As a general rule, money itself isn’t what matters most—it’s what you do with it in your life. This leads to an important question about what most

financial advisors want to talk about: Is it your money, or your life?

Unfortunately, the term “financial advice” has become commonplace—and has also acquired a bad reputation and is often misused—making it difficult for you to

be sure. Put another way, more broadly: What’s the point of hiring a financial advisor?

Financial planner Brian Foster, founder of Foster Financial Group, answers this question by saying that it usually comes down to changes

A significant change in people’s lives, with some already having several key qualities, which can be outlined as follows:

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Seeking help

Certain life events may make you feel that you need help, such as marriage, divorce, the death of a family member, inheritance issues, or a drop in the value of your stocks.

في البورصة.

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Isn’t an ideal option

It’s natural to turn to friends or family for help, but Foster believes this isn’t ideal. Most experiences in this area have been

based on the assumption that people who need help usually turn to someone who seems confident and organized and knows what they’re talking about—but in reality, they don’t deliver what’s needed.” Foster describes

the term “financial adviser” as covering a range of people, including brokers who sell insurance products as financial plans; so it can vary considerably

The type of conversation you’ll have varies from person to person.

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Stages of Financial Planning

“Foster” notes that financial intermediaries will talk with you about protection policies, risk, and insurance, while investment advisers will discuss investments,

markets, and any funds you choose. Their goal is to gather assets by persuading you to move your money under their management.

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Does a financial advisor do all of these things?

“Foster” goes on to say: “They may talk about investments and risk, and emphasize building a comprehensive financial plan. There’s nothing wrong with that,” but

a lifestyle-focused financial planner is fundamentally different from the other three. If you’re speaking with a lifestyle-focused financial planner, then

They’re likely to be more interested in who you are and what’s happening in your life. These financial planners are skilled at creating a safe space where you can ask questions

that get to the heart of things, in a way that can’t be manipulated—questions that make you think about what truly matters to you. Foster concludes this point by saying:

“I sense that most people want to have this conversation, but they don’t know how to start.”

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What does your financial advisor ask of you?

Your financial advisor certainly won’t ask you to hand over your money; they’ll want to know what you plan to do with it. Foster says, “It’s extremely difficult

to separate someone’s money from their life,” and asks: How can financial advisors talk only about life insurance products or investment returns without understanding

their clients’ lives, who they are, and what they want to do? So pay attention to the questions your financial advisor asks you.

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Is your financial adviser truly passionate about your life?

Foster believes there’s a pattern to follow in the questions you ask. The conversation should begin by asking where you are in life right now, how you got there,

and what challenges you’re facing. Then, proposals can be made to address those challenges.

Foster says, “The key question any financial planner should ask is: Can I add value—and where do you think I can?” If the client believes that

a financial planner can add value by, for example, telling them whether the stock market will rise or fall, that reveals insight into and gives an impression of what

the client is thinking. As a result, this should also prompt the financial planner to say, “I’m afraid I can’t do that, and I can’t offer you advice,

but let’s explore why you feel uncomfortable about it.” However, to reach this stage of the discussion, the financial planner must be prepared

Move beyond discussions that present a financial product as the solution to every problem. This means the priority should not just be talking, but asking

better questions and listening to understand what clients are really like.

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Does your financial adviser care about you?

“In my personal experience, if we have these kinds of conversations—which clients often enjoy—the financial planner is more likely to be able to provide greater value to you,” Foster says. They can also build better relationships and connect with others who are more involved in the planning process

المخطِّط المالي قادرًا على تقديم قيمة أكبر لك، كما أنه يستطيع بناء علاقات أفضل للتواصل مع أشخاص آخرين، أكثر انخراطًا في عملية التخطيط

الخاصة بك”.