A finance advisor is a professional who provides financial advice or guidance to clients. They have a deep knowledge of the financial markets and are often qualified by professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). Filing advisors work at stockbrokers, investment banks, pension fund managers, insurance companies and other types of company.
Tips for finding finance advisor
- Reputation
The first step in finding a finance advisor is to research his or her individual reputation. Check with local business associates about the reputation of the advisor and choose those who are referred by people you trust.
- Fees
The fee structure for most advisors can be different depending on the type of advice or service you require. Some advisors charge an hourly rate, others offer fixed fees or a combination of both. It is important to compare fees with other Financial Advisors to avoid paying too much for advice that may not be needed when you need it most.
- Training and qualifications
Every financial advisor should be qualified, but some are certified and more experienced than others. They also have varying degrees of success in predicting trends in the financial markets. A good way to determine the experience level of an advisor is to ask for their CV, ask them about their previous employers, or ask for testimonials from clients.
- Experience
The longer a lender is in business, the more confident you can be that they have honed their skills and provide good advice. Ask the financial advisor you are considering if they have been in practice long enough and what type of experience they had before starting up on their own (if applicable).
- References
Before you decide to hire a financial advisor, ask for the names of one or two former clients who you can contact and ask about their experience working with the advisor. Talk with current clients is a good way to determine how well they work together to ensure they are compatible personalities.
- Networking opportunities
Generally speaking, financial advisors enjoy what they do and want to give you the best possible advice whether it is just general information or if it involves handling your money through investments or retirement planning.
- Personal relationship
If you have a financial advisor that you trust, you should probably stay with that person as long as they continue to give you good advice and your needs are being met. It is a personal decision. If you are looking for a new advisor, use the guidelines above and trust your instincts.
- Free advice
Many financial advisors provide free advice prior to working with you for a fee. This is provided to determine that your values are in line and that you are comfortable with the advisor. The hours spent meeting with the advisor for these sessions generally count towards the time it takes to work on an actual financial plan. So, if you have many questions, these sessions can be very valuable in deciding whether or not a particular advisor would fit your needs and personality. Always ask how much your counselor charges before providing this service.
Conclusion
Financial advisors are very important in helping an individual, business or family purchase the right products. From the type of investments that a client should be invested in, to financial planning for retirement such as trying to understand your income and expenses, they can assist you in making the right decisions.