Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN) (2024)

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Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN) (1)

1. Create a customized long-term strategy

Investing can involve a dizzying array of products and strategies. A financial advisor can help cut through the clutter.

  • • Build a customized strategy that works with your specific goals and risk tolerance
  • • Identify quality, diversified investment products
  • • Receive guidance to feel informed and in control of your finances
  • • Pivot your strategy as markets shift and needs change

Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN) (2)

Ken Cella, Head of Branch Development

“Our financial advisors know their clients best: what they need, what they value, and what it will take to help them achieve financially what is most important.”

2. Provide a holistic approach to your finances

A financial advisor considers your entire financial picture—not just a single investment or account—and can help you understand your assets achieve the maximum benefit.

  • Manage investments like stocks, bonds and mutual funds
  • Identify the best approach to manage and pay off debt
  • Consider assets like a private business or real estate holdings
  • Integrate risk tolerance and a preference for active vs. passive investing

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3. Plan your retirement

The average U.S. life expectancy is 78.51, and the top financial worry for 30%2 of retirees is outliving their savings. Your investment portfolio needs to provide income for as long as you'll need it, and a financial advisor can help make sure it does.

  • • Identify the type of retirement accounts best suited to your needs
  • •Meet savings goals and plan your spending for all phases of retirement
  • •Protect loved ones with an estate or trust or education savings plan
  • •Plan for lifestyle goals like vacations and hobbies

Source:

1World Health Organization
2AgeWave study, "Longevity and the New Journey of Retirement"

Retirees who report a high quality of life say the smartest retirement preparation actions they took were saving early, reducing debt, maximizing contributions, and working with a financial advisor.

Source: Agewave, Longevity and the New Journey of Retirement, 2022

4. Prepare for the unexpected

You can’t predict the future, but you can prepare for it. A financial advisor can help you cope with the fallout of life's unexpected events and adapt your strategy to stay on track.

  • • Market dips that impact your current investments
  • •Job loss or other career changes that impact your income
  • •Destruction of a home or other property damage
  • •Major injury or illness

5. Replace reaction with reason

During periods of market turbulence, it's easy to allow emotional reactions to drive investment decisions. An experienced third party can give you the confidence to stay the course.

  • • Develop a mindset around long-term gains instead of short-term comfort
  • •Create a data-driven approach that helps quell feelings of uncertainty
  • •A continuous focus on risk tolerance and time horizon customized for your needs
  • •Follow only the most relevant and objective online news sources

6. Consider investment factors up ahead

Investors often have goals based on current and planned needs, but financial advisors can offer guidance around factors that you may not have considered.

  • Combat rising inflation costs
  • Prepare for post-retirement healthcare expenses like Medicaid
  • Plan for regulations that impact taxable accounts, contribution limits, etc.
  • Provide withdrawal rate guidance over the course of retirement

7. Limit tax liabilities and penalties

As you plan your investments, a financial advisor can identify which accounts are taxable, as well as help you navigate changing tax laws and regulations—to help ensure your wealth remains yours.

  • • Invest in accounts with different tax treatments to diversify
  • •Consider taking advantage of tax-loss harvesting to maximize investments, especially in retirement
  • •Limit or eliminate tax penalties and various fees
  • •Adapt to new regulation like Secure 2.0

Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN) (3)

Sarah Karpicus, Registered Branch Associate

“Clients know that if they call our branch, they’re going to get one of us. They know our names, they know what we did over the summer. We are real people to them, and we have a personal relationship.”

8. Build a long-term, trusted relationship

Building a personal relationship with a financial advisor helps the FA tailor their guidance to your specific life situation—and the value of a long-term, trusted partnership compounds over time.

  • A broader understanding of your financial goals helps deliver a richer financial strategy
  • Deeper knowledge of your personal situation helps forecast future needs
  • Financial independence may help support your mental and emotional health
Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN) (2024)

FAQs

Benefits of working with a financial advisor - New (US|EN)? ›

Not everyone needs a financial advisor, especially since it's an additional cost. But having the extra help and advice can be paramount in reaching financial goals, especially if you're feeling stuck or unsure of how to get there.

