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Who is a Financial Advisor ?
A financial advisor provides financial advice or guidance to customers for compensation. Financial advisors, or advisers, can provide many different services, such as investment management, tax planning, can do WILL and estate planning. Increasingly, financial advisors are providing a range of services from portfolio management to insurance products as a one-stop-shop.
They must carry the Series 65 license to conduct business with the public; a wide variety of licenses are available for the services provided by a financial advisor.
What may pass as a financial advisor in some instances may be a product salesperson, such as a stockbroker or a life insurance agent. A true financial advisor should be a well-educated, credentialed, experienced, financial professional who works on behalf of his clients as opposed to serving the interests of a financial institution.
Generally, a financial advisor is an independent practitioner who operates in a fiduciary capacity in which a client’s interests come before their own. Only Registered Investment Advisors (RIA), who are governed by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, are held to a true fiduciary standard. There are some agents and brokers who try to practice in this capacity. However, their compensation structure is such that they are bound by the contracts of the companies where they work.
What is the Value of a Financial Professional ?
Hopefully this overview will help you consider your life financial needs. However, the best way to make sure your life insurance needs are met is to utilize the services of a financial professional who is a qualified insurance agent. It is common to need the services of a professional. For example, if you have a cavity, more than likely you would go to the dentist rather than fix it yourself. The same holds true when talking about your financial well being and making sure that your loved ones are financially protected. Understanding your financial needs can be difficult, but luckily you are not alone.
What can a financial professional do for you?
A Policy For You
Each individual's life insurance needs are as unique as the individual themselves. That's why it is important to speak with a qualified financial professional who can help you assess your unique situation. After evaluating your needs, plans for the future, current financial status, disposable income, and risk tolerance, your financial professional can help direct you to the appropriate type of insurance. They can get a thorough understanding of your life insurance needs and provide you with a much more accurate assessment than any self directed online calculator could ever give.
Qualified Professionals
All financial professionals must actively hold a state issued life insurance producer's license to sell any products. The only way that this license can be acquired is by passing the state life insurance test that is offered by each state's insurance commissioner. Along with passing the test, producers must also stay current on what is happening in the industry, which is done by completing a certain amount of continuing education courses required by each state.
The Lasting Relationship
As your life situation changes, so do your financial needs. And having someone there for you is essential. Your life insurance coverage should reflect important changes in your life such as marriage, the birth of a child, a move, or a new job. Aside from these momentous events, a good rule of thumb is to review your financial coverage annually with your financial professional.