A financial advisor or financial planner is someone who gives professional financial advice to customers according to their individual financial status. In most countries, financial advisors are required to complete certain training and obtain registration with a regulatory board in order to give advice. The first step is to complete an undergraduate degree that focuses on business and accounting. This shows commitment to the academic study of financial affairs and a desire to become a professional with the financial industry.
After graduation, financial advisors can choose to take classes that focus on investment or they can go straight into the field. They may choose to take a four-year degree or two four-year degrees focusing on different areas such as fund management or estate planning. Those interested in becoming financial advisors should attend seminars or workshops that teach them how to best manage their money to achieve their financial goals. These seminars and workshops also teach students how to build wealth by creating a retirement plan or investing in multiple retirement options. Most seminars and workshops also allow potential financial advisors to consult with wealthy families to find out how they made it to where they are today.
Financial advisors must keep records of their financial results and discuss their results with their clients. They receive advice from their clients on how to invest their money to achieve their financial goals and they meet the needs of their clients by providing tax planning, investment advice, estate planning and other tax planning services. As part of their professional responsibilities, financial advisors work with tax professionals to help people save for retirement, establish retirement income goals and file tax returns. Financial advisors can work independently as an independent wealth manager or as an agent for wealth managers. Some work as private individuals offering financial advice and tax planning services to families, corporations and individuals.