How do advisory services differ from portfolio management?  In comparison, an Advisor (Investment Advisor Representative) is the broader term and includes portfolio managers. Advisors work with you to understand your overall financial standing, financial goals, investment preferences, life stage, risk tolerance, etc., and accordingly, seek to offer sound and comprehensive financial advice.  Portfolio managers do not offer professional support in these other important financial matters as they make day-to-day trading decisions on a portfolio of assets.

Advisors help you:

• Create a budget and work effectively to work toward achieving your savings target
• Build an emergency fund based on your situation
• Identify ways to reduce debt
• Set short-term and long-term financial goals
• Create an investment portfolio as per your risk appetite, financial goals, and investment horizon
• Effectively work toward accumulating retirement assets and create a comprehensive retirement plan
• Help you work toward maximizing retirement account benefits and other government financial aid programs like Social Security benefits
• Save effectively for your child’s education expenses
• Work toward minimizing your taxes
• Create a holistic estate plan

Usually, an advisor offers all or most of these services.  Some advisors also offer portfolio management services.  Each type of advisor holds different degrees, certifications, and professional licenses.  Moreover, advisors use different fee structures to charge for their services in advisory relationships.

All Advisors follow a fiduciary duty, in advisory relationships, which means that the investment advisor will place your needs before their own.  Fiduciary  advisors follow an ethical code of conduct.  Hence, they lawfully pledge to act in your best interest at all times.