Submitted by: Cory Bowman

Many people would like to start a financial advisor career, but do not know how to go about starting one nor do they understand what it takes to be a financial advisor. Financial advisors need to be educated on a variety of topics, including funds, annuities, estate planning and taxes. Financial advisors are required to stay educated on current financial products and methods of investment. Advisors typically go through years of schooling and training before taking clients. The overall goal of the profession is to help clients maintain the optimal balance of investment income, capital gains, and the client s acceptable level of risk through using proper asset allocation. People no longer look to advisors only to buy and sell investments; they also expect the advisor to take a holistic view of their needs. A financial advisor career requires in-depth knowledge of investments and retirement planning as well as the skills needed to manage clients and understand their individual situations.

A thorough financial planning course provides real-world situations, defines financial terms, and discusses solutions. A course should provide financial advisors with the tools needed to be able to work with his or her client to formulate the smartest plan specific to the individual s needs. Recently, one issue that financial planners have had to face has been the increase in the number of adults who have been financially burdened by the cost of caring for their parents. From 1994 until now, three times as many adults are estimated to be saddled with their parent s financial costs. Financial advisors need to be nimble enough to handle the difficult situation of managing their clients money, including all of their familial expenses, and guide them toward retirement.

A successful financial advisor career is predicated on one s ability to provide sound retirement planning. As the population in the United States grows older, financial advisors are needed to guide the aging baby boomer generation. Understanding taxes is crucial for a financial advisor and is another topic that would be covered in a financial planning course. Advisors need to know how various funds are taxed and the reasons behind them. Retirement planning includes managing 401(k)/403(b), Roth accounts, Roth IRAs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds and CDs. For those looking to plan toward retirement, the advisor must instill confidence in their client, showing them that through proper asset allocation, the client will receive maximum return on investment while minimizing their risk.

A financial advisor career is a difficult path, but attending a detailed financial planning course can provide a strong start. Building a sophisticated knowledge for investment strategies, risk management, taxes and estate planning is just the beginning for a financial advisor. A professional financial planner must know all of the nuances of the trade in order to explain the complexities to their clients. In the end, financial advisors are in charge of their client s financial future. Successful advice can directly lead to an increased quality of life for the client, but the pressure is all on the advisor. Those willing to take on the pressure of the business need to use every available source to learn the trade.

About the Author: Cory Bowman is Director of Ops at the Institute of Business Finance. IBF has helped thousands of members of the financial services industry attain designations. For more information about IBF,

financial advisor career

,

financial planning course

, visit http://www.icfs.com

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=1627226&ca=Finances