Everything About A Financial Advisor - Services, Uses, Certification

The term "financial advisor” applies to many roles and disciplines that are broadly tasked with recommending investment options ethically and assisting in budget planning.

In this blog, we'll help you understand the role of a financial advisor right from who they are to what they do. Plus you’ll get to know more about Cube's financial advisors.  

Who is a Financial Advisor?

A financial advisor like Wealth First or RIA, Rick Holbrook is a licensed entity/professional who can help you make the right financial decisions based on their longstanding expertise in the world of financial markets.

Financial advisors will focus on doing what is right for you based on your financial goals and risk profile. A good financial advisor will show you the pathway towards investing wisely - this person is NOT a salesperson and should not have any vested interests.

For example, Cube's Mutual Fund Advisor, Wealth First curates a list of the best mutual funds for users on the Cube Wealth app These funds are suited to your investment goals and risk profile. 

You have complete control over whether to invest or not. What you get is help in the form of a filtered list of quality mutual funds instead of the 17000+ mutual fund variations that most apps and websites sell you.

This approach is the opposite of the services Bank Relationship Managers or salespersons offer whose goal is to sell you a product based on their monthly or quarterly targets. 

This can lead to a case of financial food poisoning since you’re buying bad investments that have a (compounding) negative impact on your financial health. An experienced financial advisor can save you from this. 

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What Does A Financial Advisor Do?

Broadly speaking, a financial advisor will look after these aspects of your finances:

• Planning your investment strategy
• Evaluating your portfolio regularly
• Implementing tax-saving strategies 
• Examining your overall financial health
  

The role of a financial advisor doesn’t just stop there. A reliable financial advisor will help you understand each investment that they put forth so that you are aware of the underlying principle involved. 

This transfer of knowledge can help you learn more about investment strategies and options, budgeting, jargon, etc.  Cube gives you access to free informational blogs that cut the fluff and false promises out.

At the same time, the free Cube Wealth app helps you invest in top-performing and handpicked mutual funds, US stocks, Indian stocks. All recommended by experts from Wealth First, our Indian Equity Advisor or our US Equity Advisor, RIA Rick Holbrook.

A good financial advisor will consistently check in on your investments. That’s what good financial advisors would do as you are not just a “sale” to them but a valued client and member.

What If I Can’t Afford A Financial Advisor?

Understandably, the services of an expert financial advisor do not come cheap. Most regular people can neither invest enough for it to be lucrative to Financial Advisors nor can they afford the high fee. If you’re a regular investor your best bet is to use an app like Cube Wealth. 

We say this not just because it’s our product but because it’s the only app that gives you access to the same high-quality investment options that these experienced advisors recommend to high-net-worth individuals. 

This is the kind of advice that is not accessible to regular investors but, since Cube partners with these entities, all Cube users collectively get to benefit from their advice.

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Who Are Cube's Financial Advisors?

1. Wealth First

Cube's mutual fund advisory partner Wealth First was founded in 2000 as an independent investment advisory firm. WF has clients ranging from family offices to HNIs. 

• Clients: 3000+
• AUM: ₹7000+ crores
  

Wealth First has a track record of beating the market by a whopping ~50% over the past decade. Their research goes beyond numbers to ensure that you invest in the best mutual funds in India. 

That's not all. Wealth First curates a list of the best mutual funds for every investor on the Cube Wealth app across categories like: 

• Liquid funds
• Debt funds
• Conservative funds
• Moderate funds
• Aggressive funds
• International funds
• ELSS funds
  

They even give clear buy, sell, and hold instructions to Cube investors so that they are on top of their portfolio's health at all times. Here's how Wealth First picks the best mutual funds out of 17000+ schemes:

1. Consistency

Mutual funds that have generated consistent returns for at least 20 quarters. 

2. Fund Manager

Comprehensive analysis of the fund manager's background that includes historical performance, portfolio statistics, and overall reputation. 

3. Fund House

Analysing the fund house by looking at factors like total AUM (size), history, stability of fund management, the aggregate performance of funds, and overall track record. 

4. Risk

WF recommends a low-risk, solid fund house and the best mutual funds based on the above-mentioned criteria.

Watch this video to know more about Wealth First:

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2. RIA Rick Holbrook

RIA Rick Holbrook is a Stanford Alumnus and has 40 years of experience in equity research, portfolio management, and financial planning. He currently has an AUM of ~$130 million.

Rick is also a "Registered Investment Advisor” which means he is a trusted expert who handles wealth for HNIs. RIAs have the fiduciary responsibility to offer advice that works best for their clients. 

