While many people try to learn new skills without any help, it’s often more helpful — and efficient — to tag in a seasoned expert.
A mentor offers you guidance throughout your financial journey, including valuable insights that help you to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or you’re already a seasoned professional — there’s always something new to learn and add to your arsenal.
Here are some of the primary reasons you should consider working with a finance guru.
Learn from experience
One of the most obvious benefits of having a financial mentor is getting to master your craft by drawing from a preexisting wealth of information and experience.
A good mentor has been through many financial challenges and obstacles. The only difference between you and them is that they have found ways to overcome those challenges. By learning from their mistakes, you can avoid making the same blunders.
There are multiple options when it comes to finding options that work for you in terms of mastering your trading skills.
For example, the Trading Academy offers trading learning options based on your current level of skill. This way, if you’re new to trading or just looking to improve your skills, there are options available for just about everyone.
Get warnings about potential mistakes
It can be difficult to find objective financial advice, especially when you’re emotionally invested in a specific outcome.
However, a financial mentor can offer impartial advice and guidance based on their own expertise. They’re not there to rubberstamp your decisions: They’re there to help steer toward better ones.
That means evaluating your options and making decisions that properly align with your goals and values.
Develop a style
Financial mentors can help you find a trading/investment style that fits your unique situation, says Matt Choi, a trading professional and mentor who runs and operates Certus Trading, an online education platform that offers insightful courses on trading.
Choi frequently references his own mentorship with George Fontanills, a seasoned investor who helped Choi find his own unique trading style.
“Having a guiding hand can help you find what works for you and what doesn’t,” says Choi. “It’s easy to find advice online, sure, but having one-on-one mentorship allows you to really tailor your skillset to what works with your financial goals.”
Networking opportunities
Networking is an essential part of connecting with professionals in any field, especially those who want to advance quickly.
Many financial mentors already have access to a wide range of professionals both inside and outside of their respective industries. So, they can easily make connections that would otherwise be difficult to make. They can also recommend conferences, events, and other networking opportunities that have value for someone who is just getting started.
Advice for self-improvement
It can be hard to hear an honest opinion, but anyone serious about improving their craft should be willing to listen. Some seek out mentors who are willing to provide genuine criticism on a regular basis. Receiving direct feedback from an outside source can also help identify personal weaknesses as well as strengths. Mentors may also encourage their students to push forward and hold them to higher expectations than their peers.
“Having a financial mentor is a step in the right direction for anyone who wants to get serious about training,” says Choi. “Considering the wealth of information that’s out there, most can greatly benefit from having customized advice that is tailored directly to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone with more experience than you – everyone gets their start somewhere.”