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Do I need a Financial Advisor?

Do I need Financial Advice?

 

When people think of what financial advice is, they sometimes associate a Financial Advisor as a person who simply picks the best investments for them, or how much greater an investment return they can make for clients with fund A over fund B. A Financial Advisor offers much more than this. An advisor’s mission is to close the gap between where you are financially and where you’d like to be.

 

For example, a Financial Advisor can provide valuable insight for how you should be managing your money to reach your financial goals at every crucial life stage, be it, buying your dream home, getting married, planning for children, advice when changing jobs, moving up in the workplace or starting your own business, and reaching your retirement goals. This in turn will help you make smarter decisions and avoid making expensive mistakes in life.

 

In addition, Vanguard released a research paper titled “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Advisor’s Alpha” outlining the value-add, or alpha, through ongoing guidance, discipline, financial planning and relationship based approaches between the client and advisor. The findings reflected that with the help of Financial Advisors, investors gained around 3% per year in value for their investments over time, compared to what they would get if they had not used an advisor.

 

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What is the value of a Financial Advisor?

 

The above is often supported by some of the below techniques that Financial Advisors use to help ensure that clients getting the most out of their investments or financial plans.

 

Cost Management:

One of the first questions that our Financial Advisors get asks on our first interaction with clients is, no doubt, “how much do you charge?” Notably, this is an important concern for clients and so fees and charges are always disclosed from the outset. Where we can, we help to reduce charges for clients as this makes a huge difference to their investments over time given that the slightest reduction could mean significantly higher investment return over a period of 10 years plus.

 

What is the value of a Financial Advisor

Portfolio Rebalancing:

There are also important benefits of working with a Financial Advisor that you wouldn’t otherwise get going at it alone, such as compiling the right mix of asset allocation in your portfolio (equities, bonds, property, etc) in line with prevailing market conditions. Here, portfolio rebalancing is key to ensure the client gets optimal investment returns during a certain period by taking profits from certain investments and topping others when required.

 

Assess your Attitude to Risk:

When engaging with clients, a Financial Advisor needs to listen, ask questions and really understand what clients are aiming to achieve. Sometimes this can be something quite simple, other times a more holistic financial strategy, nonetheless, a Financial Advisor will always assess your attitude to risk to make sure you are comfortable with the level of risk you would need to take on to achieve your investment objectives.

 

Behavioural Coaching:

Research suggests that behavioural coaching is the most valuable tool used by the Financial Advisor to help clients to “stay the course” of their investments and avoid knee-jerk responses to volatile market conditions. Investors commonly make the mistake of “selling low” when markets dip as a result of fear, and thereafter “buying high” when the markets begin to improve again as a result of greed. This can cost the investor dearly, and so we also advise to avoid market watching, stick to your annual financial review, and remain committed to your long-term investment strategy and objective.

 

The Vanguard report, as discussed above, suggested that funds under-performed by 3% due to poor decision making, and alternatively, with solid behavioural coaching, investors added 1.5% per year to their fund performance over and above advisor fees.

 

Financial Resilience & Security:

Financial education and advice is key to achieving financial resilience as you go through life. Here, a Financial Advisor can assist by helping you to withstand challenging life events that could impact your income and assets. Some of these financially stressful events can include the following; Unemployment, divorce, disability, income and health problems. Working alongside a Financial Advisor will help you to build financial resilience, have a more financially focused mindset, and achieve financial security.

 

 

Emotional Benefits & Well-being:

 

A recent published report by Royal London Group found that the top three emotional benefits of consumers getting financial advice are:

  1. Feeling more confident in their financial plans
  2. Feeling more in control of their finances
  3. Having peace of mindFinancial Advice is essential

In addition, the top three emotional qualities that customers value when it comes to a Financial Broker are:

  1. Quality of the advice and expertise
  2. Trustworthiness
  3. Communication

 

Outcomes of working with a Financial Advisor

 

1. Wealth: Advised clients build more wealth and have greater net worth over time.

2. Achieve your Goals: Those who work with Advisors are more successful at achieving meaningful goals.

3. Retirement Savings: Clients who work with Advisors are far more likely to have sufficient savings at retirement.

4. Confidence: Financial plans and advice will keep you better informed when making financial decisions and will leave you more confident in your financial future.

 

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Where to find us

 

Locally:

If you are looking for a Financial Advisor near you, you can locate us at the famous Walkinstown Roundabout in Dublin 12.

Address: Greenhills Centre, Units 1 & 2, Greenhills Rd, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, D12 YH22.

 

Nationally:

If you are based outside of Dublin, we have Financial Advisors located in Co. Wicklow and Co. Cork (Munster), who would be happy to commute to you.

 

Click on the map below for directions to our offices…

 

 

Financial Advisor near me

 

 

Need to speak to a Financial Advisor?

Fill out your details and enquiry below, and one of our Qualified Financial Advisors will get back to you shortly.

