Importance of a Financial Advisor

Let’s look at the role of a financial advisor like the role of a fitness coach. We all understand the importance of being fit and healthy, but we often fall out of our regime due to lack of discipline, paucity of time and unawareness of what to do next. This is where the role of a coach comes in. A coach’s role is to ensure you tirelessly work towards your goal. He keeps an eye on your workout regime, regulates your diet and carefully monitors your progress.
A coach to your money is a financial advisor.

Who is a financial advisor?
A financial advisor is one who provides guidance on how, where and when to invest. The advice they provide could be for a wholesome financial plan or individual investments made towards a larger financial plan. Financial advisors provide advice starting from choosing the financial instrument; deciding how much to invest; how frequently to review, to taking corrective measures if needed.

Why do we need a financial advisor?
You might often think that there is plentiful information available on the web about investing – then why would one need a financial advisor?
Because a financial advisor specialises in providing financial advice to customers, based on his expertise and their requirements. While you could be aware of your needs and the way to go about investing for it, you may not always have the time to do it all by yourself. Here is where a financial advisor takes the responsibility from you onto him.

Here are some benefits of engaging a financial advisor for your investment and financial planning needs:
• Understanding your investment needs and chalking out a financial plan:
One of the very first steps while chalking out a financial plan is to understand the need and purpose. Your financial advisor understands from you, your needs and future goals and accordingly draws a long-term plan to fulfil it.
• Financial expertise:
A financial advisor brings with him/her, expertise about the financial markets. They undergo several trainings and carry certifications to secure the title of a financial advisor or an investment advisor. And thus, engaging a financial advisor to help with building a portfolio, chalk out your goals and help track it, could be a good idea.
• Laying down SMART goals:
Goals need to be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Even in your financial plan, you have to chalk out goals that are achievable keeping in mind factors such as your income, expectation of return and goals. And a financial advisor would help you do this.
• Helping you choose the ideal path to being financially fit:
Once you decide what your goals are, your financial advisor would help you choose specific investment options to achieve it. Your advisor would help you choose the appropriate financial instrument basis your risk-return requirement and match it with the appropriate financial instrument.
• Regularly monitoring your portfolio:
A financial advisor helps you monitor and reassess the investment performance as you may not always have the time to do it. Regular monitoring of your investment portfolio is necessary to ensure alignment of your investments with your financial goal.
• Revising portfolio from time to time:
An investment portfolio needs review and reallocations depending on the market situation and changing needs. In such situations, an advisor would suggest revisions on the basis of his expertise and market situations.
The role of a fitness coach is similar to the role of a financial advisor – both carry expertise, both ensure a sound fitness plan – whether physical of financial and both help in monitoring and ensuring the effective progress of the plan during the long term.