An individual or an organization needs to manage its wealth well. Although, there are varied economic counsellors, for an organization, a financial analyst provides in-depth and logical inputs and reports to decision makers for a favourable economic outcome. Essentially, he researches macro and micro economic situations, with multiple economic inputs, such as company fundamentals, governmental policies, industry trends, business cycles and competitive environment to make business related industry recommendations. Usually, the financial analysts analyses multiple economic parameters and recommends a view on the likely performance of a company's stock. These stock reports could be based on technical or fundamental analysis.
1. Financial analyst
An individual or an organization needs to manage its wealth well. Although, there are varied economic counsellors, for an organization, a financial analyst provides in-depth
and logical inputs and reports to decision makers for a favourable economic outcome. Essentially, he researches macro and micro economic situations, with multiple economic
inputs, such as company fundamentals, governmental policies, industry trends, business cycles and competitive environment to make business related industry
recommendations. Usually, the financial analysts analyses multiple economic parameters and recommends a view on the likely performance of a company's stock. These
stock reports could be based on technical or fundamental analysis.
As such financial analysts are specialists and experts in their respective domains and are familiar with complex financial models to predict future economic conditions, and
making valid recommendations and conclusions. It needs to be appreciated, that the credibility of the financial analyst and the firm he represents is hugely dependent on the
veracity and analysis deduced by analyst, since this would reflect on the stock price movements enormously.
Functions
Services of top-notch analysts are often requisitioned by investment banks, hedge funds, broking houses, etc, in which they conduct due-diligence, forecasting and measuring
the financial health of a company, while providing proposal to the senior management for buy-outs or for mergers and acquisitions or while investing in a promising start-up
company. Essentially, a financial analyst performs financial analysis for external or internal clients. An analyst thus, will need to comply with all legal and statutory protocol
requirements. There are three segments for a functional analyst:
There are buy side firms such as a mutual fund, where the financial analyst studies various companies, executes analysis and research provides recommendations and ratings
whether to invest in the company. This is purely in-house research.
Conversely, there are sell side firms which are primarily research houses or brokerage firms. They analyze companies and write detailed equity research reports and make the
reports available to the clients on a commercial basis.
In the case of investment banks, the financial analyst’s function is to cover IPOs process and M&A deals. The analyst inputs are vital in these deals.
In the case of corporate financial analyst, he evaluates a firm's functional data, evaluates present versus historical data and provides savings selection schemes. In addition, he
can detect the trends of liquidity by assessing various ratios. They usually normalize the data of different companies to make them facilitate and uniform conducting peer
analysis. This allows the clients are the best to make a perfect decision about their investments and as per their requirements.
Some analysts of finance also referred to as ratings analysts; they assess the capability of governments and companies that provides bonds to reimburse their debits. Based on
their analysis, the rating companies issue the rating of a debt issue of the issuer.
Skills Sets
To be a successful financial analyst, the following skills are necessary:
Sound analytical skills
Passion in analyzing and understanding companies in depth
Robust ability in valuation skills.
comprehensible monetary and quantitative ideas
Capable to build financial model.
Industry expertise in Telecom, Media, Technology, Insurance, Banking, Food & Beverage.
Sturdy systematic and communiqué expertise.
Ethical issues
Recommendations by financial analysts on the stocks and shares owned by organizations utilizing them may seem to be potentially biased. Hence disclosures are mandatory.
Independent researchers are usually preferred, since they are not an investment firm part and neutrality and transparency are high. However, there is a temptation for analysts
to behave as stock sellers and lure investors into "overtrading."
As with any other specialist profession, fees rise with analyst proficiency and reputation. It is also a high stress, high reward and satisfying work.
2. Financial help advisor
Managing one owns money and consistently generating wealth is a complex and arduous task. Indeed, it is difficult to even generate market returns unless one is a financial wizard or plain lucky. Often
times, for a busy common man, understanding complex financial instruments and thereafter making sound investments are very much difficult. It is here that a financial help advisor comes into the
picture.
Financial planning is the process of wisely managing finances so that one can achieve his dreams and goals, while simultaneously negotiating the financial obstacles that may arise in the course of life.
Managing personal finances is ultimately an individual’s responsibility.
Objectives
Financial help advisor forces one to remain disciplined about your financial goals and strategies. He helps a person to:
• Decide on an individual’s personal and financial goals realistically.
• Assess existing economic condition by examining various assets, liabilities, future income stream, tax incidence, real estate plans as well as investment plans.
• Develop a plan that is more comprehensive and realistic, to meet defined financial goals by making the financial matter stronger and reducing monetary weaknesses
• Put the financial plan into action and observe its development. Regularly monitor the set goals and make course corrections or changes as per dynamic financial tax and the market laws.
