Looking for a Financial Advisor for Authors?

Are you an author? Learn how financial advisors who specialize in serving authors can help you enjoy life more with less money stress.

Writing may be your passion, but when it comes to managing the income it generates, things can get complicated—fast. Royalties fluctuate, advances are unpredictable, and self-employment taxes can feel like a mystery novel with no satisfying ending.

For authors, financial planning isn’t just about saving for retirement; it’s about navigating a highly variable income stream, protecting intellectual property, and making the most of creative success. That’s where a financial advisor who specializes in working with authors can make all the difference.

Unlike most traditional careers, authors face unique challenges and opportunities—book deals, speaking gigs, film rights, and digital sales are just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who understands how to treat income from multiple publishing platforms, optimize tax deductions for writing-related expenses, or plan for gaps between book launches.

Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live. This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with authors is a better fit to help with your unique financial planning needs.

Advisors who work specifically with authors bring industry insight and tailored strategies that align with your creative goals and business realities. By working with a financial advisor who specializes in serving authors, your time can be freed up to focus on what you do best: telling great stories.

Financial Planning for Authors

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with authors to help them make smart decisions to enjoy life more today while preparing for a comfortable retirement in the future.

🙋‍♀️ Do you have questions not answered below? Use the form on this page to submit your questions, and we’ll update this article with answers from the financial professionals and educators in the Wealthtender community. You can also contact the financial advisors featured in this article directly to set up an introductory call or ask your questions by email.

Q&A: Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving Authors

Three Questions with Larry Sprung, CFP®

We asked Hauppauge, New York, financial advisor Larry Sprung, CFP®, Founder, Wealth Advisor of Mitlin Financial, Inc® and Author of “Financial Planning Made Personal” to answer a few questions that come up in his conversations with authors who want to turn their literary career earnings into a comfortable retirement with a storybook ending.

Q: What is a common financial planning challenge unique to authors that you frequently encounter when working with your clients? How do you work with them to overcome this challenge?

Larry: One of the most common financial planning challenges I see with authors is the unpredictability of their income. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5, authors often go through peaks and valleys—whether it’s an advance from a new book, royalties that fluctuate, merchandise sales that tend to spike around releases, or speaking engagements. Cash flow inconsistency affects how you budget, save, plan for retirement and college savings, and tax strategy.  

At Mitlin Financial, we help authors build a framework that creates more stability amidst that unpredictability. For example, we guide them in setting up more predictable income strategies, essentially paying themselves a salary, so they can create more consistency and plan more effectively. 

We’ve even introduced some authors to advanced planning tools like Cash Balance Plans—a powerful retirement strategy that helps them lower their tax burden while ramping up retirement savings, especially in high-income years.

Your gift is crafting stories, ours is helping you craft a financial life that supports your creativity—so you can keep doing what you love while we help you create your own happily ever after.

Q: For authors who are unsure whether or not they should hire a financial advisor at the current point in their lives, what guidance can you provide to help them make a more informed and educated decision?

Larry: I often tell authors: if your writing career is generating income—or you hope it will—then it’s never too early to start thinking like a business owner. Many authors don’t realize they’re building a business, and with that comes responsibility: managing cash flow, tax strategy, planning for retirement, investment decisions, and as their brand grows the protection of intellectual property and estate planning.

Hiring a financial advisor isn’t just about wealth management—it’s about clarity and confidence. I’ve spoken at numerous author conferences presenting “Write Your Financial Future”, where I walk writers through the business side of their careers. From that experience, I’ve seen firsthand how empowering it can be when authors recognize that they can take control of the business side of their career and that there are people who can help so that they can focus on the things that bring them JOY like, plot twists, world-building, and character arcs.

If you’re feeling unsure, have a conversation. A great fiduciary advisor won’t pressure you—they’ll educate you, meet you where you are, and assist you in exploring possibilities you may not have considered.

Q: How do the services you provide to authors distinguish your firm from other advisory firms?

Larry: At Mitlin Financial, we take a uniquely personalized and strategic approach to working with authors. We recognize that being an author isn’t just a passion—it’s a profession. That means treating your writing like a business and understanding the specific financial challenges and opportunities that come with it.

