Being a financial advisor isn’t easy. Whether your client is an individual, business or even a government, the responsibility in the hands of the advisor is great. It isn’t easy to get money, generally, but it seems like it is all too easy to lose it, so it is good advice for the advisor to proceed with caution.
On the other hand, the person seeking the advice doesn’t need your advice to tell him how to protect his capital with little risk. Most people know that just putting the extra money in the bank each month will bring a nice little savings over time, with a bit of interest to make it worthwhile. This kind of advice is not what people hire financial advisors for. What people need an expert for is to learn how to earn a large amount with the least risk, or how to protect the capital from the tax man, or other ways to make your money work hard for you and not be eaten away by a big tax bite.
This is where insight and a bit of fearlessness come in. A good financial advisor explains the risks, and has a realistic view of the financial landscape. Risk must be assessed, and in many cases taken, to reap the benefits of extra cash on hand to the fullest. A good financial advisor cannot be a wimp, but must plunge into the world of investing with confidence and a real knowledge of risk.