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Do You Need A Financial Advisor?

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When we make big decisions in life, most of us are looking for a source of expertise and guidance to help us make informed choices to meet our individual goals and needs.

If you do your own investing, have you ever wondered whether you should turn things over to a professional financial advisor?

Is it worth getting a financial advisor?



When The Time Comes

Professional advisors say there is no magic asset number that pushes an investor to seek advice. Rather, it is more likely an event that spooks a person and sends him scurrying through an advisor's door.

According to Charles Hughes, a certified financial planner in Bayshore, N.Y., the event typically involves either the receipt of or access to a large sum of money that the individual didn't have before. Or it could be something that requires the individual to manage assets himself – like beginning to take required minimum distributions from a tax-advantaged account, like an IRA or 401(k) plan.

"When you reach a point in which you're constantly afraid that you're going to make a mistake with your investments, then you need professional advice," says Raymond Mignone, a certified financial planner in Little Neck, N.Y.

Often, someone who has never spent or managed more than a few thousand dollars is looking at managing six figures or a group of accounts. If this happens to someone just about to retire, the decisions that need to made are more critical, as there's a need to make this money last. Take the 401(k) plan, for example.

When you're contributing to the plan, you may feel like it's not your money: you can't withdraw and spend the funds, because you'll be penalized. But when retirement is coming and you can access that money, the question often arises about what you are going to do with it. For many, this can spark the realization that they need some portfolio management from an outside authority.




Self Evaluation

The need for critical self-evaluation is very important to determine whether you should hire a financial advisor. The following questions should help you:


- Do you enjoy reading about wealth management, financial issues and the search for specific assets ?
- Do you have experience in financial matters ? 
- Do you have time to monitor, evaluate and make periodic changes to your portfolio ? 
- Do you have sufficient knowledge of investments ?


If your answer is "yes" to these questions, you may not need a financial advisor or planner. But if the answer is "no" then follow the following tips


How Do You Go To Find The Right Counselor?

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Never seek referrals from colleagues, friends or family members who seem to be running their finances successfully. Another way is professional recommendations. A certified public accountant or lawyer may forward it. Professional associations can sometimes provide assistance. Such as the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers (NAPFA).

The client must also consider how the consultant gets paid. Some advisors charge him a commission each time they do a transaction or sell you a product. Others charge fees based on the amount they have given to manage the money. Some consultants assess hourly charges.

The fee consultants argue that their advice is superior because it does not involve conflict of interest: commissioners receive their income from the company behind the products they sell, which can affect their recommendations; they may also have an incentive to "foam" your account - that is, shelf up Transactions to generate more commissions. In response, the consultants argue that their services are certainly less expensive than paying fees that could work at $ 100 / hour and more.


The wrong financial advisor


If your advisor only records some transactions from time to time but never sits and discusses long-term goals with you, you may want to look for a new advisor. If your consultant has never written an investment plan or strategy to plan your needs and objectives and assess whether they are accessible, it may be better to provide your services elsewhere.

A written plan for each client is very important. In addition, good advisors have biannual conferences with clients and talk to their clients on a regular basis. In addition to that, a good consultant who is just beginning to work with the client should never recommend a product until he has learned a lot about the circumstances and objectives.

What Are The Advantages You Get When Hiring A Financial Advisor?


The financial advisor helps you create strategies to get rid of financial risks and help build wealth in the long term. A plan can give you the right path to achieve your financial goals.

Financial advisors receive different degrees. They come from diverse backgrounds and offer a wide range of services. So they can do a lot more like explaining confusing terms and helping you choose mutual funds.

A financial advisor can help you with everything from budget to saving for retirement. Simply, it helps you in all kinds of financial planning.

What Is The Role Of A Financial Advisor?


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Debt management plan
Debt can seriously complicate your finances and prevent you from making progress towards your long-term goals. Although you do not need the help of a financial advisor to get rid of debt, your counselor can show you the benefits of being debt-free. For example, you can save for retirement, a new home, or a college for your son.

But before a financial advisor can help you create a comprehensive long-term financial plan, you will be encouraged to handle your debts. They want you to stop paying for the past so you can start planning for the future.

Budgeting to achieve financial targets

We all need someone in the corner to remind us of the big picture and to encourage us as we work to achieve our goals. A financial advisor can help you understand the actions you need to take to reach those long-term goals, whether you want to send your children to college, buy a new home, or pay for adoption.

By strategically telling your finances where to go, you can start preparing a budget for those big goals and making your dreams come true.

Long-term health care planning

According to a study by Fidelity, a 65-year-old couple who retire this year could expect to pay $ 275,000 to cover medical expenses alone during their retirement. What can you do to prepare for that big expense in this chapter of your life? The financial advisor can explain your options for long-term care insurance. Then you can choose an affordable plan in the future.

Estate planning

Talking about planning at the end of life may seem quite frustrating, but it should not be. Whether you've just bought your first home or run your own business for 30 years, you can choose what to do with those assets you've worked hard for. A financial advisor can be a great source in real estate planning by helping you create a plan to ensure that your desires are fulfilled.

Retirement

How do you want to do after retirement and what is your dream? Do you want to travel the world? Visit your grandchildren? Open a private business? Regardless of your dream, you need steady income streams to move you into two or three decades - or more.

A financial advisor can help you not only build wealth, but also protect it in the long term. They can estimate your expected financial needs and develop strategies to expand your retirement savings. They can advise you on when to take the minimum distributions (RMDs) required from your investment accounts in order to avoid bad penalties. They can also help you find out when to take advantage of social security.


Inheritance

If you expect to have an inheritance, you may wonder about everything from tax effects to the best way to allocate money. A financial advisor can help keep this heap of burdens. He can advise you on how to adjust your financial goals and strategies, and can also address difficult matters - such as expected taxes. They can also guide you through practical steps to take in a timely manner.

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Tax planning

Regardless of age, dealing with taxes can be stressful - especially when your wealth grows and you get closer to retirement. The financial advisor can explain how taxes will affect your money, whether you are advising on charitable donations, building an effective tax plan, or making the most of your tax breaks. The goal is to minimize the tax burden with the best returns Enabled. Keep in mind, however, that investment decisions should not be made solely on a tax basis.

Investments

Financial advisors are also investment experts. Like SmartVestor Pros, these people can help you identify the right investment funds for you and show you how to manage and make the most of your investments. They can also help you understand the risks and what you need to do to achieve your goals.

Experienced professionals can also help you stay on the roller coaster for investment when you enjoy your life. They know that what is happening - investment funds - is likely to return. Because they can remain emotionally neutral, they can be a voice of mind that reminds you to look at your investments with a long lens. They provide a level of service that makes their experience a crucial part of any retirement plan.

Finally, an individual should ensure that any financial professional has the appropriate qualifications. Avoid any consultant who is a bit more of an intermediary but calls himself a financial planner or counselor. In fact, the term "financial scheme" was one much misused. A person can call himself a financial planner, but not a certified financial plan unless he or she has the necessary education and training. Therefore, do not allow yourself to be impressed by the address on the business card advisor until you understand what qualifications and certificates he or she actually has.

If you choose to get advice, carefully choose the appropriate professional for the job and you should be on your way to a better financial plan. If you decide to go alone, remember if you initially do not succeed, you can try again - or call a counselor.

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