See full profile: Newcastle Central Financial Advisor- Darrel Brown
Were you always planning to be a Financial Advisor and why?
I really enjoy making a positive difference in the lives of my clients and assisting them with their finances.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?
My clients come to my office
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
I really am fulfilled when a client comes to us for direction in his/her finances, be it after the death of a loved one, or at retirement or retrenchment, and we can assist them with clarity, direction and total peace of mind with respect to their financial future!
Would you recommend becoming a financial advisor as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Financial planning is a highly regulated profession, but if you enjoy making a positive difference in the lives of others, and can work well with figures, then the long road to a full professional designation in the industry may be well worth the hard work required to be a successful professional financial planner!
What qualities should South Africans be looking for in their financial advisor?
Honesty and experience. An objective, honest review of your financial affairs and not trying to sell you something new if it's not necessary! A track record with referrals from happy clients.
What is the biggest challenge facing financial advisors today?
Regulation, however that is also a good thing to keep the name of the profession a good one! The slow economic times people are faced with also impacts the industry negatively.
What aspects of financial advising do you focus on most?
Retirement planning and investments. We pride ourselves in assisting widows with a future free from financial worry. We are integrated wealth planners with more than 30 years of experience in all areas of financial planning and a solid track record.
Describe your average client:
Our average clients is anyone who takes their financial future seriously and who wishes to have peace of mind for the financial future of their loved ones and themselves, in the case of any eventuality impacting their financial situation, and who wishes to deal with an experienced, honest and professional financial planner.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
Our furthest clients reside abroad, such as Sydney and London, and locally in all areas of South Africa! With technology today clients can be located anywhere to access excellent advice and service delivery. Our team of young planning assistants are up to date with the latest technology and trends in financial planning!
From your financial advising experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons financial goals fail, what would it be?
It would be failing to plan to save enough. A big percentage of those who do save, don’t save appropriately and end up with conservative growth of their money until it is too late.
What financial software do you like best?
Our practice utilises Wealth Integrator and AssetMap to its full capacity - an incredible eye-opening experience for our valued clients!
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
X-Plan, Xero, WhatsApp and many, many more!
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some financial advisor jobs and why/why not?
My view is that a proper financial advisor is someone who has a feel for clients’ needs, empathy and A desire to assist them in achieving a future free from financial worry - this is something that no computer or machine can have. The algorithms merely look at the bare facts, without the person and family behind the money, where the person should be the centre of all decisions made.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
I would personally not touch it!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I farm with a mixed farming operation in NKZN, South Africa, which takes all my spare time!
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
A comfortable retirement without getting bored!
What has your experience been on FindanAdvisor?
Good exposure, thank you!
