There\'s no doubt that investment plays an important role in our life. Each one of us invests a part of our income in some form of investment option or other, whether it be a simple savings scheme, a pension plan or stocks and shares. When investing we have to look at our requirements for the short, medium and long term taking into account our attitude to risk and whether we are looking for growth or income from our investments.

The first step in investing is to decide on your financial goals. If you are seeking a steady source of income then look to bonds, government securities and debt mutual fund schemes whereas for growth consider equities and equity linked mutual fund schemes. But it\'s not as simple as that as your attitude to risk plays an important part. For example you need to be prepared to take greater risks in the case of equities purely because of the sheer nature and volatility of equity markets.

Regardless of your decision about risk and the investments you decide to make, the most important aspect of all is to build a diversified portfolio, in other words \"don\'t put all your eggs in one basket\". It is essential not to focus in one area or on one stock or indeed on in one market. There are so many to choose from. There are commodities, such as gold, silver and oil and then there are a myriad of markets, such as the UK, USA and Japan, but within each of these markets are a variety of options, such as investments in fledgling companies, emerging markets or global markets. In fact the options are endless.

Managing your finances without a Financial Adviser is not an impossible task if you have the basics of investments clear and are prepared to put in the time to look after your portfolio. However the number of products on the market runs into many, many hundreds and new ones are appearing regularly, so do you have the time to keep abreast of the market including your changing personal circumstances and requirements? I suggest few of us do which is why the services of a Financial Adviser are so important. Given their role and responsibilities it is hardly surprising that most of them earn six figure salaries, which is one reason many are now considering becoming Financial Advisers. Interestingly enough, there are fewer Financial Advisers in the UK than ever before even though demand for financial advice has never been higher.

The ifs School of Finance have launched a new Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA) for those who wish to enhance their prospects by demonstrating a higher level of knowledge and skills. Soon this will become the industry standard overtaking the current CeFA (Certificate in Financial Advice) qualification that Financial Advisers need under their belt. To train to become a Financial Adviser requires hard work, dedication and the right training company.