Property Investment
Property Investment
3 min read
Financial Adviser vs Customer Relationship Manager: What’s the difference at Opes?
Author: Tina List
Tina List, Client Relationship Manager and property investor
Property Investment
3 min read
Author: Tina List
Tina List, Client Relationship Manager and property investor
If you’re working with Opes Partners to build your portfolio, you’ll work with two key people:
Both are crucial to your property investment journey, and they’ll step in at different times and do two very different things.
But after helping thousands of Kiwis invest in property, many ask: “What’s the actual difference between a CRM and a financial adviser?”
In this article, you’ll learn the differences, what each person does, and how they can help you grow your property portfolio.
Think of your financial adviser as your strategic planner. Their job is to create a Wealth Plan and select the right assets for your portfolio.
That’s why they are your starting point when you work with Opes, and you start your journey with Opes sitting down with them for a one-hour session to create your Wealth Plan.
Then they help you select the right assets (properties) for your portfolio. And they stick with you over the long term to help keep your plan on track.
Once you decide to move ahead with a property, you sign a contract and that’s when your CRM steps in.
Think of your CRM as the person who makes sure everything gets done between signing the contract and paying for the property (settlement).
Because we’ve helped thousands of Kiwis invest in property, we’ve come up with a lot of processes to make sure things go as smoothly as they can.
Your CRM’s job is to guide you through those processes to avoid any common mistakes.
They help you in 3 important parts of your investing journey:
Once you sign a contract on a property you need to do a lot of checks. Your CRM will show you what to do and when. That includes setting up your client portal.
They also coordinate your solicitor, mortgage adviser, and other professionals to make sure everyone does what they need to do on time.
Once you confirm (go unconditional) on the property your CRM will send you monthly build updates from the developer.
If construction gets delayed – which sometimes happens, they’ll let you know what’s happening.
About 60 days out from when you settle, things ramp up again.
They’ll coordinate everything. That includes organising:
Your financial adviser helps you build your Wealth Plan and choose the right assets to invest in.
Your CRM then makes the process of buying those assets (properties) smoother.
It can feel a bit confusing. Here’s a table that helps you know who does what during each stage of the 5-step Opes Wealth Plan Programme:
| Stage | Financial Adviser | CRM |
|---|---|---|
Create Your Wealth Plan | Creates your Wealth Plan, plans your financial future | -- |
Find Rent-Ready Properties | Helps you choose the right property to invest in | -- |
| The Detail Dive | Available for ongoing advice on the investment of the property | Gets your documents, arranges site visits and gets answers to questions about the property |
| The Smooth Set-Up | Available for investment advice | Sends build updates, chases delays, manages developer relationships, organises your team of professionals |
| The Background-Wealth Builder | Annual reviews to make sure your plan is on track; may recommend further investments | Can assist with any lingering issues |
While your Financial Adviser helps you decide whether to invest and what to buy, your CRM makes the practical property side happen.
That means getting you the key with as little stress as possible.
They work as a team and complement each other.
And together they make your property investment journey feel a whole lot more manageable.
After settlement, you can still reach out to either of them. Your financial adviser will check in with you for an annual review.
And if you have questions or need help following settlement, your CRM is only a phone call away.
Tina List, Client Relationship Manager and property investor
Tina List is a Client Relationship Manager with a Financial Adviser qualification. As a property investor herself in New Zealand, Tina brings firsthand experience to her clients. Originally from South Africa, she has a background in the Finance and Insurance industry.
