Expat financial advisor in the Bahamas – that will be the title of this 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 localized one, and that is something we specialize in.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The process of lump-sum investments in the Bahamas is quite attractive to expat today. Considering its impressive reputation in terms of its banking sector, cost of living, and the country’s economy, the financial advisor service is quite impressive. In fact, the Bahamas is actually known over the world.
Just as a tax haven and extending many other incentives to investors as made possible by the country’s stable economic, social and political conditions. The Bahamas is one of the countries with low cost of living and affordable lifestyles. Depending on your risk profile, a financial consultant can help you select the right asset class to help you attain your financial goal.
Besides, the Bahamas is a country full of expectations. It is actually known for extending many other incentives to investors. That’s why it pays to understand the financial terms and advisory services in the country before you relocate. But before we proceed, you should have heard of the term financial advisor, right?
Of course, a financial advisor is a professional who provides different financial services to clients based on their financial situation. In many countries like the Bahamas, United States, Croatia, and many others, financial advisors must complete specific training and be registered with a regulatory body in order to provide advice.
Not to worry, we have compiled this article to explain what you need to know about expat financial advisors in the Bahamas. We will walk you through the main services provided by a financial advisor, their benefits, financial terms, and many others, to mention a few. Does that sound interesting? Read further!
Services Provided by a Professional Financial Advisor
In a nutshell, a financial advisor helps people manage their money by giving or rendering professional advice. Typically, there’s an investing component to their services, but not all financial advisors do that. Some financial advisors, often accountants or lawyers specializing in trusts and estates, are considered wealth managers. In fact, one of their primary functions is protecting client wealth.
Well, other financial advisors are known as money managers or investment advisors. They often have a finance background or business school and could have worked for an investment bank to have the experience. But generally, their emphasis is on educating clients. Check some of their services below.
- Education saving planning and tax planning
- Insurance planning and risk management
- Cash flow analysis and portfolio management
- Estate planning and small business planning
- Retirement planning/debt management
- Charitable or legacy planning
Additionally, the financial advisor offers investment management that are designed to improve your investment strategy, monitor your portfolio, and rebalance it when necessary. Moreover, this can be on a discretionary basis, where the advisor has the authority to make trades without your approval.
Financial planning, on the other hand, often involves the creation of a financial plan for your finances. This will detail a series of steps to take to achieve your financial goals, including an investment plan that you can implement on your own. However, you need to understand how the advisory process works.
How Do Financial Advisors Work Today?
The services of a financial advisor vary depending on what you want. Sometimes, as a wealth management specialist, you may get help whenever you’re struggling to find the right investment solution locally. Not only is that, but financial advice services can help you achieve financial independence, no matter where you are in the world.
Meanwhile, advisors are members of a professional organization. This tends to mean that they might be a broker who also gives investment advice. Now, instead of a fiduciary standard, they legally must follow a suitability standard. This means that there’s a reasonable basis for their investment recommendation.
Furthermore, you should also know that advisors use their knowledge and expertise to construct personalized financial plans that aim to achieve clients’ financial goals. More so, their plans include investments and budgets, savings, insurance, and tax strategies, among others.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor
While many people think choosing the right financial advisor requires a daunting process, we can tell you that it’s never daunting if you follow the right process. As compiled by Forbes, finding a good financial advisor can help you avoid unnecessary costs and focus on goals.
Well, financial advisors aren’t just for rich people, as you think. Instead, working with an advisor is a great choice for anyone who wants to get their personal finances on track and set long-term objectives. Follow the steps below to understand how you’ll be able to choose the right financial advisor in the Bahamas.
1. Decide the Help You Need
You can’t expect a financial advisor to speak on your behalf. And that’s why before you speak to a financial advisor, decide which aspects of your financial life you need help with. When you first sit down with a financial advisor, you’ll want to be ready to explain your particular money management needs.
However, keep in mind that financial advisors provide more than just investment tips or advice. In fact, the best financial planner is the one who can help you chart a course for all your financial needs. In that case, the process will cover investment advice for retirement plans, insurance product suggestions, debt repayments, estate planning, and many others, to mention a few.
2. Know the Right Person
Learning about the different types of financial advisors is good but knowing the right person is the best. Now, how do you know the right person? Well, there’s no federal law that regulates who can call themselves a financial advisor or provide financial advice. While many people call themselves financial advisors, not all of them have the skills. That’s why you have to carefully evaluate and ensure they are good.
But not to worry, our team of professional financial advisors has you covered with any financial advisory services. Also, regardless of which kind of advisor you choose, you should ensure you know their source of income. This truly helps you determine if their recommendations are actually better. On the flip side, check below how to think about the different types of financial advisors.