Top Reasons to Start a Pension in Ireland

 

Starting a pension in Ireland offers several benefits and is an excellent financial decision for various reasons. A pension encourages long-term financial planning and helps you take control of your retirement goals. By contributing regularly to a pension fund, you develop a habit of saving and actively preparing for your future. It provides peace of mind, knowing that you have a dedicated retirement fund in place with the ongoing guidance of a financial advisor.

 

In addition, it can be very useful for Inheritance Planning, as pension funds are treated favorably from an inheritance tax perspective. If you pass away before retirement, your pension fund can typically be inherited by your beneficiaries, subject to certain conditions. This can be an effective way to pass on wealth to your loved ones while minimizing tax liabilities.

 

Here are the top reasons to start a pension in Ireland:

 

1. Tax Relief on Pension Contributions

 

The state doesn’t want to be responsible for you when you’re going on month long cruises around the Mediterranean in retirement, therefore they allow any payments towards your pension plan to offset your income tax bill. The maximum percentage of your income you can claim relief on, depends upon your age (Click here for an illustration). And the contributions you make benefit from the THREE tax breaks:

 

  1. You can claim tax relief on contributions at your higher tax rate (20 or 40%).
  2. No tax on investments growth within you pension fund.
  3. When you want to retire you can then take 25% of your final sum tax free & up to 4% per annum thereafter to fund your income post retirement.

 

The closer you are to retirement age, the greater the percentage of your income you can contribute. If managed correctly you can fund, receive a retirement income and earn investment growth all tax free. This underpins the importance of receiving good advice when managing your pension!

 

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2. Choose When To Retire!

 

Currently the qualifying age for the Irish state pension is 66 years old. This will inevitably increase with time due to the ageing Irish population & increases in longevity. If you do wish to retire earlier in the future you may want to consider either maximizing your employer pension contributions by topping up by way of Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC’s) or starting your own private pension.

 

Starting a pension early also allows you to take advantage of the power of compound growth. The earlier you start contributing to your pension fund, the more time your money gets to benefit from tax free compounding returns.

 

Often people like to take a step back from work in their early sixties. By maximizing your pension contributions and sticking to the plan, this can be a possibility.

 

 

3. You need Income in Retirement

 

People often forget that your income is your most important asset! Pre-retirement, a decent portion of your disposable income (money left over each month after your fixed expenses) will likely be going towards the things you enjoy doing on the weekend, or a going for a quick trip across the pond every now and then. Then all of a sudden you realize you have more wrinkles than you ever remember having, you have left your employer for good, retirement has snuck up on you without having planned how and where you will receive the same level of income that has supported you throughout the many years. To plan for retirement you will need to know where your income will come from.

 

€248.30 per week or €12,911.60 per year is what the Irish government is giving to retirees in 2021 to do with as they please. If you were used to a much higher income & would like to still go out to your favourite fancy restaurant at the weekends (Covid Depending), you will need to have another source of retirement income. For most people, a private pension plan is the way how. Revenue limits on your pension income allows for up to 4% per year tax free to be drawn down which will help supplement your state pension.

This handy Pension Calculator will show you how much you need to start saving NOW to receive your preferred income in retirement.

 

Did someone say Retirement Plan? A good place to start planning is to look at your current monthly income (after tax) and ask yourself what ideal amount you would like to receive on a monthly basis in retirement to maintain your preferred lifestyle.

 

This handy Pension Calculator will show you how much you need to start saving NOW to receive your preferred income in retirement. Next, contact your Financial Advisor (right here if you don’t have one), simply discuss your current financial situation, and a solution that best suits your retirement goals and he or she will regularly check in with you to ensure that you are maintaining them.

 

4. We’re all living longer – Irish people especially!

 

Nowadays, people are leading more active lives in retirement. Living longer certainly sounds appealing as it gives us more time to accomplish our goals in life like visiting the places we’ve always wanted to and enjoying our everyday hobbies. Although positive, this also brings with it the challenge of having enough financial resources to see it through.

 

According to the 2019 Key Health trends published by the department of Health in Ireland, over the past decade we have added 3 months per year to our life expectancy with the overall mortality rate having reduce by 10.5% since 2009. This shoots Ireland above the EU average as living longer than our European neighbors. Life expectancy on average will now see men living to 78 and women to age 83. Long term care is an expensive business for the elderly, and so by planning now for sufficient income in retirement will ensure that you don’t have to be a financial burden on your family.

 

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So where to from here?

Top Reasons to Start a Pension in Ireland

 

The earlier you start contributing to your Pension, the better off you will be in retirement! Most people find that paying into a pension is not the highest priority. And that makes total sense given that more important financial obligations come first such as mortgage or rent bills, insurance premiums, other loans to pay off, and not to mentioned putting food on the table at the end of the day.

 

However, after these mandatory expenses and if you have a few quid left over each month, consider regularly putting some away into your own private pension. You will thank yourself later in life! 

 

The best option for you depends on your personal circumstances.

If you need guidance on how prepare for the retirement YOU want, the best place to start is to seek advice from a Qualified Financial Advisor.

 

 

Need to speak with a Financial Advisor?

Fill out your details and enquiry below, and one of our Qualified Financial Advisors will get back to you shortly.