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INTERVIEW WITH FINANCIAL ADVISOR EVELYN HERZFELD

See full profile: Paulshof, Sandton Financial Advisor - Evelyn Herzfeld

 

Were you always planning to be a Financial Advisor and why?

Not at all. I wanted to study B.Comm after school but first worked for 10 years in the travel industry before doing my studies part-time at Unisa. On completion I decided it was time to leave the travel industry and moved into financial planning, utilising my years of experience in dealing with people and financial knowledge.

 

When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?

The meeting is arranged in accordance with the wishes of the client

 

What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?

Email, Email when in writing, otherwise I follow client's preference

 

Have you ever done an online video call with a client?

Yes

 

What do you love most about being a financial advisor

The personal interaction, being able to help people, especially in the bad times.

 

Would you recommend becoming a financial advisor as a career for school-leavers, and why?

No, they need to study first, mature, then join a large assurer for good training.

 

What qualities should South Africans be looking for in their financial advisor?

Honesty, Integrity, Intelligence, Empathy, Consistency, Attention to Detail

 

What is the biggest challenge facing financial advisors today?

Searching for investment growth, helping clients to maintain their cover & savings

 

What aspects of financial advising do you focus on most?

Personal risk cover, investment, retirement provisioning and implementation

 

Describe your average client:

40-60+ family, employed (self or not), earning R40k+, with genuine desire to take care of themselves, their families, and their financial future.

 

How far away from your premises is your furthest client?

About 30km

 

From your financial advising experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons financial goals, what would it be?

Excessive debt and withdrawing retirement savings before retirement at the earliest opportunity

 

What financial software do you like best?

Sanport for CRM and administration.

 

What other software, online services or apps do you use?

Morningstar

 

Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some financial advisor jobs and why/why not?

Those starting to save may use Robo-advice, but there will always be people who prefer personal and in depth advice that automation cannot provide.

 

What is your opinion on Bitcoin?

It is a highly risky investment and subject to many scam offers

 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Helping the less fortunate, singing, reading, scrabble, walking my dogs

 

What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?

Visiting Argentina & Peru, and perhaps Alaska

 

What has your experience been on FindanAdvisor?

Generally, those who make contact genuinely want to undertake a proper review in order to optimise their planning within their budget.