Find a Financial Advisor in Utah County

Utah County at a glance

Walk across the Brigham Young University campus in Provo on a September morning and you see why Utah County is a statistical outlier. The students, young families with strollers and new graduates starting jobs in Lehi make this one of the youngest large counties in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, the county had about 705,400 residents, and the median age was just 25.8. Only 7.9 percent of residents are 65 or older.

Median household income is $100,671, yet per capita income is $37,082. The gap tells you that households are large, with many children and often one earner at home for a time. The median home value is $538,700, the median gross rent is $1,541 a month and the median owner cost with a mortgage is $2,115. About 68.3 percent of households own their home, 44.4 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the survey unemployment rate was 3.8 percent.

This page covers the whole county. Salt Lake County to the north has its own separate page, and the two share a technology corridor around the Point of the Mountain.

Why a young county plans differently

Most location pages in the older parts of the country start with retirement. Here the first questions are about getting started. A couple in Orem, both 27, with a baby and a combined income near 95,000 dollars, wants to know how to buy a house that now costs more than five times their income. A 22-year-old graduate in Provo with a software job and 30,000 dollars of student loans wants to know whether to pay off debt or invest.

A planner can help young households sort the order of operations:

1. Build a starter emergency fund of one to two months of expenses.
2. Capture any employer 401(k) match, which is free money.
3. Pay off high-interest debt, then decide how fast to pay student loans.
4. Save for a down payment in a separate account.
5. Add term life insurance as soon as someone depends on your income.

The earlier these steps start, the less they cost. Our budgeting and saving guide lays out a simple version.

Financial advisors in Utah County

A financial advisor helps you use money you earn, save and own. The title covers many roles: a fee-only planner, an investment manager paid on assets, an insurance agent, or a representative at a national firm. Pick based on the job you need done.

Advisors who serve the Utah County area work by phone or video. For parents with young children and students with full schedules, that means meetings can happen in an evening or over lunch. You can choose someone for skill and fit instead of an office in Provo or Lehi.

People in the county often call about:

• Buying a first home in Springville or Saratoga Springs.
• Deciding what to do with stock options at a technology startup.
• Saving for several children’s education at the same time.
• Planning for a mission, tuition or family support costs that arrive on a fixed date.

Silicon Slopes, startups and stock pay

The stretch of I-15 between Lehi, American Fork and Orem is often called Silicon Slopes. Software, data and internet companies have offices here, and several well-known firms have campuses in Lehi and Provo. Micron also operates a manufacturing site in Lehi. Alongside them are health care, education and construction employers.

Technology pay brings its own planning issues:

• Stock options and restricted stock. Exercising options can trigger large tax bills, and shares may be hard to sell. A planner can map the tax effect before you act.
• Concentration risk. Holding most of your savings in your employer’s stock leaves you exposed if the company struggles.
• Startup uncertainty. Layoffs and funding rounds can arrive without warning, so a bigger cash reserve is wise.
• Equity and divorce, estate and gift planning. Large grants raise questions about beneficiaries and trusts. See our guide to estate planning.

Wealth management in Utah County

Wealth management ties together investments, taxes, insurance and estate planning. It often suits households with significant assets or complicated pay. In this county that group includes tech founders and early employees, physicians, owners of construction and manufacturing firms, and families who have owned land in Alpine, Highland or Lindon as values rose. Many firms set minimums, so ask first. Also ask whether the firm has experience with equity compensation and with closely held businesses.

Financial planners in Utah County

A financial planner builds a written roadmap covering budget, debt, saving, insurance, investing, taxes and estate paperwork. Some planners hold the CFP designation, which requires education, an exam, work experience and ethics rules. Others do not, so ask. Common questions here include:

• How do we pay for a house that costs far more than the national median?
• How much should we put toward college when we have four children?
• How do we balance charitable and religious giving, savings and debt?
• What is a safe amount to borrow on a mortgage?

Utah offers the my529 education savings plan. Our college savings guide covers how 529 plans work.

How to choose a financial advisor in Utah County

Choose carefully, because affinity can be misleading. In communities with close social ties, a friendly referral can become a sales pitch. Keep the process businesslike.

1. Ask each candidate how they are paid and request a total annual cost in dollars.
2. Ask in writing whether they act as a fiduciary for every account. Our financial advisors guide explains the word.
3. Check the SEC adviser database and FINRA BrokerCheck. Utah also licenses advisors through the Division of Securities.
4. Be cautious of high-return promises and private investment offers from acquaintances. Utah has seen its share of affinity fraud, so verify before you invest.
5. Compare two or three advisors before deciding.

