Both these professionals are sought-after in the business world for providing a wide range of financial services. So, choosing the right professional depends on your unique situation. Moreover, each holds distinctive expertise in its specific area of operation. However, remember that a CPA can perform the tasks of a financial advisor but not vice-versa.

Comparative Table – CPA vs Financial Advisors

What is a CPA?

A CPA is a state board-licensed accounting professional authorized to practice the profession in the licensed US jurisdictions. To attain the license, a CPA must meet the education and experience requirements (as per the state board) and pass the CPA ExamCPA ExamA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US state board-issued license to practice the accounting professionread more.

CPA Exam

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) partners with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the 55 US State Boards of Accountancy to conduct the CPA Exam.

The entire syllabus is divided into four exams which takes place in an 18-month period. Each state board has its qualifying criteria. It will help you prepare better if you have your bachelor’s in a relevant accounting or business course. Also, prior working experience in taxation would contribute immensely to your preparation for the taxation exam. 

Roles and Responsibilities

CPA’s significant roles and duties involve advising on the subject matters of auditing, federal taxation, financial planningFinancial PlanningFinancial planning is a structured approach to understanding your current and future financial goals and then taking the necessary measures to accomplish them. Because this does not begin and end in a specific time frame, it is referred to as an ongoing process.read more, corporate accounting, and many more. Their primary role is to audit and maintain financial records. With their access to the financial records of an entity, they are the right person to seek financial advice in case of any trouble.

Besides, they also specialize in tax preparation and planning. With extensive knowledge of the tax laws, they can guide you through your tax problems with ease. In addition, they can leverage their years of learning and experience in this field to suggest ways to minimize your tax liability and maximize benefit while adhering to the law.

Career Prospects

As vast as the scope of CPA, the salaries are pretty lucrative too. This makes it one of the most impeccable career options. Moreover, their understanding of a wide range of financial aspects makes them apt to take up any financial role in any industry.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for CPAs to grow by 22% in the coming years. A promising career coupled with a greater professional reputation and a handsome pay package is a dream of any professional. Being a CPA guarantees that.

Benefits of Hiring a CPA

In making a hiring decision on CPA vs financial advisor, you are most likely to prefer a CPA. This is because by hiring a CPA, along with the right financial advice, you also get professionally handled accounting, auditing, and taxation services. This ensures you don’t end up spending more on hiring multiple professionals for different tasks.

What is a Financial Advisor?

Financial advisorsFinancial AdvisorsFinancial advisors are specialists who provide financial advice to individuals or businesses. They use their expertise to assist their clients with money management and profit-making decisions by knowing their short- and long-term financial objectives. read more are the finance professionals who help people manage their money. A financial advisor is a broader term that covers other financial experts such as financial planners, investment advisors, wealth managers, stockbrokersStockbrokersA stockbroker is an individual or company qualified enough to trade securities in the financial markets on behalf of financial institutions, individual and institutional investors, and organizations. They can work either independently as a professional trader or broker-dealer or associate with a brokerage firm.read more, etc. Let’s discuss them in brief.

Types of financial advisors

Investment advisors specialize in managing your investment portfoliosInvestment PortfoliosPortfolio investments are investments made in a group of assets (equity, debt, mutual funds, derivatives or even bitcoins) instead of a single asset with the objective of earning returns that are proportional to the investor’s risk profile.read more. Their focus of work revolves around stocks, bondsBondsBonds refer to the debt instruments issued by governments or corporations to acquire investors’ funds for a certain period.read more, mutual fundsMutual FundsA mutual fund is a professionally managed investment product in which a pool of money from a group of investors is invested across assets such as equities, bonds, etcread more, and other such securities. Investment advisors registered with SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) or any other state regulatory body are known as Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs).

Financial planners specialize in personal finance. They offer you holistic advice on areas ranging from retirement, inheritance, taxation to insurance and estate planning. Unfortunately, there are no professional bodies to regulate uncertified financial planners. However, certified financial plannersCertified Financial PlannersCFP is a certification that helps people to plan their finances well. In the USA, the average age of the population is 36.8 years. Thus, the need to reach their retirement age with a good net worth is a priority. read more (CFPs) are controlled by CFP Board.

Wealth managers usually manage the assets of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI). Like financial planners, they provide advice related to all financial aspects of a client. But unlike financial planners, they cater only to HNWI.  RIAs also manage the financial assetsFinancial AssetsFinancial assets are investment assets whose value derives from a contractual claim on what they represent. These are liquid assets because the economic resources or ownership can be converted into a valuable asset such as cash.read more of HNWI.

Stockbrokers are individuals or firms authorized to buy and sell shares in the stock market on behalf of their clients. They also provide consultations on what to buy and when depending upon the market conditions and their client’s goals.

Professional certification

It is not mandatory to hold a university degree to work as a financial advisor. Any finance professional can act as a financial advisor. However, finance professionals must seek registration and license with the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to sell investment products.

FINRA administers specific exams to license practicing financial advisors. These exams are Series 6, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 7Series 7The Series 7 license exam is the General Securities Representative Examination (GS). It tests a candidate’s knowledge to sell securities, municipal bonds, investment company securities, variable annuities, direct participation programs, options, and government securities. read more (to be taken along with Series 66). Financial advisors can choose the exam depending on their area of specialization.

With a regulatory body overlooking the finance professionals, clients place greater trust in them. Also, a license guarantees integrity and quality in the services rendered by them. Finance professionals can also get certified from:

  • National Association of Professional Financial Advisors (NAPFA)Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board)Chartered Financial Analysts Institute (CFA Institute)US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)

Financial Advisors help you plan your budget based on your earnings, appetite, and risk-bearing capacity. Depending on their area of specialization, they must possess a good understanding of taxation, insurance, retirement, and other fund schemes. Besides, they must communicate with the clients, understand their financial goals, build a bond with them, and suggest ways to maximize their income.

Financial advisors are paid fees or commissions as per their agreement with their clients. They earn well depending on the amount of new business they create. Also, they enjoy greater flexibility at work. As per the BLS, jobs of financial advisors are likely to grow by 4% in the coming years.

Benefits of Hiring

Any argument over hiring a CPA vs financial advisor can be brought to an amicable agreement by understanding the distinctive nature of their services. Though CPAs and financial advisors both offer consultancy services, financial advisors have niche knowledge specific to their area of specialization.

Moreover, they provide only financial counselling, unlike CPAs, who also offer tax, auditing, and accounting services. This leaves them with enough time to focus on a client completely. As a result, they can build a strong bond with them. With a friendly relationship in place, clients willingly share their confidential information and future goals with ease. In this scenario, clients also place greater confidence in their decisions.

CPA vs Financial Advisor Infographics

This has been a guide to CPA vs Financial Advisor. Here we discuss the difference between CPA and financial advisor along with infographics and a comparative table. You can learn more from the following articles –

  • CPA Exam Schedule and DatesCPA Exam QuestionsFAR CPA Exam Tips