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What does a Chief Financial Advisor do?

Kevin P. Hanson
Kevin P. Hanson

A chief financial advisor or chief financial officer is a recognized leader in a financial planning and advising organization. Financial advising and planning is where professionally trained analysts use their monetary and economic expertise to assist businesses, governments, and individuals in working toward their financial goals. They assess all facets of the client's finances and prepare both long-term and short-term plans. Chief financial advisors ideally strive to find a balanced investment income, usually through relatively safe options, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Corporations and governments often incorporate a chief financial advisor or chief financial officer to their executive staff. His or her primary duties often include the planning and managing of the organization's financial objectives within the confines of its budget and ensuring the accuracy of fiscal reports to stockholders, in the case of publicly traded companies, and to the general public. Mergers and acquisitions, investments and managing the inherent risks involved, and supervising the implementation of money-raising strategies can all fall under a chief financial advisor's purview.

A chief financial advisor may be asked to submit reports to a board of trustees or group of shareholders that covers a specific project.
A chief financial advisor may be asked to submit reports to a board of trustees or group of shareholders that covers a specific project.

The method of payment and the amount of fees charged differs from one financial advisor to another. Fee-based financial advisors receive a stipend or commission on investment products they sell in addition to the fee charged for their planning services. Some advisors are only paid via commission. Others receive payment solely from their clients via a pre-arranged or negotiated percentage of the assets they manage for them.

A chief financial advisor reviews a client's finances and creates short- and long-term plans.
A chief financial advisor reviews a client's finances and creates short- and long-term plans.

Most jurisdictions require financial advisors to attain licensure prior to working in that location. These requirements differ by area, based on the types of financial products sold by the advisor. In order to become a financial advisor or chief financial advisor, a person will need to research the registration and certification requirements for financial advisors in the location in which he or she wants to work. In the US, registration is managed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state regulators. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is the primary organization in charge of certifying financial advisors.

The chief financial advisor of a company must ensure the accuracy of fiscal reports to stockholders.
The chief financial advisor of a company must ensure the accuracy of fiscal reports to stockholders.

The requirements a chief financial advisor, financial planner, or personal financial advisor must meet to gain professional certification are three-fold. Candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree. A minimum of three years of financial advising experience is also mandated in many cases. Once these two eligibility requirements are met, applicants are qualified to take the certification exam. Successful completion of this exam, along with fulfilling the education and experience requirements, bestows upon the financial advisor the title of Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Discussion Comments

anon88115

I found a Chief Advice Officer that fits your article - Bob Schumann from People’s Financial Advisor. These guys are fee-only certified planners and registered with the SEC. They offer a free financial assessment (everyone should at least do that) and a full financial plan for $99. The entire interaction is online.

I had an interview on their website and after several days got a full report that talked to me in plain English about my situation. It's worth every dollar I paid for it.

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    • A chief financial advisor may be asked to submit reports to a board of trustees or group of shareholders that covers a specific project.
      By: Rido
      A chief financial advisor may be asked to submit reports to a board of trustees or group of shareholders that covers a specific project.
    • A chief financial advisor reviews a client's finances and creates short- and long-term plans.
      By: Marlee
      A chief financial advisor reviews a client's finances and creates short- and long-term plans.
    • The chief financial advisor of a company must ensure the accuracy of fiscal reports to stockholders.
      By: Duey
      The chief financial advisor of a company must ensure the accuracy of fiscal reports to stockholders.