Five Things I Learned in Hiring a Financial Adviser

The piece describes how a Wall Street Journal editor, after managing his family’s finances for 25 years, decided to hire a fee-only financial adviser. It’s prompted by a “milestone” birthday earlier in the year, which leads him to reflect on life and mortality and to consider changing how he handles money. The article is framed around “five things I learned,” but the provided text includes only the opening setup, not the specific lessons, adviser details, or outcomes. Based on the excerpt, the central facts are the 25-year self-management period, the Wall Street Journal editor, the fee-only model, and the timing tied to the birthday.