Managing your finances well is important, especially when you have substantial wealth. There are two key pillars that help you with wealth management: Financial and investment planning. While they both serve important purposes to maintain your financial health, they are not the same thing.
It is essential to learn how they differ because this knowledge lets you use each one the right way. When you know their unique roles, it becomes possible to align your financial actions with what you want to achieve. This isn’t just about making calculated choices but also about making the most of your wealth with a clear plan.
Having said that, let’s break down what financial planning and investing are all about, along with their distinct roles and strategies.
What is financial planning?
Financial planning involves a thorough evaluation of your current and future financial situations based on various factors. It covers areas like saving, budgeting, taxes, retirement, insurance, and estate planning and addresses your distinctive needs as a High-Net-Worth Individual (HNI). A financial advisor steps in to provide expertise, assessing every part of your finances like annual consolidated tax calculation, annual cash flow report, net worth statement, etc. After that, their role is to draft a personalised strategy that guides you towards your financial goals.
This plan accommodates both life’s pleasures and obligations, such as luxurious lifestyle needs, asset acquisitions, insurance, business succession, and family planning. All these factors are skilfully incorporated into your financial plan so that your wealth is managed properly while supporting the lifestyle you envision. This is more important for those with high net worth, as it aligns current financial decisions with future aspirations.
What is investment planning?
Investment planning, a subset of financial planning, focuses on building wealth through strategic purchases of assets expected to grow in value. The goal? To maximise profit and meet your financial goals in the most predictable way.
Investment planning is crucial for everyone, but it holds particular significance for HNIs. This is because HNIs often have access to more complex investments like private equity, hedge funds, and structured products. All this calls for in-depth risk assessments, tax optimisation, strategic estate planning, global market trend analysis, and a diversified asset allocation approach.
In response, an investment planner carefully creates both short and long-term strategies. They assess risk profiles, set targets, time market entry, diversify portfolios, monitor global economic trends, suggest tax-efficient investments, predict expected returns, plan for liquidity, and adjust to market and life changes. This dynamic approach helps align your investments with your overall wealth goals.
Financial vs. investment planning | Key differences summarised
| Financial planning | Investment planning |
| Involves assets, liabilities, future plans, and insurance. | Focuses on selecting asset classes and managing investments. |
| May integrate insurance and estate planning. | Concentrates on asset performance and returns. |
| Usually strategic, may adapt to significant changes like business succession, merger, etc. | Needs regular monitoring and adjustments to respond to market fluctuations and economic trends. |
| Aims for long-term financial health and security. | Targets wealth accumulation, capital growth, and specific financial benchmarks. |
| Considers tax implications and strategies. | Prioritises asset allocation and risk management along with tax optimisation through investments. |
| Includes savings and budgeting for financial goals. | Looks at portfolio diversification to mitigate risk. |
| Addresses debt management and emergency funds. | Involves strategising entry and exit points for assets. |
| Integrates lifestyle management, from luxury real estate to memberships. | Driven by market opportunities and investment timing. |
| Financial advisors may also plan for business bankruptcy, health crises, or inheritance windfalls. | Investment planners put more focus on the financial market’s contingencies and swift changes. |
To sum up
Both financial and investment planning are essential components of wealth management, each contributing uniquely to your financial prosperity. While financial planning lays the foundation for your wealth, investment planning helps it grow. Together, they form a well-rounded strategy that complements your financial objectives.
