What Does a Financial Advisor Do?

If you're looking to improve your financial well-being, a financial advisor may be able to help. Advisors are typically trained in many areas of personal finance, so they can provide education and recommendations for budgeting, how to invest money, eliminating your debt, managing your risks, and more.

There are different types of financial advisors out there, though, and some may be better suited than others for your particular situation. So what is a financial advisor, and how can they help you personally?

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What does a financial advisor do?

Financial advisor is a broad term that encompasses various roles and services. The actual services you get depends on the type of financial advisor you work with. Services offered by financial advisors include investment management, tax planning, estate planning, insurance planning, budgeting, and debt management.

Investment management

Although financial advisors can wear a lot of hats, most specialize in investment management. This can include providing you with advice on how to better manage your investment portfolio on your own, working with you to manage it, or doing all the portfolio management on your behalf.

Tax planning

Although financial advisors aren't necessarily tax professionals, they can provide you with some valuable information about tax planning.

In many cases, though, they may refer you to a tax professional for concrete advice and services like tax filing. Some financial advisors may be certified public accountants and can give you more specialized tax services.

Estate planning

Some financial advisors offer estate planning services, which can help you determine what to do with your assets when you die. They may work together with attorneys to help you draw up a will, trust, or other legal documents to ensure a smooth transition of your finances to your loved ones.

Insurance planning

As you work to pay off debt and build wealth, unexpected life events like a premature death, or disabling injury requiring long-term care can prevent you from reaching your financial goals. Some financial advisors can educate you on what and how much insurance coverage you should purchase to avoid a devastating financial setback.

Budgeting and debt

In some cases, a financial advisor may also be able to help you manage your money on a basic level by offering advice on budgeting and how to pay off debt.

An advisor can provide you with an objective view of your financial situation and offer advice on how you could optimize the balance between your income and expenses to help achieve your financial goals.

If you don't want to spend the money it would cost to hire an advisor, consider using a budgeting app like Rocket Money to help you get a clearer picture of your finances.

Types of financial advisors

Financial advisors hold various titles, including:

• Financial planners
• Investment advisors
• Stockbrokers
• Estate planners
• Accountants
• Insurance agents
• Attorneys
• Robo advisors

One term that's often associated with financial advisors is Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Advisors who have earned the CFP certification have undergone rigorous education and testing and have real-life planning experience. CFPs must also complete continuing education courses to ensure they're up to date with the latest financial laws and best practices for planning.

Any of the eight different types of financial advisors can also be CFPs, but that's not always the case.

Financial planners

A financial planner is an individual who's qualified to provide financial advice to people and companies.

Financial planners typically take a comprehensive approach to your situation and can provide advice and solutions for a number of areas in your financial life. Some are specialized in certain areas; others try to maintain a holistic view.

Some financial planners may also call themselves financial consultants, but they generally offer the same services.

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Investment advisors

Investment advisors can be individuals or investment firms that provide investment-related advice in exchange for compensation.

They're required to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as advisors and must also obtain a license to sell securities to their clients.

Stockbrokers

Stockbrokers are registered representatives that buy and sell stocks and other securities for clients. To be a stockbroker, you must pass certain exams, obtain licenses from the states in which you do business, and be registered with a company that's a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Estate planners

Estate planners may provide other forms of financial advice, but they specialize in helping you plan for estate taxes and other estate planning problems that could impact your assets upon your death. Estate planners can also be financial planners, accountants, attorneys, insurance agents, and more.

Accountants

An accountant can give you specific advice on tax matters, including planning, preparing, and filing your taxes. If an accountant is a certified public accountant (CPA), it means they've passed several exams to prove a deep knowledge of tax issues and are licensed with the states in which they do business.

Insurance agents

An insurance agent has passed certain exams and is licensed to sell select types of insurance in the states where they do business. That may include life, accident, health, property, and casualty insurance policies.

In many cases, a financial advisor may be licensed to sell insurance products directly to their clients. In others, the advisor may provide education and advice but refer a client to a licensed insurance agent to actually complete the transaction.

Attorneys

It's uncommon for attorneys to act as financial advisors, but it is possible. These attorneys typically specialize in tax or estate planning matters, and can both give you advice and draw up legal documents to implement their recommendations.

Robo advisors

Robo advisors, like Wealthsimple and Wealthfront, are financial institutions that use algorithms to manage your investments with very little human involvement, if any. These firms create portfolios based on the preferences and risk tolerance of the client, but don't involve the client in specific investment decisions. In some cases, robo advisors may provide access to human financial advisors for an additional fee.

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How much does a financial advisor cost?

The cost of hiring a financial advisor to help with your finances can vary based on the type of advisor and the services they provide.

For example, if you're working with an estate planner, attorney, or accountant, you may pay a one-time fee for services or an hourly rate for their time. With an insurance agent, you typically won't pay anything for their time, as they receive commissions based on the products they sell to you.

Stockbrokers also typically receive a commission when they make trades in your portfolio.

If you're working with a financial planner, investment advisor, or robo advisor, they may charge for their services in a few different ways:

• Percentage of assets under management: The typical human advisor charges 1% of your portfolio balance annually, which may not sound like a lot, but it can add up — especially as your wealth grows. Robo advisors, on the other hand, typically charge a lower percentage because there's less manual work involved in the process. Hybrid options like Betterment are also typically less expensive than a traditional financial advisor. They offer automated investing as well as the option to work with an advisor.
• Fee-only: Fee-only planners charge an hourly rate or a retainer to cover the time they spend working for you. Depending on whom you're working with, those fees can range from $150 to $400 per hour. Fee-only planners are ideal for many clients because their compensation doesn't impact their advice as it might for advisors receiving commissions when they sell products or make trades.
• Combination: Other advisors may charge a combination of fees, including a flat fee for certain services, an hourly rate, commissions, and more.

Before you decide to work with an advisor, it's crucial to understand how they get paid and how that might influence the advice they give.

When do you need a financial advisor?

Many people may want to consider hiring a financial advisor at some point in their life. Maybe you're trying to create a strategy to save for retirement or your child's college tuition, or you need help managing your taxes or estate planning.

Some financial advisors may not work with clients unless they have a certain amount of investable assets. But if you need help with other financial goals, certain advisors may be able to help you answer questions and give you concrete advice.

How to choose a financial advisor

With so many different financial advisors out there, the process of picking the right one may feel daunting. Here are some quick tips to help you narrow down your selection:

• Consider your situation. Think about the type of services you want and which type of advisor can best suit your needs.
• Do your due diligence. Look for licensed and certified professionals that can give you the best advice. For example, you can find a CFP through the CFP Board website.
• Talk with financial advisors. Interview advisors to determine whether they're a good fit for your needs.
• Learn about pricing. Get the full scoop on how each advisor charges for their services and determine whether it's a good fit for your budget.

Also, it's important to keep in mind that your needs, preferences, and budget may change over time. Don't be afraid to switch advisors if you decide it's no longer a good fit down the road.

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Bottom line

Financial advisors can offer invaluable advice and services to help you better manage your money and build wealth. Although there are different types of advisors out there, each can help with certain areas of your finances and get you closer to achieving your money goals.

As you consider whether to hire a financial advisor, take your time and vet your options to make sure you're working with someone who's trustworthy and a good fit for your needs. Our list of the best financial advisors could be a good place to start your search.