Wednesday, January 20, 2016

5 Good Reasons to Hire a Financial Advisor

There’s a reason so many adults are living paycheck to paycheck. It’s because most of us never have any instruction or formal education when it comes to managing finances. Considering that this is something every adult has to deal with, it’s surprising that high schools don’t provide some kind of mandatory classes in basics like budgeting, balancing a ledger, filing income taxes, managing credit, and even investing.

However, we’re all left to learn these lessons for ourselves, and many of us drop the ball. The good news is that you can hire a financial advisor to do some of the heavy lifting for you, and you’ll gain a variety of benefits in the process. Here are a few good reasons every adult should consider hiring a financial advisor.

1. Learn About Finance

A financial advisor is not a college professor, so if you want comprehensive lessons in finance, it’s best to take a class. That said, you can learn a lot from your financial advisor, not only about finance basics (creating a workable budget, for example), but also pertaining to overall money management and wise investing. Do not hesitate to utilize this valuable source of trusted information whenever making financial choices. You can often find suitable sources through your bank, such as Wells Fargo advisors, or you can hire an independent professional.

2. Reduce Debt

Keeping up with the Joneses has become a way of life for many adults in our consumer-driven society. Unfortunately, a failure to live within your means can lead to all kinds of debt issues. A financial advisor can help you to come up with strategies to curb your spending, pay down debt, and better manage your money in the future.

3. Plan for the Future

Most adults plan on retiring at some point, but you need a financial plan in place so you can pay for your bills and lifestyle once you’ve stopped working and earning an income. Many people take advantage of 401K plans offered through their employers, but increasingly, this isn’t enough to support people throughout their twilight years (thanks to longer life expectancy and a dwindling social security system).

Your financial advisor is well equipped to explain different supplemental plans to you when it comes to retirement planning, from savings and investment opportunities to Roth IRAs and index universal life insurance policies. If you’re looking ahead to retirement, speaking with a financial advisor is a great idea.

4. Stay Abreast of New Opportunities

There are always new ways to make your money work for you, but unless you happen to work in a financial field or you know enough to find your own resources to navigate the changing financial world, it’s best to work with a professional to learn about new opportunities.

5. Get an Expert Opinion

Even if you have a strong financial plan in place thanks to finance classes in college and financial advice blogs, it never hurts to have a second opinion or a different point of view to consider. Your financial advisor is uniquely qualified to guide you through the tricky waters of the financial world and ensure that you are capable of making informed decisions where your finances are concerned.

No comments:

Post a Comment