep records of where you live, vote, register vehicles and spend time. Update your will, powers of attorney and health care directives to Florida forms, and review beneficiary designations on accounts and insurance. The state’s lack of an income or estate tax is attractive, but it works well when the paperwork supports it.

Housing, insurance and cost of living

The median home value of $447,300 is a middle figure in a county where oceanfront estates sell for far more and starter condos in Greenacres and Lake Worth Beach sell for far less. Many retirees live in condominiums and in managed communities in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton, where association fees and special assessments belong in the budget. Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens offer more single-family neighborhoods.

Insurance is a major cost. Homeowners premiums have risen across Florida, and many owners carry high wind deductibles. Cost of living also includes golf or social club memberships, property taxes after a sale and the cost of seasonal travel for families who split time with a northern home. Build a monthly budget that counts all of these items and test it against a rise in premiums.

Florida taxes and Palm Beach County estates

Florida has no state income tax on wages, pensions, interest, dividends or retirement withdrawals, and no state estate or inheritance tax. For high-net-worth residents, that can matter a lot. Federal rules still apply, including income tax, capital gains tax, gift tax and estate tax above the federal exemption, which can change over time.

Florida also offers protection for a primary home from many creditors, and a homestead exemption with an assessment cap for property taxes, both of which have rules that require care. Trusts are common in the county, and a good plan covers titles, beneficiaries and who will manage assets if you cannot. The estate planning guide is a good starting point before you meet an attorney. Confirm current rules with an estate attorney or tax professional.

Hurricanes, flood and Lake Okeechobee

Palm Beach County has a long history with hurricanes. Wind and storm surge threaten the coast, while heavy rain and an aging system of canals and levees around Lake Okeechobee shape risk inland. After a major storm, power outages and repairs can last weeks, so a reserve fund and a plan for temporary housing are valuable.

Coverage questions are practical. Check whether your policy covers wind and water separately, what the deductible is as a percentage of home value, and whether flood insurance is in place. Document belongings with photographs, and store important papers in a secure digital folder. Advisors can help you weigh a higher deductible against savings and set aside money specifically for storm costs.

Wealth management in Palm Beach County

Wealth management here often means looking after substantial assets across generations. Clients may hold real estate, closely held companies, concentrated stock and trusts, with children and grandchildren in different states. The job is to coordinate investing, taxes, insurance, giving and estate papers so they work together.

Questions worth asking include who handles custody of assets, how the firm manages conflicts, and whether it coordinates with your attorney and CPA. Fees commonly follow a sliding scale based on assets, but some firms use flat retainers for complex families. Review the full fee schedule, including fund expenses and any trust or insurance commissions.

Financial planners in Palm Beach County

Financial planners build a roadmap across your whole financial life. In Palm Beach County, plans often address three timelines at once: a pre-retiree wants to know when to stop work, a young family wants to afford a house, and an older couple wants to leave money to grandchildren without losing control.

The CFP designation signals training and an ethical standard, though many capable planners hold other credentials. A planning engagement may be a one-time project, an annual subscription or part of a larger relationship. Ask what the written plan will include, how you can reach the planner and how updates are handled when life changes.

Retirement planning in Palm Beach County

Retirement is the main business of this county. With about a quarter of residents age 65 or older, many households are already drawing income from savings, and many more are close. The key tasks are to match income with spending, manage taxes on withdrawals, and plan for health care.

A retired couple in Jupiter might live on Social Security, a pension and an IRA, while a widow in Boynton Beach might rely mostly on Social Security and a small portfolio. Both can learn from our retirement planning guide and need to think about Medicare supplements, prescription costs and long-term care. Sequence matters: which account to tap first can affect taxes for decades. Some residents also consider moving after a spouse dies, so plans should show how a single survivor would fare.

Planning for retirement in Palm Beach County?

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Life insurance in Palm Beach County

Life insurance in the county serves several purposes. Younger parents need coverage to protect income, while older, wealthy clients may use policies to pay estate costs or leave a legacy. Some business owners use insurance to fund a buyout if a partner dies.

Term coverage is simple and affordable for a set period (our life insurance guide explains the types). Permanent policies are more complex, cost more and need review of illustrations and surrender charges. Ask for guidance on how a policy fits within a trust, who owns it and how premiums will be paid if income falls. For clients in their seventies, existing policies are worth a checkup to confirm they still serve a purpose.

Investment advisors in Palm Beach County

Investment advisors in Palm Beach County manage portfolios for retirees who need income, for executives with large equity positions and for families with long time horizons. The right match depends on size and complexity, and on whether you want an advisor to make decisions for you or guide your own.

Read the investing guide first, then ask how the advisor selects investments, how often the portfolio is rebalanced and how taxes are managed. Compare the fee to the services you receive. Registered advisors file a Form ADV that details their business and any conflicts, and it is public. Knowing what you pay in total, including fund fees, helps you judge value.

How to choose a financial advisor in Palm Beach County

The county has many advisors, so a clear process helps. Write down what you want solved, then compare several candidates side by side.

1. Confirm registration and any disciplinary record on the SEC and FINRA websites.
2. Ask whether the advisor will act as a fiduciary for the services you need.
3. Get fees in writing, as a percentage, a flat amount or an hourly rate.
4. Ask who the advisor typically serves, such as retirees, executives or business owners.
5. Check who holds your assets and who can move money.
6. Ask for references or examples of how the advisor handled a situation like yours.

Be wary of anyone who promises returns or rushes you. A sound advisor explains tradeoffs and lets you take time.

Areas we serve in Palm Beach County

Advisors we connect you with serve residents of Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Jupiter, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and West Palm Beach. They also work with households on the island of Palm Beach, in Jupiter Inlet Colony and in the western farm towns. Meetings take place by phone or video, wherever you live in the county.

Frequently asked questions