The Top 6 Essential Skills of Financial Planners

One of the most commonly asked question by potential Financial Planners is, “What are the most important skills that I need to have, and what will help me excel in this industry?” It is hard for anyone to see themselves as the ideal candidate. But since being a successful Financial Planner requires a wide array of skills, most people do excel in a couple of areas. Here are the top 6 essential skills.

1. Communications and Interpersonal Skills

A Financial Planner needs to solicit new businesses, network with associates, and maintain his or her relationship with clients. Therefore, the ability to relate to people and find common grounds is crucial. This includes basic skills for networking, such as telephone and email etiquette. Additionally, the financial industry is filled with jargon. Its documents are often complex and confusing. A Financial Planner needs to explain clearly, in layman’s terms, for his or her client to make an informed decision. If building a new relationship is important, then retaining one is just as critical to the business.

2. Ability to Handle Stress

Like most career, stress at work is inevitable. A Financial Planner undertakes his or her clients’ financial portfolio and assist them in decisions that will have a major impact on their lives. This process requires a Financial Planner to perform at an exceptionally high level and hence, it is the most stressful moment too. On the other hand, the returns, when a Financial Planner helps the client avoid financial disasters, outweighs any amount of stress he or she has taken on.

3. Energy and Persistence

This key skill could be said for almost any profession. But for a Financial Planner, it serves not only in the area of prospecting and serving clients, it also becomes extremely valuable when keeping tab of the investment market, staying on top of the latest news and riding upward trends.

4. Analytical Skills for Problem Solving

Each client’s financial portfolio is unique and requires different approaches. A Financial Planner has to be able to exercise patience in the face of pressure and with little emotional attachments. He or she must possess strong problem solving and mathematical skills to help his or her client make prudent financial decisions.

5. Passion

Another essential ingredient in businesses is the enthusiasm for the job. The challenge is in finding that perfect fit. For a Financial Planner, it’s that keen interest in making a profound impact on the lives of others, by helping them to grow their wealth and secure an otherwise uncertain future that will make the difference.

6. Organizational Skills and Attention to Details

The last and most important skill is extremely crucial in the career of a Financial Planner. Organizational skills can be applied to good time management. Not only does it help to grow a Financial Planner’s clientele, but it also helps in growing his or her income too. Moreover, allocating the time efficiently ensures that a Financial Planner serves his or her clients well.

Companies entrust a Financial Planner to manage their finances and risks for them. Paying attention to details leave no stones unturned and eliminates small mistakes which can sometimes be very costly to a business.

Overview

In conjunction with these 6 essential skills, having the right company that can provide you with the right balance of support, mentorship, training and independence can make a great difference and help put a budding Financial Planner on the way to a long-lasting and successful career.

If you feel that you have most of the above skills and could work to develop the rest, then financial planning could be the right career for you, whether you are starting out on your first job or making a career transition.

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Jamson Chia graduated from The National University of Singapore in 2003 with Bachelor of Engineering (Hons). Possessing an interest in financial planning, he furthered his education, and obtained the prestigious title of a Certified Financial Planner (CFPCM) in 2007. He is also one of the few privileged advisors in his company to attain the Business Insurance title.

Jamson currently heads the team as an Financial Services Director, where he is responsible for providing quality service and advice, especially in the Small and Medium Enterprises and High Net Worth Market. He is also responsible for grooming new talents, where he holds an impressive track record. Various consultants under his training have qualified for numerous awards ranging from AIA’s Million Dollar Club, to the highly acclaimed international Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) award.

Within the first 5 years of his career, Jamson has achieved an admirable feat of being a member of the Million Dollar Round Table for 3 consecutive years, and he is currently one of the youngest directors in AIA.

Jamson is a Financial Services Director with AIA. The statements or opinions expressed on this site are his own, and do not represent those of AIA.

Find out more about Jamson Chia: http://bit.ly/strategic-alliance-jamson
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