See full profile: Bryanston Financial Advisor- Brendan Harris
Were you always planning to be a Financial Advisor and why?
To be honest not really. After having worked in financial services for many years I realized that I have a firm grasp of the various insurances and investment products available to people. Family and friends often ask me financially related questions and I enjoy searching for the best possible solution. Being a financial planner is clearly a good fit for me.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go theirs?
Mostly online via Zoom or Teams
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Face to Face
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about being a financial advisor
Some people know exactly where they're headed with their finances and that's great. Others are sometimes overwhelmed with everything that needs to be considered and the decisions that need to be made. I love it when people take charge of their finances and become confident with where they're headed.
Would you recommend becoming a financial advisor as a career for school-leavers, and why?
For sure. It's a great career choice and you never stop learning.
What qualities should South Africans be looking for in their financial advisor?
To do their job properly your advisor needs to understand your assets and liabilities, income and expenses. To be comfortable enough to provide this information you have to trust your advisor immensely.
What is the biggest challenge facing financial advisors today?
People don't enjoy sitting down and talking about their will, the risks they face and money in general. I get that but it's not really helpful to avoid these topics at all.
What aspects of financial advising do you focus on most?
Mitigating a family's risks and building wealth. These objectives change over time and need to be readjusted over one's life stages.
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some financial advisor jobs and why/why not?
A human touch will remain paramount but the tools available to advisors will get better and better.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy the outdoors, hiking or riding a bicycle - it doesn't really matter.
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
I would love to see the 7 wonders of the world.
