See full profile: Edgemead Financial Advisor- Brian Groom
Were you always planning to be a Financial Advisor and why?
No, I have always been interested in the natural environment & so planned when young to enter the field of geography, geology & environmental sciences. I am a Sanparks honorary ranger when not advising clients.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?
I mostly go to my clients
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Face to Face, WhatsApp
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about being a financial advisor?
Getting to meet interesting people with a passion for what they do. It also allows me to make a difference in my community.
Would you recommend becoming a financial advisor as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Yes, for the reasons mentioned above. It also allows one to learn about one's own financial planning & how to successfully achieve one's own financial goals. One receives a sense of satisfaction from helping others with integrity.
What qualities should South Africans be looking for in their financial advisor?
Integrity, empathy, knowledge & the ability & willingness to listen
What is the biggest challenge facing financial advisors today?
The time spent on paperwork as a result of enforced regulation
What aspects of financial advising do you focus on most?
Investment portfolio compilation, both local and offshore as well as risk analysis to ensure that a client's financial plan is backed-up by sufficient financial security in the event of a temporary or permanent inability to work or early death
Describe your average client:
I work with various types of people. Some are financially secure & they require someone to manage their local and offshore investment portfolios, while others are younger and wish to build their portfolios to secure their future over the medium & the longer term. Mainly mature in age, but I have a growing group of younger families too who are serious about their financial planning.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
In Australia, Johannesburg, Durban.
From your financial advising experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons financial goals, what would it be?
Many South Africans have been precluded from being made aware of how to plan financially able to earn sufficiently by colonialism & also apartheid & also because they were not shown how to do so by the role models.
What financial software do you like best?
Xplan, Integrated Wealth Tool, Allan Gray's investment tools,
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Zoom, whatsapp,
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some financial advisor jobs and why/why not?
No, I believe that our knowledge and ability to communicate human to human is paramount & that these tools will serve to enhance our professionalism and time efficiency.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
It is for speculators who wish to try their hand at an extremely risky, but exciting method of gambling. It does certainly not form part of serious financial planning.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Reading South African history & biographies, Surfing, SUPing, walking, supporting local charities & working as a honorary ranger in Wilderness & other national parks & watching Liverpool FC!
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
Tomorrow!
What has your experience been on FindanAdvisor?
I get the odd referral every few months.
