Sunday 8 September 2013

Consultants and Things to Remember

eric Viveros



There are two kinds of financial advisers. There are individual consultants and then there are institutional advisers. In terms of functioning, there are financial services consultants who offer advice to individuals and those who offer advice to companies. If you are an individual not sure as to how to plan your finances, hiring a consultant like Eric James Viveros will be a really good step. There are many different consultants who are available for hourly appointments. However, before shelling out your hard-earned money, you have to be absolutely careful as to which one to hire.

The best consultants are not those who either specialize in securities related advice or offer insurance and retirement products, but those who have a good understanding of all the markets and can see what suits you the most. Moreover, you have to make sure you go through the reviews and ratings for the consultants online before you shortlist a few. Usually consultants charge you per hour, per session or for a timeframe of, say, a year. You have to ensure that the consultant is also licensed to operate in the state and has all the required qualifications and certifications needed to be a full-fledged consultant.

A good check would be to pick consultants who are already part of prestigious financial charters and associations as that would be a seal of credibility. Knowledge on the financial markets is one thing, being able to communicate is totally another. There are financial advisers who are expensive but are not of much good to your scenario because they don’t communicate well enough with laymen. You need consultants who have in the past offered advice to someone you know very well, advice that has worked excellently.

Another important thing worth noting is the individual standing of the consultant and what he or she does as niche area of expertise. If a consultant makes money by selling a range of products, you will get a biased view as he or she gets to benefit from the business you offer. Instead, it is better to opt for someone who gets paid for advice and has the motivation to offer good advice to enhance reputation. Such consultants should be picked, especially when they are experienced enough in the profession and have their own families. Family men will definitely understand what your needs and concerns are and hence give you solid advice.

Financial advisers and financial planners also differ in what they do. You have to make sure you are aware of the questions you ask and the answers you seek. Besides, you need to know if you want assistance with income planning or advice on where and how to invest and choose the right financial products. Financial planning and creating a portfolio is an area of expertise of planners while advisers can offer advice on how to save on taxes, the products you should pick for long term goals and for short term gains and the kind of investments that will suit your cash reserves.