Is it a good idea to work with a financial advisor? ›

Not everyone needs a financial advisor, especially since it's an additional cost. But having the extra help and advice can be paramount in reaching financial goals, especially if you're feeling stuck or unsure of how to get there.

How beneficial is it to have a financial advisor? ›

Benefit from the value of advice. By getting a clear idea of an individual's financial goals, an adviser can then position their assets in the most tax-efficient manner possible, potentially helping to save clients a significant amount of money.

Is it beneficial to hire a financial advisor? ›

A good advisor can get you to plan for what you really want and then help you realize those goals – what Henderson calls giving clients “life clarity.” “An advisor can help people discover the values that are meaningful to them and then help them use the money to get there,” he says.

Are you better off with a financial advisor? ›

If you have less than $50,000 of liquid assets then you may also want to consider going at it on your own as the fees might not be worth it. With that said, financial advisors can bring a wealth of information and experience to the table that can make a huge difference in your potential return.

What is the average return from a financial advisor? ›

Source: 2021 Fidelity Investor Insights Study. Furthermore, industry studies estimate that professional financial advice can add between 1.5% and 4% to portfolio returns over the long term, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated.

What are the cons of working with a financial advisor? ›

Con: costs and fees

Advisor fees typically decrease the more funds you invest. You may also find that many of them offer reasonable fees given the competitiveness that has increased in this field, both online and off. Ask yourself: Will I reach my goals sooner with or without an advisor after fees are paid?

What are the pros and cons of hiring a financial planner? ›

Pros of hiring a financial advisor include gaining access to expertise, leveraging time, and sharing responsibility. However, there are also potential downsides to consider, such as costs and fees, quality of service, and the risk of abandonment.

What is the downside of using a fiduciary? ›

A disadvantage of a fiduciary is that fiduciary advisors are often more expensive than non-fiduciary advisors as they charge higher market rates.

What is the value of working with an advisor? ›

An advisor can help you plan how to invest your savings, and build toward your future goals and needs. An advisor may help to protect your income and lifestyle from unexpected events while avoiding emotional investing habits. An advisor's professional advice may play a key role in giving you confidence in your plan.

Is a 1% management fee high? ›

Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee.

What is a disadvantage of hiring a financial planner? ›

They may have a conflict of interest

If the financial advisor you hire is a non-fiduciary (meaning they don't work in their client's best interest), they could recommend products, insurance, and investments that don't necessarily benefit you.

What percentage do financial advisors charge? ›

The percentage fee can range from 1% to 2%, with some advisors offering tiered rates for larger portfolios. Flat fees and hourly rates vary widely based on the advisor's experience and the complexity of financial affairs.

Should you tell your financial advisor everything? ›

It might come as a surprise, but your financial professional—whether they're a banker, planner or advisor—wants to know more about you than how much money you can invest. They can best help you achieve your goals when they know more about your job, your family and your passions.

When should you leave your financial advisor? ›

Poor performance, high fees, strained communication and stagnant advice are among the reasons to look for a new advisor. Kevin Voigt is a former staff writer for NerdWallet covering investing.

What is the success rate of financial advisors? ›

That position will allow other advisors in the area to go after your clients and pick them off with their marketing efforts. 5. The Statistics: 80-90% of financial advisors fail and close their firm within the first three years of business. This means only 10-20% of financial advisors are ultimately successful.

What are the pros and cons of hiring a professional financial advisor? ›

Pros of hiring a financial advisor include gaining access to expertise, leveraging time, and sharing responsibility. However, there are also potential downsides to consider, such as costs and fees, quality of service, and the risk of abandonment.

What percentage of financial advisors beat the market? ›

Less than 10% of active large-cap fund managers have outperformed the S&P 500 over the last 15 years. The biggest drag on investment returns is unavoidable, but you can minimize it if you're smart. Here's what to look for when choosing a simple investment that can beat the Wall Street pros.

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