What Does the Financial Advisor Do?
Job Description of Financial Advisor
The financial advisor advises clients on how to manage their assets and invest in the best way.
He is an expert in the markets and financial products offered by banks, credit institutions and brokerage companies: thanks to this knowledge, he can advise and direct his clients towards the solutions most suited to their needs - from credit to pension, from investments to insurance protection.
How does the profession of financial advisor work?
The financial consultant first of all meets the client to identify expectations and needs for investment, savings protection, improvement of the present or future financial situation.
He then carries out an in-depth analysis of the client's personal, fiscal and economic situation and sets short and long-term goals.
You illustrate the possible options on the market, highlighting the advantages, risks and costs of each: loans, insurance, investments, savings plans, pension products.
He is in fact a professional with complete expertise, able to recommend the best products for every financial need. He answers all the client's questions and clarifies any doubts also in the field of fiscal and tax legislation.
For a financial consultant, it is very important to build a personal relationship with the customer, based on transparency: the direct relationship allows them to fully understand their financial situation and objectives, and to formulate the most suitable solution in the interest of the customer.
Based on the level of risk that the client is ready to take, the financial consultant proposes a personalized financial planning, to achieve the objectives defined together.
For example, the investment advisor may sell specific financial products, recommend or make capital transfers on behalf of his clients, opening current accounts, buying and selling securities on the stock exchange.
You then manage all the documentation and related administrative and bureaucratic practices.
The financial advisor then follows the actual performance of the financial plan with respect to forecasts: monitors the stock market prices of shares, securities and funds in the portfolio, constantly updates the client on the current situation, checks whether changes are necessary based on market trends and any changed conditions of the customer.
For this reason, the financial advisor must keep himself informed on the new financial products available and on the market analyzes published by analysts and specialized media.
In addition to the consultancy activity, the maintenance and expansion of the customer portfolio are fundamental.
Given that the earnings prospects of a financial advisor are very often linked to the commissions he takes based on the quantity of financial products he sells, the size and the results of the investments, it is very important to carefully manage your client base, constantly increase collaborating with existing customers and finding new ones.
Where does a financial advisor work?
Financial consultants work as independent freelancers or for banks and investment companies, financial institutions and insurance companies, financial consultancy companies, securities firms (SIMs) or asset management companies (SGRs).
They can carry out their duties in the office, from home or at the customer's home (so the trips can be numerous).
Furthermore, the need to consolidate and expand their client portfolio pushes investment advisors to actively participate in meetings, conferences and events even outside traditional working hours.
Duties and Duties of the Financial Advisor
The typical duties of the financial advisor are:
- Analyze the client's financial situation
- Establish with the client the objectives, methods and level of risk of the investments
- Carry out the required financial transactions
- Manage investment documentation and bureaucracy
- Monitor the progress of investments and periodically inform customers
- Evaluate new financial products
- Manage and expand your customer portfolio
- Constantly update on the financial market situation
How to Become a Financial Advisor? Training and Requirements
The training required to become a financial consultant is economic and financial: degrees in Economics and Finance, Business Management and Accounting are often required.
In fact, the financial consultant must have knowledge in accounting and budgeting, macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, financial mathematics and financial regulations, in order to be able to plan investments, manage financial transactions and monitor market trends.
Furthermore, financial advisors must know how to use specific financial analysis programs, investment management software and other advanced FinTech solutions (fintech, or financial technology), which allow them to create investment strategies based on mathematical-financial algorithms.
It is also essential that the financial advisor always keep his knowledge of the stock market and new investment products up-to-date, in order to propose profitable solutions to his clients.
Depending on the different regulations in each country, a license may be required to work as a financial advisor.
Skills of a Financial Advisor
The skills required of a financial advisor are:
- Knowledge of the different financial products available on the market
- IT skills
- Analytical skills
- Communication and relational skills
- Persuasion and negotiation skills
- Ability to explain complex economic concepts in simple words
- Ability to establish stable and lasting relationships with customers
- Reliability and reliability
- Organizational skills
- Decision-making skills
- Discretion on the operations carried out for its customers
Job Opportunities and Career of the Financial Advisor
The career of a financial advisor usually begins with other roles in the banking, financial or insurance sector, such as a bank employee, bank teller, financial analyst, insurance agent, stock trader or broker.
After gaining experience in the field of investments, you can go to work as a consultant for banks, insurance companies, wealth management companies, or make a career as an independent financial consultant for families, companies and institutions.
We also specialize as a mortgage and loan consultant, insurance policy consultant or other specific products, for example as an expert for pension and social security advice.
A qualification as a financial advisor then opens up interesting opportunities in the field of private banking, dedicated to providing personalized financial services to high-net-worth-individuals or HNWIs.
Good Reasons To Work As A Financial Advisor
Working as a financial consultant is suitable for those who have excellent skills in the financial field and want a profession in contact with customers, who must be followed on an ongoing basis.
In fact, the task of an investment consultant is to recommend solutions to better manage customers' savings, enhance and protect their assets over time, establishing lasting personal relationships: and this also means managing emotions, and not simply assets.
The salary of a financial consultant is usually linked to the commissions on the operations he carries out and on the products he sells: there is therefore concrete potential for growth and earnings for those who manage to create and maintain a solid customer portfolio over time.
