Portfolio Management:

Financial planners are responsible for managing their clients' investment portfolios, which includes the supervision and creation of various investment accounts like stocks and bonds, retirement funds, and education funds.

Private Wealth Management: 

Wealth management services, which include investment management, estate planning, and tax advice, may be required by financial planners who work with affluent clients seeking high-level financial planning assistance.

Investment Research:

Financial planners are responsible for a variety of tasks such as monitoring financial markets, providing clients with investment recommendations, and making predictions. In addition to this research, financial planners are also expected to generate financial reports.

Risk Management: 

Financial planners are tasked not only with identifying possible investment risks but also with developing plans to manage and minimize them. As a result, risk management is frequently a critical aspect of financial planning.

Financial Assessment: 

Financial planners evaluate their clients' financial situations to determine whether they are making progress toward their goals. Based on this assessment, they provide advice and guidance to help their clients achieve their objectives more quickly and effectively.

Life Events That Can Prompt Financial Advice

Financial advice is often sought out in response to significant events such as sudden gains or losses or major life changes. If you experience any of these situations, you may be more inclined to seek professional financial guidance:

• I’m nearing retirement, and I want to ensure that I’m on the right track.
• I just inherited some money from a parent, and I want to get some advice on how to invest the money.
• I was recently married, and we need help managing our finances as a couple.
• I was recently divorced or lost a spouse, and I need help moving forward financially as a single person.
• My parents are getting older, and they/we need help managing their overall finances.
• I just had a child and I want to make sure they are provided for
• I hate investing and financial planning, and I want professional help to ensure that I don’t mess up my future.
• I enjoy financial planning and investing, but I want a second opinion to see if I could do it better.
  

Creating a comprehensive long-term financial plan is crucial for everyone, and should include factors such as retirement planning, paying off mortgages, funding a college education for dependents, estate planning, and establishing a retirement timeline. Seeking guidance from a financial advisor can be beneficial in achieving these goals.

When to Seek Financial Advice Considering the abundance of resources available on personal finance in books, print media, and online, it's reasonable to question whether the guidance of a financial advisor is necessary.

Before making a decision, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have a fair knowledge of investments?
• Do you enjoy reading about wealth management and financial topics and researching specific assets?
• Do you have expertise in financial instruments?
• Do you have the time to monitor, evaluate, and make periodic changes to your portfolio?

Although conducting your own research is possible, it would require a significant amount of time and effort to stay current with the constantly changing investment and insurance regulations, tax laws, and financial products. Additionally, changes in mutual fund options at your brokerage firm can have a significant impact on your finances, such as deciding where to allocate the money from a closed fund. However, a financial advisor can manage this research on your behalf, reducing cognitive burden and streamlining the investment process.