How to become a Financial Advisor

What does a Financial Advisor do?

Want to tell people how they should spend their money? You should be a Financial Advisor…

A Financial Advisor's main role is to offer personalised financial guidance to people in all kinds of situations. With a vast range of products to choose from, they help clients select the financial planning and investment solutions that's right for them. The type of financial advice they give can cover a huge spectrum - from protection, loans, insurance, retirement planning, investment choices and management, right through to tax and estate planning.

Typical duties for a Financial Advisor include:

• Meeting with clients to discuss their current financial situation, and future financial goals
• Deciding which service offered most effectively helps the client to achieve these goals
• Explaining the features and benefits of each option with clients to help inform their decision
• Analysing the market and producing financial reports
• Regularly contacting clients to update them about their investments

Is a career as a Financial Advisor right for me?

To become a Financial Advisor, excellent communication skills are absolutely essential. You will be working with people of different backgrounds, many of which will have little knowledge of their options, making the ability to simplify complex financial language clearly and concisely similarly important.

You will also need to build an excellent rapport with your regular clients, and possess excellent analytical skills in order to be successful in this position. Other key skills include:

• Approachability, and excellent interpersonal skills
• Superior financial acumen
• Honesty, reliability and trustworthiness
• Being able to listen to clients needs
• The ability to maintain objectivity at all times