When is DIY investing fine, and when should I hire professional help?

DIY is fine – often better – when your situation is simple and you can stay disciplined. If you mostly need to contribute to a 401(k) and IRA, hold a few low-cost index or target-date funds, and rebalance occasionally, paying 1% of assets a year buys you little. Consider professional help when complexity or emotion enters: significant equity compensation, a business sale, an inheritance, divorce, the transition into retirement and how to draw down accounts tax-efficiently, or a pattern of panic-selling in downturns. Even then, you can hire a fee-only advisor for a one-time plan or hourly check-ins rather than handing over a permanent percentage. The honest test is whether the advice will save or earn you more than it costs. When unsure, start with a single paid planning session, not a lifetime contract.