Is Outsourcing Right for You?
Ask Yourself These 3 Questions to Find Out
We offer outsourced investment management with a high level of service that we believe is worth far more than our low, flat fee. But even so, outsourcing might not be for everyone.
When advisors who haven’t outsourced before contact us, we talk a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing. There are many things to consider, including what’s best for your clients and what’s best for you and your practice. Asking yourself these three questions could help you determine whether or not outsourcing investment management has the potential to add value to you and your practice:
- What’s your passion?
If you’re a CFA Charterholder and you geek out over quantitative analysis, outsourcing might leave you feeling like you’re missing out on the pleasure of managing your clients’ investments yourself. However, if you pride yourself in being a holistic financial planner, or if you found yourself in this business because you’re a “people person” who loves the relational aspect of this profession, then outsourcing could be a helpful way to stay more focused on what you really enjoy.
- Where do your talents lie?
An honest assessment of what you do best can go a long way in honing a personal career path or business plan. What is your skill set? What do people consistently compliment you on as it relates to the work you do? I call people’s prominent strength their “personal genius” and I think it’s incredibly important to know yours. If you need some help figuring this out, there are countless tools such as StrengthsFinder that provide you with assessments.
- What are your goals?
Are you in growth mode? Or maybe you’re preparing for retirement and trying to come up with a succession plan. Perhaps you’re happy with your current client base and want to maintain the status quo with your practice. Whether your goals are current and short-term, or evergreen and long-lasting, they will drive decisions you make. Even if eventually outsourcing is the best course of action for you, it might not make sense for you today. Getting clear in your mind what you are working toward will help you know whether outsourcing will improve or hinder your business.
If you would like a deeper dive into this topic, you might find this piece, Should You Outsource Your Investment Management?, helpful. It contains statistics, research, and objective facts.
If you would like to have a conversation with us about this topic, please reach out to us at info@firstascentam.com or through our website.