Business

6 Critical Non-Finance Skills To Have In Your Finance Career

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2021

Excellent financial and mathematical skills are just the start when it comes to a brilliant finance career. There are other skills you will need to get to the top of the profession. Below you can learn the non-finance abilities that will make your finance career soar.

And if you seek assistance in paying for your education, there are many finance and accounting scholarships out there that will lend you a hand.

Relationship-Management Skills

You’ll need to hone your people skills to succeed in the financial world. It’s vital to understand the different personality types, be able to listen, ask the right questions, and be able to resolve conflicts. You also need to know how to educate people and provide expert advice to your clients.

How important is relationship management? One accomplished financial planner opines that a successful finance career is 15% finance and technical knowledge and 85% psychology! When people come to you with money issues, they probably spend too much, don’t save enough, or even save everything. They need an objective advisor who can help them with tough financial decisions.

Sales and Marketing Skills

Others in the field say skilled financial professionals need to market their skills and knowledge to prospects in their niche. This means you must possess a full understanding of your personal strengths and your company’s professional assets.

As you market yourself to clients, you should communicate your knowledge level and your caring nature. Remember, most clients’ most precious assets are not their money but their loved ones. Clients want to be reassured that you can help them to manage money to protect their families.

Project Management

Any job task that takes more than five minutes is usually a project. You need to have the project management chops to turn a profit. This means knowing how to budget your time, manage financial budgets, meet multiple deadlines, and get essentials from other people to finish your projects on time.

One corporate finance professional notes that most analytical projects have people questioning assumptions and inputs. Delivering on-time backup data is vital, so people don’t question your project results.

It’s vital to have hard copies and electronic files meticulously organized so you can flip to necessary information fast. You could be asked a complicated question months later by a CFO who needs this critical info in 15 minutes for an overseas conference call. Sloppiness and disorganization can be lethal to your career path.

Problem-Solving

You face problems in any job, and knowing to untangle them quickly rather than wilting under pressure is critical.

It can also help if you gaze beyond your job roles and responsibilities to climb the corporate ladder. Help coworkers solve their issues rather than just reporting them to managers. When you help others out of sticky situations, your career will blossom as the word gets out that you are a team player.

Technical Skills

Anywhere you work in finance, you need a high computer and technical proficiency to use new software that helps you in your job. The more programs, functions, shortcuts, and keys you master in Excel, the better off your finance career will be. Spend a few days getting slick and knowledgeable in Excel, and you’ll be the office darling.

Ethics

Go-getters get ahead in finance. But you cannot be so cutthroat and competitive that you make unethical choices that torpedo a promising career. It’s vital to adhere to ethical standards in finance, such as those laid out for Certified Financial Planners.

There you have it: six essential non-finance skills that will turbocharge your finance career. Focus on honing these skills, and you could find yourself in the executive suite sooner than you dreamed!

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.