Personal financial advisors are often referred to as financial planners or financial consultants. They provide individual clients with information and advice on their personal investments. Some further specialize in areas such as college planning, estate planning, and retirement planning. Personal financial advisors work to reach the long term and short-term financial goals of their clients.
What They Do:
Personal financial advisors sit down with their clients to discuss their needs, current financial situation and their expectations for their financial advisor. They will create a plan and discuss the investment ideas with their client to come up with the right plan of action for them. They tend to meet with their clients on a yearly basis - sometimes more often - to recommend investment opportunities of change the course of their financial plan.
Training:
Would you trust your hard earned money to someone with out a college degree? Financial planners should have at least a bachelor's degree in a major area such as economics, accounting, law, or business. In you studies you will probably take courses in estate planning, tax law, and risk management. A love of mathematics and finance is necessary for financial planners. To work as a successful financial planner, you will need to have top-notch computer skills, analytical and problem solving skills, as well as good people skills. A good understanding of the economy, money markets, and tax laws are almost a prerequisite for employment in this field. Being able to forecast trends in the market and economic changes will give you client the best possible results.
Outlook:
Personal financial advisors work in industries such as finance and insurance. This can include working for commodity brokers, investment firms and banks. Personal financial advisors with many years of experience make from $52,000 to over $100,000 annually. About forty percent of all personal financial advisors are self-employed.
