Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions, answered.
No jargon, no pressure. Just clear answers about working with Heidi Fifield, RICP®, CDFA® in San Diego.
WORKING WITH HEIDI
What does a financial advisor actually do for me?
A financial advisor helps you create, implement, and monitor a personalized plan for your financial life — from retirement income and Social Security timing to investment management, tax strategy, and insurance. Heidi goes further by integrating life events like divorce, widowhood, or career transitions into a plan that reflects who you actually are, not just your account balance.
Why should I choose a woman financial advisor?
Research consistently shows that female financial advisors tend to listen more carefully, plan more holistically, and trade less impulsively — all of which benefit clients. Women advisors also tend to be especially attuned to the financial realities women face: longer lifespans, career interruptions, divorce, and the unique Social Security considerations that come with them. For women especially, having an advisor who has lived many of the same financial realities is a meaningful advantage.
What makes Heidi Fifield different from other advisors in San Diego?
Heidi holds a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation and is also RISA® (Retirement Income Style Analysis) certified for retirement income planning, is registered through Osaic Wealth (a major broker-dealer), and has over 20 years of experience serving clients in California, Arizona, and Kentucky. Heidi makes sure you're comfortable with how you convert your hard earned retirement savings into the income stream to support your lifestyle.
Heidi also holds a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation — one of the rarest and most impactful credentials an advisor can hold for clients navigating divorce. Her approach centers on your goals and your timeline — not a generic model portfolio.
Do I need a lot of money to work with you?
No minimum asset requirement applies to all services. Whether you're just starting to plan for retirement, going through a divorce, or have significant assets to manage, Heidi offers services scaled to where you are — including educational planning, fee-based strategy sessions, and ongoing wealth management. The best time to start planning is before you think you need to.
Can we meet virtually or do I need to come to your San Diego office?
Both options are available. Heidi offers Zoom consultations for clients who prefer to meet from home, as well as in-person meetings at her office at 3530 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 206, San Diego, CA 92108. Virtual meetings work especially well for clients in Arizona and Kentucky, or for busy professionals and retirees anywhere in her licensed states.
RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY
When is the best time to claim Social Security?
There is no universal answer — but the stakes are high. Claiming early (at 62) reduces your benefit by up to 30% for life. Waiting until 70 increases it by 8% per year beyond your full retirement age. For married couples, coordinating spousal benefits adds another layer of strategy. Heidi offers a Social Security claiming assessment tailored to your health, income sources, and marital status — call or schedule a Zoom to get started.
What is the RISA® Profile and do I need one?
The Retirement Income Style Awareness (RISA®) is a research-backed questionnaire that reveals your instinctive preferences for how you want to fund retirement — from guaranteed income streams to flexible portfolio withdrawals. It takes 15–30 minutes and produces a personalized report. Heidi uses it as a foundational first step for all retirement income planning clients. It ensures your plan actually fits how you'll feel in retirement, not just the numbers on paper.
What is a "personal pension" and can I have one?
A personal pension refers to a strategy for creating reliable, predictable retirement income that functions like an employer pension — even if you never had one. This can include annuities, laddered bond portfolios, systematic withdrawal strategies, or Social Security optimization. PersonalPensionPro.com is Heidi's dedicated resource for helping clients build this kind of income certainty in retirement.
DIVORCE FINANCIAL PLANNING
What is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)?
A CDFA® is a financial professional who specializes in the financial aspects of divorce — including division of retirement accounts (QDROs), Social Security spousal benefit analysis, tax implications of asset splits, and long-term financial projections post-divorce. Most divorce attorneys focus on the legal process; a CDFA® ensures the financial outcomes actually support your future, not just the settlement agreement.
Should I hire a CDFA® before or during my divorce?
Ideally both — the earlier in the process, the better. Pre-divorce planning can reveal hidden financial risks in proposed settlements. During proceedings, a CDFA® works alongside your attorney to evaluate the real long-term value of different asset division scenarios, so you don't trade long-term security for short-term peace of mind.
FEES & REGULATION
How is Heidi compensated — is she a fiduciary?
As an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) registered with Osaic Wealth, Heidi is held to fiduciary standards for advisory services, meaning she is obligated to act in your best interest. She may also receive commissions on certain insurance and investment products as a Registered Representative. Heidi will always disclose how she is compensated for any recommendation — ask her directly in your first call.
What does it cost to work with Fifield Financial?
Fees vary by service. A free initial Zoom consultation is available to all prospective clients. Financial planning, wealth management, and CDFA® divorce services are available on a fee or commission basis depending on the service. See the Fees & Services page for a full breakdown, or contact Heidi directly for a transparent conversation about costs before committing to anything.