When to Get Help From a Financial Adviser
They say money makes the world go round. From buying your morning coffee to keeping a roof over your head, money comes into every aspect of our lives. Some financial decisions can have huge outreaching impacts, so you’ll likely need to seek help from a financial adviser at some point in your life.
But when can you wing it and when should you take the plunge and seek professional advice? We’ll look at how financial advisers can help you alongside some of the situations when it’s a good idea to get one on board.
Big Life Events
Big life events tend to mean big money. Whether it’s buying your first home or retiring, there are some serious financial decisions to make. And as these events don’t happen all that often, it means people don’t generally have experience with them.
Investing in sound advice from the start could save you a lot of money in the future. A financial adviser can help with everything, from ensuring your general finances are in good shape to making decisions around more complex matters.
Many of us will spend a large chunk of our lives paying off a mortgage, so this is one of the times advice is hugely beneficial. You may want to consider opting for a specialist broker to find you the best possible product.
Some examples of major financial life events:
- Buying a home
- Marriage and joint bank accounts
- Divorce
- Having children – setting up trust funds and wills
- Moving abroad
Planning for the Future
Decisions you make today can have a huge impact on your finances in the years to come. A good adviser will look at your whole situation, including your long-term goals and plans for the future.
Yes, you can do a certain amount of research yourself using the internet and various comparison sites. But not every law is explained, options presented or needs catered for. Financial advisers will look more in-depth at your specific circumstances and find the best products for you.
If you’re ready to retire, you may wonder how best to manage your money. Or you might want advice on how to get a pension up and running to safeguard your future. Seeing as these situations differ wildly for each individual, tailored advice could well be beneficial.
Some examples of financial planning for the future:
- Pensions
- Retirement planning
- Life insurance
- Savings
- Wills
Starting and Running Your Own Business
Starting a business isn’t an easy feat. But running and growing a successful business is even harder. There are all kinds of hoops to jump through before you get off the ground. When you are up and running, expect to make some big decisions, especially financial ones.
Each decision you make needs to factor in the future and where you want your business to go. This is one of the key times for advice, particularly from a company that specialises in helping businesses with their corporate strategy and finance. The right strategy will help ensure longevity and stability, so it’s a worthwhile investment after you’ve put the hard graft into building your business in the first place.
Paying Tax Bills
There are many reasons why you might need to pay a tax bill. If you let out a property, own a business, or claim child benefit, you’ll need to complete a self-assessment tax return each year. And while the basics are manageable, there are benefits to seeking the help of a professional.
Firstly, you want to make sure you get your tax bill right. If you don’t pay enough, you could find yourself in a spot of bother. That said, it’s all too easy to overpay your taxes if you don’t know the ins and outs of the system.
If you’re not aware of the records you need to keep or expenses you can claim, a financial adviser can help to fill in the blanks. Ultimately, they can take the stress out of tax returns and ensure you pay the right amount.
Investing
If you find yourself with a sum of money, it can be a minefield to know the best way to invest it. A financial adviser can explain the different options and make sure your investment suits your personal circumstances.
After all, the more you know about potential investments, the easier it is to make your money work harder for you.
Advice Vs. Guidance
Let’s be clear, there’s a difference between financial advice and guidance. Advice looks at specific services or products catered to your personal needs. Whereas guidance looks at broader options and allows you to make your own choice based on the information given.
Advisers can recommend the best solutions for you, which gives you more of a right to complain if you lose money based on bad advice. But it doesn’t mean you can turn to the ombudsman if your investment doesn’t make as much money as you’d hoped! But you should receive sound advice based on your circumstances.
It’s important to make sure you know the difference between advice and guidance at the start.
The Bottom Line
Financial decisions can cause knock-on effects in many other areas of your life. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, these outcomes won’t always be favourable. How are you to know the best routes if it’s a totally new experience for you?
Only you know your own limits and when you need some extra help. But if you feel unsure about decisions you’re making, or find yourself turning to Google for answers, you may well benefit from speaking to an adviser.
Just make sure you get them involved at the right time. For some people, advice is a one-off event. But for others, it could be on a long-term basis to keep everything focused and on track while also keeping an eye out for potential opportunities.
Financial advisers may incur upfront costs, but they could save you a whole load of time, stress, and money in the long run.
