Financial Planner
Controller Job Description
A Financial Planner – also referred to as a Personal or Certified Financial Planner – is a qualified financial or investments advisor. They provide their clients with professional advice regarding investments, insurance, tax, wealth management, and retirement planning. A financial planner provides individuals with advice concerning the management of their finances, and work for a firm or independently. A financial planner’s primary role is to assist clients with creating personal budgets; establishing objectives for saving; minimizing, controlling, and/or managing expenses; and implementing the necessary steps for creating and accumulating wealth. Financial planners work with investment managers, mutual funds, and/or financial advisers to meet their respective clients’ investment needs.
A financial planner’s occupation requires that they remain up-to-date with current tax legislation and financial product developments and the necessary personal financial management strategies on retirement and estate planning. Hence, they should also have good sales skills. They will need to obtain new clients (when necessary) and be innovative in crafting solutions to improve their clients’ financial situation and ensure that goals are met. The duties of a financial planner typically include providing investments and insurance services to clients, ensuring sound client record-keeping, establishing and maintaining relationships with clients by remaining up-to-date with the clients’ successes, and regularly communicating relevant changes that may impact the financial position of the clients.
Financial planners must take information from a variety of sources, such as market trends and regulatory changes, to develop a client’s investment portfolio. These professionals must communicate verbally and in writing with clients, often relaying complex information. Financial planners must evaluate the risk and reward of potential investments in order to advise their clients.
The legal requirements to work as a financial planner vary by country. Many countries lack a legal framework for the “financial planner” designation or titles; hence, the occupation’s scope may vary between jurisdictions. Ideally, a financial planner should possess a bachelor’s degree (as a minimum requirement) in terms of educational requirements. Coursework in the field of finance, economics, or accounting would be an added advantage. A Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) can also be a requirement; however, it would be at the discretion of the individual and potential firms hiring financial planners.
Typical duties of a Controller
• Establish goals
• Gather data
• Analyze and evaluate financial status
• Develop a plan
• Implement the plan
• Monitor the plan and make necessary adjustments
Skills:
• Client relationship skills
• Business development skills
• Research
• Wealth management
• Analytical thinking
• Interpersonal communication
• Detail orientation
• Empathy
• Risk assessment
Qualifications: Degree in accounting, mathematics, economics, finance, or a related field