Last Updated on
I argue why there is no need for financial advisors to be competent because most investors are not worth it and the ones who are worth it do not need advisors! A few years ago, I was engaged in a debate with a colleague. I said, teachers should push themselves to become better and better otherwise they cannot set students standards to excel. She said: If the students do not push teachers, there will be no motivation for them to become better even if them themselves wanted to.
While there is truth or justification to both arguments, with age I feel she was right and this especially true of most investors. Most of them know nothing about portfolio management rely on luck when they assume things will turn our all right over the long term. They know nothing about risk management, nothing about conflict of interest (else they would know not to listen to a bank RM). All they want is piece-meal advice on best products, best stocks and best funds. There is no motivation to understand money management holistically. I could go on an on or you can just read a few posts here to know more. If there is one thing I have learned from nearly 7 years of blogging, it is most investor do not want to know or understand portfolio management. Ignorance is not a crime. Staying ignorant is.
Given all this, there is no motivation for an advisor to push themselves beyond what they read in their certifications (which to begin with is not much). When you serve someone who cannot tell between good advice and bad, even a B-grade effort from the advisor is an overkill
What is the point here?
1: We must be responsible towards our money and keep learning. Not information, but knowledge
2: If we need to outsource money management then choose a conflict of interest free advisor who will not only help us invest and manage money, but also teach us along the way so we learn and can push them to advice better.
3 Here is a list of questions to ask a fee-only planner before signing up.
Unless investors push advisors by asking the right questions, there is no need for them to be competent. In every class there will only be a few bright students. That is enough. Their push is enough for any self-respecting teacher to dig deeper and teach better. Similarly, only a few clients would understand and appreciate the holistic financial planning process. They are enough to push any self-respecting advisor to learn more and serve better. All we can do is to ask, are we one such DIY investor, one such client or one such advisor?
Share your thoughts on this topic at the Reddit freefincal_user_forum
Reach your financial goals like a pro! Join our 1600+ Facebook Group on Portfolio Management! You can now reduce fear, doubt and uncertainty while investing for your financial goals! Sign up for our lectures on goal-based portfolio management and join our exclusive Facebook Community. The 1st lecture is free!
Want to check if the market is overvalued or undervalued? Use our market valuation tool (will work with any index!) or you buy the new Tactical Buy/Sell timing tool!
About the Author
M. Pattabiraman(PhD) is the founder, managing editor and primary author of freefincal. He is an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. since Aug 2006. Connect with him via Twitter or Linkedin
Pattabiraman has co-authored two print-books, You can be rich too with goal-based investing (CNBC TV18) and Gamechanger and seven other free e-books on various topics of money management. He is a patron and co-founder of “Fee-only India” an organisation to promote unbiased, commission-free investment advice.
He conducts free money management sessions for corporates and associations on the basis of money management. Previous engagements include World Bank, RBI, BHEL, Asian Paints, Cognizant, Madras Atomic Power Station, Honeywell, Tamil Nadu Investors Association. For speaking engagements write to pattu [at] freefincal [dot] com
About freefincal & its content policy Freefincal is a News Media Organization dedicated to providing original analysis, reports, reviews and insights on developments in mutual funds, stocks, investing, retirement and personal finance. We do so without conflict of interest and bias. We operate in a non-profit manner. All revenue is used only for expenses and for the future growth of the site. Follow us on Google News Freefincal serves more than one million readers a year (2.5 million page views) with articles based only on factual information and detailed analysis by its authors. All statements made will be verified from credible and knowledgeable sources before publication. Freefincal does not publish any kind of paid articles, promotions or PR, satire or opinions without data. All opinions presented will only be inferences backed by verifiable, reproducible evidence/data. Contact information: letters {at} freefincal {dot} com (sponsored posts or paid collaborations will not be entertained)
Connect with us on social media
- Twitter @freefincal
- Subscribe to our Youtube Videos
- Posts feed via Feedburner
Our publications
You Can Be Rich Too with Goal-Based Investing
Published by CNBC TV18, this book is meant to help you ask the right questions, seek the right answers and since it comes with nine online calculators, you can also create custom solutions for your lifestyle! Get it now. It is also available in Kindle format.
Gamechanger: Forget Startups, Join Corporate & Still Live the Rich Life You Want
This book is meant for young earners to get their basics right from day one! It will also help you travel to exotic places at low cost! Get it or gift it to a young earner
Your Ultimate Guide to Travel
This is a deep dive analysis into vacation planning, finding cheap flights, budget accommodation, what to do when travelling, how travelling slowly is better financially and psychologically with links to the web pages and hand-holding at every step. Get the pdf for Rs 199 (instant download)
Free android apps
- All calculators from our book, “You can be Rich Too” are now available on Google Play!
- Install the Financial Freedom App! (Google Play Store)
- Install Freefincal Retirement Planner App! (Google Play Store)
- Find out if you have enough to say "FU" to your employer (Google Play Store)
