Expat financial advisors in India 2021 – what are your options?

Expat financial advisors in India 2021 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

I will compare some of the options available locally, alongside more portable, online and international options like what we offer.

For any questions, or if you are looking to invest as an expat, you can contact me using  this form, or via the WhatsApp function below.

It makes sense to have a portable option as an expat, as opposed to a localised one, and that is something we specialise in. 

Introduction

Originality, exoticism, contrasts and contradictions – distant India gives people a complete set without exceptions. The country of South Asia, where summer is all year round, mesmerizes with the beauty of its landscapes. 

They do business here, perform miracles, go into nirvana. Finally, people live here – usually or unusual. And what is the difference in the standard of living of immigrants?

The overall statistics of the standard of living in the country does not look the best. Compared to other countries, India is in the 106th place. The purchasing power of the Indian population is low (139th place). Another important indicator is the level of education of the population – 135th place. It must be admitted that India is a rather poor country.

Assessing the state of well-being of Indian society, a European expat in the street have all the risk of getting a mild shock. Half a million Indians live on 50 cents a day, which is almost impossible in other countries. 

Another 20% of the population can afford to spend no more than two dollars a day on living. At the same time, food prices in India are actually analogous to US or European prices.

Expats are attracted by India with its warm climate, exoticism and marriage contracts. There are many examples when foreign entrepreneurs associate business with an exotic country.

Work for expats in India

The situation with employment with a population of 1.3 billion people is theoretically self-explanatory. It is very difficult for an immigrant to get a job in India. Even if he is an immigrant, he is a so-called expat – a highly qualified foreign worker.

Naturally, we are talking about legal employment. However, there are quite a few citizens who are trying to get a job by visiting India on a tourist visa. 

The authorities react very negatively to such facts and expel them from the country. Meanwhile, the shadow employment in the Indian labor market reaches 70%.

To be eligible for a work visa, an expat must earn at least $ 2,100 per month. In total, this is more than $ 25 thousand per year. The most profitable option for an immigrant is employment in some foreign company operating in India. Such companies usually set salaries close to the European average.

Positions that expats can apply for

The downside is the lack of demand for emigrants, even in the market for low-paid ancillary work. They simply will not be allowed at the state level to take a position for which an indigenous resident can be employed. No more than 1% of jobs are allocated to the share of foreigners in the staff of companies, which, as a rule, go to specially invited highly qualified specialists, their wages exceed $ 26,000 per year.

Severe punitive measures are applied against foreigners who decide to find work in the illegal sector. Since, as a result, there is no opportunity to legally confirm their income, the prospect of obtaining even a permanent residence permit, not to mention permanent residence, becomes most often mythical.

Reasons to start a business in India

India is a unique and diverse country, which economy is increasingly integrating in the global economy. The extensive economic reforms undertaken in the last decade have had far-reaching consequences. 

This country is called unique, fastest growing, and many popular and powerful companies think it will become a global source.

India is a very big and constantly growing market, with developing infrastructure, and a complex financial sector. It has a flexible environment, a stable and good economic outlook, which make itself an attractive investment destination. 

India’s business environment is conducive to achieving excellence and continued growth. In 2021, the GDP of India per capita is about $ 7,400, this can tell us everything.

Despite a poor life of citizens, India is considered to be a lucrative market for doing business both in the past and now. Foreign investment is indicative of the promising future of the Indian economy. 

According to experts, it is India and China, emerging market countries, that will play an important role in revitalizing world trade. For this reason, an increasing number of foreign conglomerates are interested in investing in these markets.

India’s economy allows entrepreneurs to use maximum opportunities to expand their own business. Reforms that promote business development are considered to be the main benefit.

Here are a few amazing advantages which can lead investors to do business in India:

• Scale for sustainable performance
• Organized employment
• Opportunity to save on production costs
• An enabling environment for startups
• Business-friendly legislation

These business-friendly laws make it easier for international players to pursue their plans to enter India. The implementation of these bills will increase the efficiency of moving goods across India.

But the most important law is the law on the acquisition of land property, which combines two important goals: on social justice and on the industrial development of the country.

Being expat, and wanting to do business in India can be risky, as you are new to the environment and laws, so this will make you face some problems and issues. This is why sometimes expats feel the need of a financial advisor, who can give them valuable information and advices on how to move forward. 

Here in this article we will mainly talk about who a financial advisor is and review two types: local and online advisors. Usually local financial advisors are those who have a local experience and can advice you for example the most suitable bank for opening a savings account, or the best money transferring company with a cost-effective prices, etc. 