● Fee-only Financial Advisory Service – The fee-only financial advisors, earn money from the fees you pay for their services and plans. These fees may be charged as a percentage of the assets they manage for you, at a flat rate or as an hourly rate. Also, almost all fee-only financial advisors are fiduciaries, and generally speaking, they have chosen to work under a fee-only model to reduce any potential conflicts of interest.
● Commission-Based Financial Advisors – Some financial advisors make money by earning sales commissions from third-party applications or methods. Among financial advisors that earn sales commissions, some may advertise themselves as free financial advisors that do not charge you fees for advice. Meanwhile, others may charge fees, meaning they derive only part of their income from the third-party commissions.
● Registered Investment Advisors – Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are companies that provide fiduciary financial advice professionally. They employ investment advisor representatives who are bound by fiduciary duty. Aside from this fact, a registered investment advisor may have one or hundreds of registered investment advisors working for it.
● Robo-Advisors – Have you ever heard of Robo-advisors? Well, if that sounds new to your hearings, worry less as we’ve got you covered. They offer low-cost, automated investment advice and are most especially good in helping people invest for mid and long-term goals, like retirement, through preconstructed diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). People with complex financial needs should probably choose a conventional financial advisor, although many Robo-advisors provide financial planning services for higher net worth clients
3. Check the Services You Want
Services offered by financial advisors vary from advisor to advisor. Moreover, their services depend on what you need, but it would be better to know the kind of services rendered by a professional financial advisors. On the other hand, you can check the following to know the kind of services rendered.
● Investment Advice – Financial advisors make different research to ensure that you get the right investment and financial advisory plans. Not only is that, but they research different options and ensure that your investment portfolio stays within your desired level of risk.
● Debt Management – As discussed earlier, debt management is another service to consider when choosing the right financial advisor. If you have outstanding debts, such as student loans, car loans, mortgages, or credit card debt, financial advisors will work with you to chart a repayment plan.
● Budgeting and Insurance Coverage – Of course, all financial advisors must have budgeting and insurance coverage. Financial advisors are experts in analyzing where your money goes once it leaves your paycheck. Also, advisors can help you craft budgets, so you’re prepared to reach your financial goals. Besides, they examine your current policies to identify any gaps in coverage or by recommending new types of policies, like disability insurance or long-term care coverage, depending on what you want.
● Estate and Retirement Planning – Estate and retirement planning are basically meant for those who wish to leave a legacy. This way, financial advisors can help you transfer your wealth to the next generation, whether that’s family, friends, or through a charitable cause. Not only is that, but they could help you build funds for the ultimate long-term goal.
4. Decide How Much You’d Pay
Since you know that the professional service of a financial advisor isn’t free, you should decide the amount of money you’d love to pay. As of today, advisors offer a wide variety of fee structures, which helps make their services accessible to clients of all levels of financial means. That being said, you need to make your decision by knowing the best advisors and the amount to pay them after the services.
5. Research the Best Financial Advisor
Which one do you think is cool? The online financial advisor or the local ones? Well, as a professional, an online financial advisor is quite preferable as they can offer different services within your reach. This way, if you want to choose anyone, especially in the Bahamas, it’s quite better to research well.
However, you can find a good advisor in a couple of ways. You can ask friends, family, and peers for recommendations. Alternately, look for financial advisors online and understand the right planning associations that provide free databases of financial advisors like XY planning network and others.
Required Skills for a Financial Advisor
Since we all agreed that financial advisors are professionals who help clients manage their monetary resources, it’s quite essential to know the skills involved. Moreover, have it in mind that this position requires various soft and hard skills, as well as knowledge of the finance industry. In this section, we discuss the examples of financial advisor skills in the workspace and how to showcase them.
● Proficiency in Business Development Skills
Proficiency in business development is nothing but a must-have for a financial advisor. It allows them to create performance objectives and track their sales figures. Also, financial advisors may work closely with other members of the organization, such as suppliers and estate agents. Besides, this development skill is used to conduct presentations for management and negotiate prices for products.
● Research and Wealth Management Skills
When a client seeks financial assistance from an expert, extensive research about the client’s financial history is essential. And this is their duty by examining how the client’s previous money management contributed to their current situation.
Also, advisors should investigate different ways to achieve the client’s financial goals, including making strategic investments in stocks or properties. Meanwhile, since they understand how to achieve and maintain wealth, a skill they use to advise clients on earning and managing their money is quite essential as well.
● Analytical Thinking & Interpersonal Communication
Analytical thinking gives financial advisors the tools to adjust to changing circumstances and diverse solutions to many problems. A good example is when clients express their financial goals, but they have limited monetary resources to achieve them. As a professional advisor, you need to analyze the clients’ state and make suggestions that can produce a positive outcome without wasting funds.
● Detail Orientation & Risk Assessment
Detail orientation is one of the skills advisors need to have to deliver their services. You should need to pay attention to the client’s request to gain insight into the type of investment they want. However, it’s also the responsibility of the financial advisor to assess and manage risks before they deliver advice to their clients. More so, this occurs during the research process, where advisors anticipate challenges clients may face as they strive to achieve wealth.
