Arguably the best advantage of being your own boss and running your own business is that your success is a direct result of how much effort you put into the work. If you don’t pay much attention to your business and only treat it as a secondary source of income, then you can expect the returns to come much later.
However, if you give your all into your business and see to it that you’re doing everything you can to make it successful, then the chances of it paying off sooner will be higher. Establishing a business doesn’t stop once you finally see it get off from the ground; it goes beyond that initial step.
To actually gauge the success of your business, you should start generating a profit. Even though breaking even after a few months to a year can already be considered a milestone, it won’t be enough to keep your business running. But when you start making big returns, that’s when you can take a deep breath.
A business will always have risks and that shouldn’t deter you from reaching greater heights. If anything, it should push you to move forward in that direction. But just because you’re taking risks left and right doesn’t mean you can’t protect the assets you already have.
What Is Wealth Management?
In a nutshell, wealth managers are financial advisors for the upper class, and they help individuals plan for their current or future needs. Wealth management is an all-encompassing investment advisory service that can include accounting and tax services, retirement or estate planning, and other financial matters.
So instead of hiring multiple experts, the affluent can hire a wealth manager to take care of their assets and devise ways to grow their money through various financial products or services. The wealth managers can charge assets under management, commission-based, or hourly fees depending on the services required of them.
Wealth management has a lot of advantages, but it can also come with some disadvantages. One reason why it can be difficult to hire a wealth manager is that they often require very high account minimums, such as in millions of dollars that not everyone has.
But that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to manage your wealth or financially plan for your future. If you don’t think you can afford the steep minimums for wealth management firms or advisors, here are some alternatives that you can consider for your financial needs:
For Estate Planning
Contrary to what most people believe, wills, trusts, and estate planning were not only made for the highly affluent. In fact, every individual with substantial assets will need estate planning so that they can ensure that their hard-earned wealth will go to the people they select in the case of their untimely demise.
Since you already have a thriving business to your name, it’s important to consider estate planning even if you have yet to start your family. A wealth manager may not be within your means, but there are plenty of estate planning attorneys with reasonably priced fees that can help you manage your assets.
Through estate planning, you can create a will that describes to whom your assets will be given upon your death and in what manner they are to be given. If there are people that you want to disinherit or be left off your will, this is also your chance to do so.
There are also living wills that usually state what kind of medical directives or treatment you want to receive before you are unable to decide for yourself due to your health condition. For this, your chosen attorney will need to consult with medical professionals to help you make informed decisions.
For Financial Planning
Managing your assets and properties will not be limited to planning what happens after your demise. You can also plan your finances while you’re young and able, to which you will simply require services from experts in the field. In such cases, you will need help from financial advisors.
While wealth managers focus their energies on assisting the upper class, many financial advisors cater to the middle class. Financial planning is for everyone, which means it comes in more ways than one. You may not have millions, but you still have thousands of dollars that need to be managed.
With a trustworthy financial advisor by your side, you can create a comprehensive financial plan that will meet all your current and future needs. This can include handling your personal finances, investment options, and other financial matters that involve your thriving business.
Financial planning is imperative when you have a substantial amount of wealth. Although wealth management might still be currently out of your league, there’s no saying what the future holds. However, since time is of the essence, you must look into the financial planning alternatives that you can afford and begin your journey as a financially responsible entrepreneur.