And the online financial advisor is the one who will give you the same advices only on a virtual platforms. Continue reading to find out more and useful information. 

Who is a financial advisor?

Sometimes even successful people need coaches. Businessmen, corporate CEOs, and entrepreneurs have trusted advisors to help improve performance. So how can you communicate this to potential clients who need help meeting their financial goals? After all, when it comes to saving and investing for the future, they shouldn’t be doing it alone.

A financial advisor is a professional who helps people manage their funds in the most efficient way, thereby ensuring their financial peace of mind. There are many benefits to working with an independent financial advisor. It also explains why more and more people are turning to them.

Here are some of the benefits of having an independent financial advisor – if you think any of these aspects can help you with your financial planning, you should go ahead and hire one:

Professional guidance

While you are best at deciding how you want to manage your finances, getting advice from financial advisors can be a good idea. These professionals have completed several trainings and are highly qualified. Moreover, with years of experience, they can better advise you on where to invest at the moment. This is because they have dealt with various financial problems and are thus highly aware of what works and what does not, based on the individual needs and goals of each person.

No tax problems

Huge amounts of taxes on investments and assets can surpass the very purpose of their ownership. A good financial advisor understands this and organizes your finances in such a way that your tax expenses are kept to a minimum. High taxes mean low returns. Even seemingly promising investments can turn out to be the wrong decision due to the taxes associated with them. An independent financial advisor will help you here. They will not only help you reduce taxable profits, but also keep you up to date with the latest tax laws and amendments.

Managing your finances

In a fast and progressive world, you already have a lot to do. Even though you want to, it is possible that you will find it difficult to take time out of your busy schedule to manage your finances. With a financial advisor by your side, you don’t have to worry about your money. These professionals use their skills and experience to make sure your money is good. While you work, financial advisors can make your money work for you. They will take care of a wide range of economic issues and responsibilities on your behalf and find the best ways to create wealth.

You can benefit from their experiences and views

Financial advisors not only have many years of experience, but also have a clear point of view. They analyze your financial decisions from a long-term perspective, which is a must for a successful investment. They also balance your decisions and help make sure emotions don’t affect your return on investment.

Investments are checked regularly

The importance of analyzing your investments cannot be overstated. It is only when you track the performance of your investments that you know how well they are meeting your goals. An independent financial advisor tracks your investments and sends you regular reports. They can also better tell you if you should keep investing or withdrawing funds based on their market review.

Local financial advisors

The difference between a local financial advisor and other financial advisor types is actually the difference between a professional services approach and a product-specific approach. Of course there is an advantage of a rich local experience.

Having a local financial advisor has one key benefit. Choosing a local financial advisor allows you to meet with someone who will advise you according to the specific location rules. 

National firms cannot afford this. Even if you are comfortable doing business online, there will inevitably be times when you want to meet and speak honestly with the person who is giving you advice.

Other financial advisory companies tend to divide their workload into separate departments. Your “advisor” is most likely the account manager, who acts as a buffer between you and some of the other people in the back office who are actually doing the work. 

Your “planning” probably comes from the planning department; your investment analysis most likely comes from an analyst who is distant from what really matters in your life, and those who actually implement the strategy usually see you as just a bunch of “buys” and “sells” that they make each trade day. You simply won’t be able to meet with a real “advisor” because these responsibilities have been divided among several people in different offices.

On the other hand, you should be able to meet with a consultant if you choose an independent service-oriented consulting firm. Again, hiring a local financial advisor is optional, but for most, face-to-face meetings bring a host of benefits.

Most “consultants” in large financial companies such as banks, will receive some or all of their compensation for selling you a product, be it stocks, bonds, mutual funds, insurance policies, or annuities. 

This creates an inevitable conflict of interest. The securities laws in this country recognize this fact and require these “consultants” to be at a lower level. This is called the “suitability” standard, which means they only need to consider whether the products they sell are suitable for your broad investment profile.

The highest standard is the “fiduciary” standard. An independent consultant, either online or local who agrees to abide by this standard is required by law to always put your best interests first. 

These consultants never sell a product, take a commission, or do anything else that might cause a conflict of interest. They weigh all the factors in your situation before making any recommendations. Their advice is 100% objective. Whether you hire a local financial advisor or not, we strongly believe that the most important thing is that they are objective and put their clients first. Talking about online financial advisors, let’s talk a little about them.

