how to choose a financial adviser
Before you choose your financial adviser, it's important to understand why financial advisers are useful.
A financial adviser is like a guide. They help you identify what's important to you, strategies to help you grow your wealth now, plus put plans in place to take care of your future. The good ones are skilled in helping you identify your lifestyle goals and aspirations, so that your money has a purpose. And, most importantly, they make it happen.
It's essential for your licensed financial adviser to provide you with:
- A financial services guide
- A statement of advice, and
- A product disclosure statement (for any investment products recommended).
Ensuring that you are provided with the above will give you a greater understanding of how they operate and whether or not they suit your requirements.
There are times in life when advice becomes more important than others:
- Starting out
- Life change (like marriage, divorce, redundancy)
- Running a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF)
- In or near retirement
- Facing aged care decisions
are you ready for a financial planner?
Some people assume that financial advisers and planners are able to help you get out of debt. This is not normally the case as debt/credit counselors are normally the best way forward in that situation. Financial planning is normally for people who can set aside surplus cash in order to invest.
After reading the above info you should be able to understand whether a financial adviser is right for you and what the benefit is they can bring to the table. When choosing the right adviser for you it comes down to personal preference, but you must make sure they are licensed and that you trust them.