Financial Advice Online: A Powerful Tool or a Risky Shortcut?

It’s 1 a.m. when my phone rings. 

At that hour I pick up because, naturally, I assume it’s an emergency.

It’s not. It’s my friend, the night owl, calling to tell me about a video she just watched online.

Once I realized it wasn’t urgent, I told her I’d give her a call in the morning so we could talk it through properly.

Calls like this have become more common lately. Financial clips spread fast, and they spark questions at all hours.

And even though I’m a millennial advisor, I’m the first to admit I’m not exactly a social media star. 

I have, however, noticed how powerfully quick clips are shaping the way people learn about money. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

I’ve personally spent plenty of time watching short videos about hidden travel spots and great places to eat. For lifestyle content, those quick hits are brilliant: fun, fast, and surprisingly useful. 

But when it comes to financial guidance, the picture isn’t always so simple.

When I first started seeing financial “advice” on social media, my immediate reaction was frustration. Seeing videos that made claims with no disclosures, no context, and sometimes no credentials felt like everything I work so hard to do thoughtfully, especially in a highly regulated industry, was being reduced to a punchy soundbite.

My first instinct is to shout, “Wait, that’s not the full picture!” 

But it’s forced me to learn to pause before reacting, and honestly, that’s still a work in progress.

I care deeply about people making sound decisions, so it was and still is, painful to see complex topics get oversimplified into catchy trends, particularly in a field that’s already met with skepticism. Once I took a step back, I realized I don’t ever want a client to feel dismissed or embarrassed for bringing up what they’d seen online, so I changed my approach.

Now, when clients ask me about a video or post, I don’t shut it down.

I open it up. 

We walk through what the poster is trying to explain, unpack the strategy or concept behind it, and talk about why it may or may not fit that client’s specific situation.

I’m proud when clients come in curious because it means they are trying to educate themselves in a noisy, confusing environment, and that’s a good thing. I’d much rather have a conversation that starts with, “I saw this online…” than one that starts with regret after acting on bad advice.

When you’re trying to learn about money this way, a few simple markers can help separate good advice from bad.

Credible sources tend to share both the upsides and the risks, are transparent about their credentials (or lack thereof), and encourage deeper research or professional input instead of quick fixes. They also avoid turning complex topics into one-size-fits-all “hacks.”

On the other hand, it’s worth being cautious when a post skips over risks, sounds overly confident about predicting markets, or leans heavily on product promotion and affiliate links.

The bottom line: social media can be an incredible tool for discovery.

Whether it’s a new restaurant, a travel idea, or the first spark of financial curiosity. I genuinely appreciate that it’s getting younger generations to engage with their money earlier.

But a quick video is a starting point, not a strategy. It can inspire you, but it shouldn’t replace context, planning, or professional guidance.

If something you saw online, has you curious, don’t be embarrassed.

Be proud. 

Then take the next step and make sure you’re grounding that curiosity in facts and thoughtful planning.

Curiosity deserves respect, not dismissal.