Last Modified on December 1, 2020

Financial advisors can be of great help when it comes to planning for a financially stable and comfortable life. They can help you streamline your expenses, save systematically, and help you invest and grow your wealth. When it comes to hiring a professional financial advisor, transparency and honesty are two of the most important aspects to look for in your financial advisor. You must also keep in mind that the more open and detailed you are with your advisor, the more your advisor can help create a plan that best suits your needs. Hiding or omitting information can limit their ability to offer you the right financial guidance. Therefore, it is essential to share complete and accurate information with your financial advisor.

5 important reasons why sharing your complete information with your financial advisor is critical:

1. It helps them understand your relationship with money

Everyone has a different way of dealing with money. Some people are primarily savers, putting every penny they earn in the bank. Others could be living from paycheck to paycheck with no emergency funds to fall back on. Sharing information on how you view money and what your spending habits are can enable your financial advisor to understand you better. It can offer them a deeper insight into your present needs and future requirements. For instance, someone who finds it hard to save can invest in an account with strict withdrawal rules so that they are not tempted to use their funds before their maturity date. This will allow them to save steadily and secure their future, regardless of their urge to spend in the present. Knowing this information will help the financial advisor bring in some financial discipline into their life and routine.

2. It helps them offer you useful advice

Information such as your income, future goals, past and ongoing debts, etc. can permit your financial advisor to offer you pertinent advice. These aspects play a crucial role in deciding the right course of action in financial planning. If you are honest about your current financial standing and where you intend to be in the coming years, your financial advisor can find relevant investments that can help you reach your goal. Another essential topic to discuss with your financial advisor is your risk appetite. This is something that is bound to change with time and other life events. However, as long as your financial advisor is aware of your ability and preference to take risk, your portfolio can be a balance of stocks, bonds, and other investments to ensure that you save, grow wealth, and yet conserve your peace of mind.

3. It helps them know your family composition and needs

Depending on whether you are married, divorced, widowed, or single, your financial necessities will also differ. Moreover, if you have dependent children or children with special needs, you would need to account for their education and medical expenses. Your family composition and their dependency on you can alter your financial plan to a great extent. This is why it is vital for you to discuss their financial involvement in your life with your financial advisor. Many major and minor life events can impact your financial goals, budget, and the ability to invest.
In the case of a divorce, your financial advisor can help in minimizing the loss assets. They can also suggest better savings instruments to save for your child or step-children in the case of remarriage. Moreover, they can enable better estate planning and help with setting up a trust fund, power of attorney, legal guardians for minors, etc.

4. It helps them ensure short-term and long-term liquidity for you

While your personal life affects your financial plans, your professional life too has a considerable effect on it. Every promotion, salary hike, job loss, or career change can impact your goals, investment preferences, tax liability, the need for diversification, buying or selling of investments, etc. This requires your financial advisor to be actively involved in the changes in your professional journey. Based on the information you share, they can offer you advice on the best investment options given your existing income and liabilities. They can also ensure that every salary hike is also optimally invested and saved for the future to ensure that your savings grow with time and are able to counter inflation.

5. It helps them reduce your tax burden

As you increase your savings corpus, it is also crucial to make sure that your hard-earned money does not get lost in paying taxes. Property taxes, inheritance taxes, capital gains taxes. etc. can considerably affect your overall financial standing. A financial advisor can offer you ways to reduce this by investing and saving in accounts and funds that facilitate savings and help you reduce your tax liability.

Apart from the points mentioned above, you should also share any instances of financial emergencies, such as using funds for medical treatment. Your financial advisor should be in the loop to ensure that your savings are intact and replenished to ensure long-term liquidity and security.

To sum it up

A financial advisor is a significant person in your journey to financial freedom. But these professionals can only help you if you are honest with them and let them into your life with transparency. Open communications, accurate information, and regular contact is the ideal way to deal with your financial advisor.

If you are looking to hire a professional in your area, you can reach out to financial advisors for all your financial needs.