Cube gives you access to Rick's stock advisory services so that you can invest in the best US and global stocks to create long term wealth. The best part? You can invest in US stocks for as low as $1 using Cube. 

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Financial Advisors V/s Fund Raiser

A financial advisor can help an individual or a corporation like a start-up. The financial needs of an individual are abundantly different from the requirements of a start-up. 

For example, a start-up might want to raise additional capital through a seed round for which they may seek counsel with a financial advisor who is adept at tackling multiple aspects of fundraising. 

Or, the start-up might want to acquire new businesses and manage their financial health. The “fundraiser” financial advisor will double down as a pseudo-CFO and help the start-up:

• Search for potential financiers (venture capitalists, angel investors, etc)
• Draft the necessary paperwork (pitch deck, investor documentation, etc)
• Buy new businesses or sell the existing business to other investors
• Maintain budgets and plan finances
  

That’s the difference between a financial advisor and a “fundraiser” financial advisor in a nutshell. 

Read this blog to know more about why Cube is the best investment advisory platform in India 

5 Types Of Services Provided By Financial Advisors

1. Analysis Of Goals And Risk Profile

Helping you understand your financial goals and the risk that you can take to achieve them is one of the most important aspects of a financial advisor's job. 

The financial advisor will take into account various aspects like your current financial health, liabilities, and spending power to sculpt goals that are realistic and achievable. 

Furthermore, your risk-taking abilities will be intertwined with all that was mentioned above. The financial advisor will use these facts to draw up a legible financial plan.  

Cube gives you access to a free risk analysis quiz that can help you understand your goals and risk profile. Take The Risk Quiz Now

2. Investment Planning And Execution

A reliable financial advisor has years if not decades of experience in the markets. This knowledge allows them to understand every aspect of investing and the investment itself. 

Moreover, the financial advisor will try to understand you, your investment goals, and your risk profile as knowing you is as crucial as knowing the markets. 

The financial advisor will then put the two together to help you plan your investments based on what you want to achieve in the next 1, 5, 10, 20 years. Planning is all well and good. Anybody can do it. 

It's the execution that makes the reliable financial advisors stand apart from the rest. The financial advisor will recommend a handpicked list of investment options like mutual funds, alternative assets, etc.

These recommendations will be in line with your goals and risk profile. Advisors on Cube follow a similar approach. Download Cube For Free to know more.  

3. Monitoring And Evaluation

It's important to regularly monitor the health of your portfolio as investments that are the best today may not be the same tomorrow. That's where a two-pronged approach would come in handy. 

Reliable financial advisors like Wealth First on the Cube Wealth app continuously monitor the markets to spot better investment opportunities or replace underperforming investments. 

This ensures that the investor's portfolio does not have any gaps and has the scope for improvement. Explore Top Investment Advice Now

4. Budgeting 

A monthly income is a primary vehicle for most people to pay their bills and invest in assets. It naturally becomes crucial to manage your paycheck efficiently. 

The intervention of a financial advisor can be helpful as they can suggest budgeting techniques and rules to ensure that you get the best out of your monthly income and invest in the right assets as well.

5. Tax Planning

Saving tax can be hard if you don't have a nuanced understanding of the various sections of the Income Tax Act. A retail investor may make the mistake of investing in a tax-saving option: 

• At the last minute
• For the wrong reasons
• Not tax efficient
  

Many financial advisors are adept at helping you avoid these tax-saving mistakes. Access Top Tax Saving Mutual Funds 

What Are The Qualifications Of A Financial Advisor?

1. In India

• Degree or diploma related to finance, accounting, actuarial science, and other related disciplines
• Certification of financial planning from an accredited institution like the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB), NSE, BSE, and others
• 5 years of experience in the financial sector
• Registration with SEBI for proof and validation of advisory credentials
  

Visit SEBI's website to know more about the credentials of investment advisors like Wealth First. A trusted advisor will always be registered with SEBI to ensure transparency and validity. 

2. In The US

• Successfully clear Series 65 exam
• Register with state regulatory authority
• Register with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Establish a business 
  

Watch this video to learn more about US stock advice on Cube

Frequently Asked Questions about  Financial Advisor

Q. Are Financial Advisors Fiduciaries?

Ans. The best financial advisors are fiduciaries which means that they must always act in the best interest of their clients. They have an ethical duty to recommend investment options that work for the clients’ needs.

Q. Who Needs Financial Advisor?

Ans. Truth be told, every investor would benefit from the insights of a financial advisor like the ones on Cube Wealth. They have years of experience in their arsenal which they can use to improve their client's portfolio by guiding them towards the right investment options. Explore Quality Advice on Cube