A financial advisor is an individual or an entity who is entrusted with the task of providing advise or counsel in order to aid the process of investment and asset management. Previously, financial advisors only concerned themselves with investments. However, their roles have evolved with time and today, a financial advisor also deals with insurance products and undertakes retirement planning. Advising clients on how to invest in real estate, budgeting their finances and preparing comprehensive plans for retirement have also become a part of their job. A financial advisor may also be called upon by a client, to prepare a detailed plan for funding the educational requirements of the client's ward. A financial advisor may also be employed by mutual funds to pool together the shareholders' wealth and invest in a group of assets, in accordance with the stated objectives.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Financial Advisor
Financial advisors have the responsibility of assessing the client's circumstances. The client's risk and return objectives need to be determined. The risk, that the client is willing to assume, should be in accordance with the desired level of return. The need for liquidity and the time horizon of the client should also be determined. A client, who has the need for liquidity, will obviously not be willing to invest a great deal of money in investments that will not provide quick return in the short-term.
The investor's time horizon is also very important since an investor with a short-term horizon will not prefer locking up cash in investments that are expected to mature in the long run. Investors may have more than one time horizon. For instance, an individual may require cash for buying a home and sponsoring children's education. Other than these expenses, the investor may not have any other significant financial commitments until retirement.
Hence, a financial advisor should plan keeping in mind the three-time horizons when the need for liquidity will take precedence over the desire for investment. As mentioned earlier, the risk and return should be directly proportional. An investment advisor should ensure that the client's willingness and the ability to assume risks complement each other. In case of any imbalance, the advisor should clearly illustrate the risks and the benefits of assuming the given level of risk.
In other words, the advisor should devise highly individualized strategies aimed at wealth creation and capital preservation.
The above financial advisor job description bears evidence to the fact that an advisor has enormous responsibilities towards delivering the best for his/her clients. A good financial advisor should have the following qualities and qualifications:
Confidence: A financial advisor is confident and trustworthy. You can trust their advises and recommendations. You rest assured that your money is in safe hands. If the financial advisor is a symbol of dependability and consistency and your instincts are strong about the same, you as a responsible client may proceed.
Logical Analysis: A thorough financial advisor is one, who has his strategies chalked out. Logical perception is what he possesses. He has the knowledge and the required ability to put the same to practice. It is with his expertise derived through experience that clients may follow his recommendations and strategies considering their financial data.
Power of communication: A financial advisor who has conducted the spadework and is confident about his planning, is good with words and communicating his pathways to achieve his clients financial goals. Helping the client understand and in the process, convince him to follow his recommended policies and suggestions, is essentially what the financial advisor is supposed to do. With impeccable communication skills, the financial expert, can make a mark for himself.
Reputation: Building rapport with the client, means structuring a steady, long-lasting relationship with him. It is not just your work that speaks, but your honesty, integrity, discipline and motivation to serve the clients interest, that you are recognized in a reputable manner.
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