Online financial advisors

It’s not hard to see the attractiveness of partnering with the online financial advisor. The idea that you can work wherever you can put your laptop and connect to the Internet cannot leave many people indifferent, especially expats.

You can fill your practice with ideal prospects across the country, not just those living in your zip code. You can make your schedule flexible and your overheads will be really low.

However, the reality of running an online financial consulting firm is not like a brochure. Advisors who want to be successful must acquire a new set of digital influencer skills. 

The competition is fierce and well funded. In this article, we’ll explore a few important reasons why an online advisor presents a unique set of challenges.

More and more young consultants are entering the profession and want to work remotely, without the restrictions associated with their zip code. 

Niche marketing is growing in popularity and consultants are using technology more and more accurately to reach their target audience every year. Finally, many consumers demand affordable financial advice that is right for them – and not related to product sales.

After all, modern technology is making the physical office less relevant. Nearly all transactions and interactions can be processed digitally, from invoice transfers to meetings.

Working with a financial advisor on the Internet is no different from working with a financial advisor in person. The difference is that instead of going to your consultant’s office for financial advice, the interaction takes place on the Internet. Communication methods can vary from one consultant to another, but can include email, chat, or video conferencing.

As far as the range of services that an online financial advisor can offer, they can help with things like:

• Family budgeting or adjusting a budget you already have
• Developing a plan to pay off credit cards, student loans, or other debts
• Discussing retirement goals and creating a savings and investment plan.
• Maximize your savings and investment opportunities in tax-exempt and tax-exempt accounts
• We offer advice on specific investments
• Offers Savings Guide for Colleges including 529 Plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and ways to manage withdrawals to avoid negative tax implications
• Long-term financial planning, including discussions on life insurance, annuities, social benefits and the need for long-term care insurance
• When to adjust your plan based on important life events such as marriage, childbirth, or divorce.
• Estate planning and outdated planning, including what documents you need and how to minimize taxes

In short, an online finance consultant can help you put together a comprehensive plan for managing your finances at different stages in your life. Each advisor is different in what they specifically offer, but it can give you an idea of ​​what you can get in exchange for your time and money when working with an advisor online.

Like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to consider when getting financial advice from anyone online. As far as professionals go, here are some of the biggest benefits of using an online financial advisor:

1. Financial tracking can be easier. With a traditional advisor, you may have to wait for the quarterly update to check your financial progress. On the other hand, an online consultant may offer a digital dashboard that you can use to track your financial situation at any time. They may also offer other useful tools like online calculators to help you manage your finances.
2. The response time may be shorter. It may be easier to communicate with your consultant if they are available via email, chat, video chat, or instant messenger. And they can answer your questions faster, instead of waiting for them to call back or schedule a personal meeting.
3. Fees can be lower. Each financial advisor charges a commission differently. An online consultant can have a lower price tag if they have less overhead because their business is completely digital. Fewer commissions mean you will be able to retain more of your investment income over time.

Today, with many online financial advisors specializing in helping clients with specific occupations, family needs, or life priorities, you are more likely to find your ideal financial advisor by expanding your options to advisors across the country.

Of course, you can still meet in person when you are in the same area. And you can find the best financial advisor who lives nearby and offers the opportunity to meet online whenever you want.

But in the new world that the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in, combined with the technology and tools that allow us to meet online wherever we are, it’s time to rethink how to find the perfect financial advisor for your individual needs.

How to choose an online financial advisor?

Whether you are planning to hire a financial advisor who lives nearby or a virtual financial advisor hundreds of miles away, it is important to interview several advisors to find out how they work with clients and make sure you are comfortable talking to them.

Many of the questions you can ask an online financial advisor are the same questions you would ask when interviewing an advisor for work in person. This includes:

• Do you work with clients whose circumstances are similar to mine?
• What services do you offer? (e.g. financial planning, investment advice, etc.)
• How do you charge for your services?
• What is your experience as a financial advisor?
• What financial certifications do you have?

 Questions you can ask the online advisor include:

• How long have you been working through virtual platforms?
• What do your clients like most about working with you?
• What technologies and tools will we use for the meeting?
• Can you describe a typical meeting?
• How often should I expect to hear from you after our meetings?
• How do you keep the information we share confidential?

Whether you choose to work with a consultant in person or virtually, your goal in deciding who you hire should be the same. You are looking for a trusted finance professional with professional training and experience to help you achieve your financial goals.

Pained by financial indecision? Want to invest with Adam?

Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters, with over 275.4 million answers views on Quora.com and a widely sold book on Amazon