Bahamas Banking and Finance 2021
Undoubtedly, Bahamas banking and finance is primarily governed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBB) pursuant to the Banks and Trust Companies Regulations. That being said, banks are also subject to regulations by the financial intelligence Unit with respect to anti-money laundering and financial terrorism. Also, there are many rules when it comes to obtaining a banking license in the Bahamas. Without further ado, let’s quickly walk you through the process.
- Bahamas residents – This entails that the licensee may only provide services to residents for exchange control purposes
- Bahamas Non-residents – It entails that the licensee may only provide services to persons that are non-residents for exchange control purposes
- Bahamas Restricted – This means only the licensee may take on as clients specifically authorized by the CBB. Besides, it should be noted that, as a matter of policy, the CBB may decide to discontinue the issuance of restricted banking licenses.
Furthermore, there are many types of banks operating in the Bahamas, but we will walk you through the best five in this article. As an expat, you should know that opening a new account is essential. This way, it’s quite okay to open the right account types in your chosen banks. They include the following;
HSBC Banks in the Bahamas
Since the Bahamas is a financial hub, numerous banks operate internationally in this country. They specialize in creating ways to protect individuals’ wealth now and in the future. Aside from this fact, they provide wealth planning solutions, trustees, and other fiduciary services that take into account international aspects of individual life.
Citibank in the Bahamas
Citibank in the Bahamas is another place where you can open a bank account conveniently in the country. It began operation in 1960, and for more than 50 years, it has provided corporate and investment banking services in the country. Surprisingly, Citibank has Global Corporate and investment banking.
Barclays in the Bahamas
Barclays bank is an international bank in the Bahamas. They offer clients a way to protect their wealth by investing in financially and politically stable centers. Not only is that, but they offer accounts checking, savings deposits, money market, mortgage, loan services, many more things, to mention a few.
Scotiabank
Scotiabank, a subsidiary of the bank of Nova Scotia, is a company headquartered in Nassau. This financial institution provides commercial banking services that allow expats and locals to have a comfortable and convenient banking system. Here, saving is easy, and you can also get rewarded for everyday spending.
Why do Expats Need a Financial Advisor?
There are many benefits of working with an advisor in today’s digital world. In fact, expats need sound financial planning to tackle their financial needs and plan well while traveling to a new country. While finding a specialist financial advisor can be difficult, but below are the reasons for hiring an advisor.
a) Education and Guidance
What’s your advisor’s angle, providing adequate information about what you need or pushing products? Regardless of what you need, always remember that you need guidance to make the right decision. And this is when the service of a financial advisor comes in. That’s why we urge you not to be afraid to ask questions to ensure your advisor is offering personalized guidance so you can make informed decisions.
b) Resource and Adequate Support
As an expat moving to a new destination for the first time, the power of support and resources cannot be overemphasized. That being said, when financial matters are at their most challenging, the best thing is to visit a professional financial advisor. And can your advisor give you the confidence that everything is under control?
c) Sustainability and Impact
There’s much more to the service of a financial adviser than just thinking about advice. They help you with the full range of impact investments, allowing you to direct your wealth to create change. For this reason, your advisor should be able to tell you how to be useful and sustain yourself with the amount of money you have.
d) Create a Personal Connection
The service of a financial advisor is more than just money but to also building a personal connection. Ask yourself if your advisor understands where you’re coming from. By choosing the right financial advisor, you can create a personal connection and seek their guidance or advice to any country you relocate to. That’s why. An online financial advisor is quite easier and accessible, unlike the local financial advisor.
e) Access to Home Loans
In any country you decide to relocate to, the service of a financial expat will sure play its part. Whenever you think everything is difficult, you should always remember that financial advisors have got you covered. They’ll help you research and identify the right place to access a home loan or how to build your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bahamas Advisors
Are Bahamas banks safe?
Of course, Bahamas banks, much like the Swiss banks, are known for their privacy and security measures. This way, the Bahamas has privacy laws engineered to protect account information for account holders from all over the world.
Can I get online advisors for the Bahamas?
This is certainly a yes! You can get an online financial advisor for the Bahamas. In fact, you don’t need to worry, as we’re here to cover all your financial advisor services. We are an expert that provides different services to meet your requirement. So, be rest assured that you’re on the right track for a better decision.
Conclusion
Living in the Bahamas can be pretty costly. However, you need the service of a financial advisor to help you make the right decision about living in the country with your budget. Nonetheless, there are plenty of ways in which life in the Bahamas can seem appealing. If you want to experience that, refer to our team of financial advisors today.
Pained by financial indecision? Want to invest with Adam?
Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters, with over 335.1 million answers views on Quora.com and a widely sold book on Amazon