When does one need a Financial Advisor
An individual would need a financial advisor in certain situations. These could be as follows:
• Preparing a comfortable retirement plan and estate plan
• Handling inheritances or in case of unanticipated financial windfall
• Preparing for a matrimony or separation
• Preparing for the birth and also adoption of a baby
• Facing a monetary emergency such as a severe illness and natural calamity
• Taking care of aging parents and also a disabled kid
• Coping economically with the demise of a spouse or family member
• Funding higher education
• When purchasing, selling or passing on a ancestral business
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
It has been realised CFPs are the most reliable set of financial help advisor. He should be competent, ethical and smart in his financial decisions. He must exhibit complete professional commitment
and a client-centred financial planning process. CFP professionals have an ethical obligation to act in the client’s interest. In the US and many other countries, CFP practitioners are certified and
regulated.
So how are these CFPs paid? There are five usually established methods:
Fee-only: The financial help advisor is compensated completely from costs for plan improvement, consultation, or savings management. These costs can be charged depending on an hour or the project
or even on a fraction of assets under supervision.
Commission-only: Compensation is received exclusively from the trade of monetary products purchased by the client to apply fiscal planning recommendations.
Combination of Fee and Commission basis
Fee-offset: commission from the trade of fiscal products are offset next to the costs charged for the planning method.
Salary: A few planners work on the basis of salary or bonus for a fiscal services firm.
Typically, most expert’s advice that at the beginning, one should choose a CFP who has an hourly charge. These financial help advisors are the most suitable when the needs are fairly simple. Persons’
who are professional Investors, and who aren’t fiduciaries are often held to a lesser standard, also called sustainability standard. There are about 90,000 CFPs globally who provide advice on individual
subjects of retirement planning, investments, tax and estate planning, employee benefits and insurance need. Choose one of them diligently after due validation.
3. What Is The Importance Of
Financial Management Shop?
Financial management is essentially the management of the finances of a business or an organisation so as to achieve its financial objectives. In case we consider a for-profit
business, the key objectives of financial management would be to create wealth for the business and provide an adequate return on investment in keeping with the business
risks and resources invested. There are some highly reputed organizations which have developed into a one-stop place as financial management shop for customers and
provide superior financial services. They have built trust and reliability as their USP.
These shops are boutique services for all forms of financial products and benefits the client as also the company, since the client gets all financial services under one roof,
saving time and costs. For the company, it helps them understand the unique needs of each customer and cross-sell products, maximising revenue.
Objectives
There are two major functional objectives of financial management.
Performing regular finance functions including assessing funds source, allocation and controlling making use of funds in the direction to achieve the primary goal of profit and
wealth maximization.
Non-recurring functions such as preparation of financial plans, managing cash flows during liquidity crisis, enterprise valuation during mergers or Financial Analysis
Functions
Any financial management shop would cater to a variety of financial needs. Some of these functional services include;
Financial Analysis: All companies and businesses have needs which require some level of financial analysis. This could be for product pricing, cost segregation, transfer pricing,
working on ratios for business performance metrics or analysing ways to reduce costs and identify productivity enhancing paths. In such cases, CFAs and other subject- matter
experts involve in reading various reports and financial documents to suggest suitable recommendations to create growth.
Financial Modelling: Unlike plain vanilla what-if analysis, complex financial models are necessary to incorporate intangibles and situational metrics. These models could be
static or dynamic. Normally dynamic models are custom-designed for a specific client and is developed or tailored to obtain multiple situational outcomes. Variables, such as
legislation changes and its impact, risks, cost surges or spikes and monetary turbulence hugely impact business outcomes. Models help in identifying soft areas and take pro-
active steps to counter them. Industry-experienced professionals in such financial management shops are ideally placed to leverage their domain expertise and add value to
business, industry and even the government.
Risk Management: Risk management has assumed great importance in business concerns, particularly financial risks, since markets have become globalised and managing
risks is critical to survival. Financial advisory teams in financial management shops integrate company’s strategic planning with risk mitigation methods for their clients.
Large conglomerates, which operate in multiple geographic regions, need to identify all risks at a granular level and study its impact on the enterprise. These are then
developed into standard processes to ensure failures are negated.
Currency, Commodities and Stock Reports: Most of these boutique financial firms have in-house analysts and economists who regularly analyse trends in world markets in
currencies, oil, commodities and stocks. These are mapped to the regional political environment to identify and advise clients on the emerging investment option.
Financial management is a key element of any company’s overall business strategy. All important parameters, such as profitability, employee satisfaction, compliance, planning
and performance depend on it. Many firms initiate the entire engagement with a detailed financial SWOT Analysis