CHOOSING A FINANCIAL ADVISER

Professional financial advice can give you and your family important long-term benefits

Advantages

A professional financial adviser can help you by:

  • Giving advice about your current situation.

  • Identifying risks that you should manage (for example, life assurance).

  • Helping you reduce your debt.

  • Advising you on the most appropriate investments for saving towards your retirement and other financial needs.

  • Acting as a coach to help you stay focused on your planning.

Good financial advice

A good financial adviser will review your entire financial and personal circumstances before giving any advice. The review should look at your:

  • Current investment portfolio.
  • Life and disability assurance policies, including the cover provided through your company retirement fund.
  • Family situation.
  • Debt and income cash flows.

Your adviser will help you set your financial goals and will be there to guide you. They may also help when it comes to making important financial decisions, including managing your lifestyle and debts.

Choosing a qualified financial adviser

Think about the following when you are choosing a qualified financial adviser:

  • Qualifications: the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) qualification confirms that your financial adviser has qualified as a financial adviser according to the Code of Conduct of the Financial Planning Institute. A Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) has the necessary technical knowledge and skills, and is also a member of the Financial Planning Institute.
  • Independence: can the adviser offer you the most appropriate product at a good rate, or are they limited to dealing with just one company?
  • Experience: you are looking for real financial experience, not just an impressive presentation.
  • Support: does the financial planner have the back-up and support of a reputable brokerage? The company should be large enough to make sure your financial portfolio will continue to be professionally managed if your existing financial planner isn’t available.
  • Fees: a financial adviser earns income from both fees (for time) and commission (earned by placing investments on your behalf). Use a financial adviser who is flexible enough to provide advice for a pre-negotiated fee where you do not have funds to invest. Financial advice is a service for which you should be prepared to pay a fee.
  • Written report: after the consultation, you should receive a written report that covers all aspects of the advice given.
  • Annual updates: have a meeting with the same financial adviser every year to have your report updated and possibly your investments as your personal circumstances change.

Annual review and ongoing advice

As your financial plan is implemented and monitored, your annual reviews should include factors such as:

  • Your personal tax situation.
  • Changing legislation including tax laws.
  • New investment and life assurance products.
  • Changes in your personal circumstances.

The result will be a financial plan that maximises the advantages of any tax and legislative changes, innovative new financial techniques and improvements in your personal finances.

Making contact

For more information, please call the Individual Advice Centre or fill in the contact request form and we will contact you.

Individual Advice Centre

Our Financial Planning Consultants (FPC) division has a specialised section, the Individual Advice Centre, which specifically focuses on providing financial planning advice and service to new and existing clients.

Telephone: 

0860 100 444
Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00

Email:

iac@aforbes.co.za

Form:

Contact Request Form

Website:

www.alexanderforbes.co.za/Financial-Planning/