How High Net Worth Individuals Choose Financial Advisors

The accumulation of wealth is one thing, and the management of wealth is another both of them are complementary. As your wealth increases, you have more financial resources at your disposal. You might not have any problem managing your finances initially, but with time, you will most likely. Such an eventuality is inevitable in the case of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI). Poor management of finances can directly impact wealth accumulation, after all.

There is so much to think about. Keep track of the existing sources of income, investments in new areas, profits and losses, personal expenses, and whatnot. HNWIs are too occupied to spare the necessary time to finance management. Even if they have spare time, they may not be adept at this intricate task. That is where you must seek out help from the outside: hire a financial advisor. If you want to make the right choices about your money, you need these professionals in proximity. How to choose the right person for the job? Here are a few tips to take into account.

1. There are all kinds of financial advisors
   Just because someone claims to be a financial advisor does not mean that they fit into the standard definition. There are several kinds of such advisors, and the requirement of these depend upon your own needs and requirements. The most important factors to consider are how they earn money and their obligations toward you.
   For example, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are corporates that employ representatives who are bound by fiduciary duty. On the other side, some earn commissions from third parties and bear no fiduciary duty towards you.
2. The kind of advice you need matters
   Before hiring anyone, you should ask yourself where you need help. Finance management is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide variety of matters of managerial concern. It could be that you are reeling under the pressures of debt and want someone to advise you on their management. Or, you want to revisit your insurance policies with an expert and invest in new ones if required. Many HNWIs hire these professionals to devise and implement tax management strategies aimed at reducing tax liabilities. So, you should consider your own wants before roping them in.
3. Counsel is not free
   Nothing comes for free here. You want your wealth to be discussed and managed. This sounds like a simple requirement but entails a world of deliberation, planning, and time consumption. No one would readily give you the requisite pieces of advice for free, and mind you, the fees here are quite a bomb. The more assets you have, the higher fees you will end up paying.
   It could be possible that the advisor isn’t asking for commissions, but they will earn commissions on your investment; such advisors come without fiduciary obligations towards you. You must think thoroughly about this factor because the amount will most likely be a recurring amount; if not recurring, it will surely not be an amount to sneeze at.
4. Check the credentials of the advisors
   You will come across several financial advisors who talk the talk but do not walk the walk. Each of them will have a sales pitch which many will be quite hard to resist. To avoid getting duped into a meaningless (and possibly harmful) engagement, you should dive deep into the credentials of these professionals.
   Check whether they have the necessary licenses, their clientele, and the feedback received, and compare them with others. Take your time; you need not base your decision on what you have been told. If anyone is too excited to work with you, you should be more careful. A good financial advisor understands that no reasonable person allows anyone to involve in matters as sensitive as finances in a blink of an eye.
5. Have an audience with them
   Before you zero in on any financial advisor, interview as many as possible. Shortlist those who fit into your box and ask them to participate in an interview. Talk to them about their life and credentials, and ask any questions to help you measure their tactical, intelligent, and appropriate selves. During these interviews, do not reveal anything too confidential. You should have all your doubts cleared regarding a future engagement, such as any conflict of interest, whether there is a fiduciary liability, or how often you both will meet.

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