Managing your finances can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not well-versed in the world of investments, taxes, and other financial matters, and let’s be honest, with all the expertise and time it takes to get proficient in our current job role there isn’t too many of us who have the time nor motivation to delve deep into the aforementioned subjects. That’s where having a financial advisor can be a game-changer. But it doesn’t answer the question ‘is it right for you?’ Let’s explore the benefits and disadvantages of working with a financial advisor to help you answer that question.

1. Expertise and knowledge – Financial advisors have extensive knowledge and expertise in a wide range of financial matters, covering any aspect from taxes, expanding your investment portfolio or ability to strategically plan for a retirement or other fund that you wish to allocate. They can help you understand complex financial concepts, develop realistic financial goals and create a personalised plan to achieve them.
2. Objectivity – Emotions can often be the bane of our finances, what may seem like a great investment because the subject matter is close to our heart can often turn out to be an unwanted nightmare, these tricky things called emotions often cloud our judgement when it comes to financial decisions. Financial advisors can bring objectivity by providing an independent and objective perspective on your finances. They can help you make informed decisions based on your financial situation, not your emotions.
3. Saving time – Managing your finances can be time-consuming, especially if you’re doing it alone or have a noticeable lack of knowledge in the subject area. This is where financial advisors come into their own, they can take care of the legwork, research, and analysis for you, freeing up your time to focus on other things such as that faulty light or the dishes that have been left a fraction too long in the sink. With the advisor doing the hard yards, you can then explore the viable options together, drawing on their knowledge in order to choose the right strategy for you. 
4. Minimising risks Financial advisors have a deep understanding of investment strategies and can help you to create a diversified portfolio that minimises risks while maximising returns. They can also help you avoid costly mistakes that you may make if you’re investing on your own. Their deep knowledge and strategic know-how may just be what you require to help you separate the wheat from the chaff and enact a return on your investment that would have been difficult if not extremely improbable.
5. Long-term planning Financial advisors can help you plan for the long term by identifying potential financial roadblocks and opportunities that may just not be apparent to the untrained eye. Whilst we all have a thousand different interests or duties pulling our attention at any one time, they can help you stay on track to achieve your financial goals and adjust your plan as needed. 

Whilst this seems like a slam dunk I’d be remiss if I did not also outline some of the potential disadvantages of working with a financial advisor.