Financial adviser

The term "financial adviser" refers to a professional who offers financial services to customers depending on their financial circumstances. For financial advisers to be able to offer advice in many countries, they must undergo specialised training and be registered with a regulating organisation.

A financial advisor in the United States must pass the Series 7 and Series 66 or Series 65 qualifying exams. Qualification designations and compliance violations must be submitted to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for public scrutiny, according to the organisation. Brokers, investment advisors, private bankers, accountants, attorneys, insurance agents, and financial planners are among the professionals that are permitted to use the term financial advisor, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Financial counsellors are often involved in the provision of financial goods and services, depending on their level of certification and training. Financial advisors are registered, not licenced, in the state in which they work. For example, a licenced insurance agent who possesses both a life insurance licence and the Series 7 qualifying test may be eligible to market both life insurance and variable annuities. A financial planner (Series 7) is a broker (Series 7) who specialises in securities. There is no need for an adviser to have the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) accreditation in order to identify themselves as a financial planner. A financial advisor may help customers develop financial plans, sell financial products, or do a mix of the two. They may also be able to give information about saving.