What Do People Think You Do?
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When I tell most strangers I’m a financial planner, they either think I’m an accountant or I’m a financial analyst (someone who researches which investments in the stock market may or may not be profitable)
What Do You Really Do?
I actually help people retire, mostly. I do so by helping some clients understand their finances and giving them a foundation of financial literacy. So sometimes I’m a bit of a “financial coach” for some.
That could sometimes mean I’m helping someone understand their budget, how to take care of their debt, how to properly protect themselves with life insurance and estate planning. Once those parts of their plan are complete, we focus on the long term goal of saving for retirement through investing in the stock market. I explain specific investment concepts and potential outcomes.
A Day In The Life
Most days I will have approximately four appointments, usually about 60-90 minutes each. Then I take approximately 30 minutes after each appointment to file information and record client notes taken. I also take about 1-2 hours per day following up on prior clients or following up with specific products sold.
My normal day: wake up around 6am to check emails and make sure there are no pressing items. I will go to the gym because a healthy body is a healthy mind. I complete a few errands before my appointments. My first appointment is usually 10am or 11am. If I have no immediate appointments, I will prospect and reach out to other clients and small businesses. I will sometimes hold a financial literacy seminars for the employees of small businesses for additional prospecting and brand building.
As an entrepreneur, I have to work about 50-60 hours a week to building my financial planning business, and make less money than I made before in order to build the freedom of what I want in the future.
What’s The Average Income?
$100,000
What Education If Any Is Needed?
Half of the advisors in my field have finished at least a bachelors degree. Although having a degree doesn’t guarantee you will be a good advisor. What is needed is a level of compassion for your clients, the ethical and moral standards to do the right thing and the willingness to continue learning about your craft, yourself and your client. It’s okay to not know everything, but it is not okay to be complacent with not continuously learning
Something Important To Know
Become a financial planner for a larger firm for a while, make good income and then choose whether you want to branch out on your own or continue growing within a larger firm. It took me ten years to find out if I was ready to branch out on my own. You must have a level of dedication, ambition and passion for what you’re doing if you want to go independent as an advisor.