Housing costs and the first-home squeeze

A median home value of $538,700 stands against a median household income of $100,671. That ratio explains why many young families stay in rentals, buy townhomes or move to the southern and western edges of the county, such as Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs and Spanish Fork. Newer communities can be cheaper but come with longer drives.

Plan the purchase with care. A lender may approve a payment higher than your budget can bear once childcare, insurance and car costs are included. A planner can model what a mortgage looks like at several prices, including the effect of rates and a drop in income if one spouse stays home. Rules for loans and down payments change, so confirm current terms with a lender.

Utah taxes

Utah taxes income at a flat rate, which is simple to compute and lets you plan around it. The state offers a credit tied to Social Security benefits for certain retirees, and it phases out at higher incomes, so check current rules with the Utah State Tax Commission or a tax professional. Utah does not have a state estate or inheritance tax. Sales tax applies to many purchases, including groceries at a reduced rate in some years, so confirm what is current.

Property taxes in the county are moderate compared with many states, and Utah offers a primary residence exemption on part of a home’s value.

Retirement planning in Utah County

With so few residents over 65, retirement can feel far away, but starting early matters more than anything else. A 30-year-old who contributes to a 401(k) and a Roth IRA for 35 years has time to ride out several market downturns. Our retirement planning guide explains the account types.

For older residents, the questions change. Retirees in Provo, Orem and Pleasant Grove often want to stay near children and grandchildren, and many remain active in church and community service. Plans should include health care costs before Medicare begins, Medicare premiums, and a place to live that fits changing needs. Some couples consider serving a full-time mission in retirement, which affects income, travel costs and housing for 18 to 24 months. A planner can include those costs in the budget.

Life insurance in Utah County

With a young population and large families, life insurance matters here. A parent with four children and a mortgage near $2,115 a month may need coverage worth many times annual income. Term policies are usually the most affordable way to cover the years when children depend on you. Review coverage whenever you have another child, buy a home or change jobs. Stay-at-home parents also provide work that would cost money to replace, so they should be covered. Our life insurance guide explains how to estimate need.

Some employer plans provide only a small death benefit. Compare that with what your family would need.

Investment advisors in Utah County

Investment advisors oversee or recommend what sits inside your accounts. Pricing comes as a share of assets, a set retainer or an hourly charge. One percent of 200,000 dollars is 2,000 dollars a year, and over thirty years that drag adds up. Ask for a single all-in figure. Younger investors with small balances often do better with a flat or hourly arrangement. Our investing guide explains fund costs and risk.

Earthquakes, wildfire and winter air

Utah County sits along the Wasatch Front, which runs along an active fault. Large earthquakes are rare but possible, and standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage. Households should find out what earthquake coverage costs and whether the deductible fits their savings. Wildfire is another concern for homes at the edge of the mountains, such as those in Alpine, Highland and Provo Canyon areas. Winter inversions trap smog in the valley, a health issue for some residents, and heavy snow and spring runoff can raise flood risk near streams and Utah Lake.

Practical steps:

• Review your homeowners policy for wildfire and earthquake exclusions.
• Keep an emergency kit and a family contact plan.
• Build a cash reserve for deductibles.
• Photograph your belongings for claims.

Universities and the student economy

Brigham Young University in Provo and Utah Valley University in Orem enroll tens of thousands of students and employ thousands of staff. Student budgets and fall rental cycles influence the local housing market. Parents often help students with tuition, and married students may work part time while raising children. For families, the combination of tuition, housing and the cost of new babies is a big stress. Scholarships, work-study and federal aid rules change, so check current requirements.

Areas we serve in Utah County

Advisors who serve Utah County work with households in American Fork, Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Saratoga Springs, Spanish Fork and Springville. Smaller communities such as Alpine, Highland, Lindon, Vineyard, Mapleton, Payson and Santaquin are served the same way, by phone or video.

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One conversation clears up who can help with a first house, a growing family or a stock grant, and at what price.

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What to bring to a first call

Collect a recent pay stub, balances for your 401(k), Roth IRA and bank accounts, loan balances, any option or RSU grant agreements and last year’s return. Jot down where you want to be in five years. A spouse who shares the money decisions should be on the call.

Frequently asked questions