Where many firms might offer generic planning services, we dig deep into things like how to transition from W-2 income (in your full-time job) to 1099 as your writing career grows. We’ve helped authors set up tax-efficient retirement plans like Cash Balance Plans, structure their business entities, and even shown them how to borrow against a properly structured investment portfolio to purchase that dream vacation home—all without disrupting their long-term goals.

Our expertise goes beyond the numbers. It’s about understanding your story and helping you write the next financial chapter with intention and confidence. Read more about how Mitlin assists authors. 

Get to Know Larry Sprung, Financial Advisor for Authors:

View Larry’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit his website to learn more.

Q: When you first speak with an author, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?

Larry: The very first thing I want to understand is: What brings you JOY?

That one simple question opens the door to everything that follows. 

Whether it’s having more time to write, building a business around your books, traveling for inspiration, or simply knowing your family’s taken care of we start with your unique vision of JOY and work backward from there.

It’s no coincidence that my book, “Financial Planning Made Personal”, opens with a discourse on JOY. Because at the end of the day, that’s what financial planning should be, it should be personal, it should be about helping you craft a life that reflects what matters most to you.

From there, I get curious about how your writing career is currently supporting that vision. We’ll talk about how your income flows in—through royalties, advances, speaking, or other creative projects. We explore whether you’ve taken steps to formalize your business, what you’re doing to prepare for taxes, and how you’re planning for the future.

But make no mistake: this conversation isn’t just about finances—it’s about your life. At Mitlin, we believe financial planning is a tool to help you live more fully and freely. When authors sit down with us, they’re not getting a lecture on numbers they’re starting a conversation about what truly matters most.

Q: What questions do you recommend authors ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?

Larry: Authors should feel empowered to interview potential advisors. A few key questions I suggest:

1. Have you worked with authors or other creatives before? Their financial picture is unique. You want someone who understands things like royalties, inconsistent income, and intellectual property.
2. Are you a Fiduciary? A fiduciary is anyone who has a legal responsibility to put the client’s interest ahead of their own. In layman’s terms: The advisor has to do what is best for the client, rather than what is best for themselves. So, for example, the advisor cannot put you in the most expensive product to generate a higher commission for themselves. An important note: Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries…
3. How do you get paid? Look for transparency here. Whether it’s fee-based, commission-based, or flat-fee, you must understand the structure.
4. What’s your planning process like? A good advisor should have a clear and collaborative process, not a one-size-fits-all model. They should also be clear about who your contact is at the firm and how they communicate. 
5. How will you help me grow my business and manage my personal finances together? The lines between business and personal finances are often blurred for authors—your advisor needs to be comfortable operating in both spaces.

Choosing who you work with isn’t just about credentials—it’s about connection. 

You deserve someone who listens, sees the full picture, and understands your world. 

At Mitlin, we lead with empathy, build with trust, and design a plan rooted in your vision of JOY. 

Don’t just find an advisor—find a true partner in your journey.

Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with an author when you first realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?

Larry: Absolutely—one moment that stands out was working with an author who had recently left a full-time corporate job to write full-time. 

The transition from W-2 to 1099 had thrown them for a loop suddenly they were dealing with quarterly taxes, business expenses, and wildly fluctuating income.

We sat down and structured their business properly, created a tax-saving strategy using a Cash Balance Plan, which significantly reduced their taxable income, and built a plan to stabilize their cash flow. They went from feeling overwhelmed to feeling in control.

Another author we serve came to us wanting to buy a vacation home, it brought us JOY that they knew we would not judge their decision to spend what they have earned.  It brought them JOY when I shared that instead of liquidating the portfolio for the purchase they could explore a portfolio loan. We educated them about a securities-backed line of credit—allowing them to access liquidity without selling off their investments. They were able to say yes to the vacation home they’d always dreamed of—and still stay aligned with their bigger vision for the future. It’s an example of what we strive for: helping families enJOY the journey, without compromising the dreams of tomorrow.

Your journey as an author is unlike anyone else’s—and your financial plan should reflect that. With guidance tailored to your creative life and goals, you can move beyond just making it, and start building a future where you truly thrive.

✅ Read Certified Advisor Reviews™ for Larry Sprung:

Are you preparing to hire a financial advisor? With Certified Advisor Reviews™, you will always know if a reviewer was paid to write their review and whether or not they have ever been a client of the financial advisor. You will also learn about any conflicts of interest so you can make a smarter hiring decision.

About the Author

About the Author

Brian Thorp

Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian