A financial adviser or financial planner is someone who gives financial advice to clients according to their current financial circumstances. In the United States, these advisers are regulated by the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission). They can offer investment management, estate planning, asset protection and other financial advisory services. In most states, financial advisers must pass certain licensing exams and be registered with an regulatory body to give financial advice. There are also independent financial planners, although they are not registered with the SEC.
Financial advisers can offer a wide range of advisory services. The most common services include general financial advice, asset allocation, mortgage loans, retirement plans, estate planning and savings and investment advice. Some specialize in one or two of these areas. For example, some offer just retirement planning and advice on how to invest for retirement. Other financial advisors may have a firm focus on investments for retirement.
Independent financial advisors do not work for any one company, but instead offer their advice from their own private financial advice practice. This means that they will steer you towards the company products that they feel will be best for your needs regardless of what the company’s products may be. This can be a very risky undertaking, since most reputable companies will only partner with professional financial advisors with extensive experience in helping people make investing and financial plan decisions.
Financial Advisors are required to register with the SEC, which requires them to reveal all of their client information, including their address and phone number. All investors and financial advisors are required to disclose all material facts about the nature of the services that they provide to their clients. However, there are a few things that are not required by law, such as commission income and investment management fees. Most financial advisors are required to pass a suitability standard before they can manage clients. The suitability standard was developed by the SEC to protect investors from investment and planning conflicts of interest.
There are three major components to a financial advisor’s suitability. First, the advisor must have expertise and significant experience in the area of investment management. Second, they must disclose all relevant information to the client, including their professional qualifications, any financial advisor fee earned and the results that they achieved during the past year. Finally, the investor and/or financial advisor provides financial advice and presents other forms of investment management information to the client.
It is important to note that the SEC does not regulate compensation as the financial advisors are doing. In addition, no state-regulated clearinghouse regulates the investment advisors. Therefore, when shopping for an advisor, it is necessary to shop around and compare different advisors and the fees they charge. A fee-based financial advisor will often offer lower fees in order to attract more clients. An independent, fee-based financial advisor will also provide greater investment choices and advice, as well as offering superior compensation.