Financial Simplicity

Spent yesterday lunchtime with a retired client, finalising their investment and estate planning.
Also spent some time clearing out their old paper files, splitting everything into two piles - one to shred and recycle - the other to keep.

It often occurs to me that something like this, which comes as second nature to me and is a task easily accomplished is actually a daunting process for many people.

It has reminded me of my stated 1-word overriding aim for retired and retiring clients: Simplicity.
Or in more than one word, it is my belief that as clients approach, enter and enjoy retirement - whatever that means to them - what they value most from me, their trusted adviser, is the ability to bring 'simplicity' to managing their finances.

Sure, it can be a complex process and products and financial stuff can be complicated and jargon filled but that is where I come in. I always maintain that for most of my clients it is not a question of 'capability' - they could understand it all just as well as I do if they spent the same amount of time as I do on it. It is a question of 'capacity'. They have other things to do with life, such as spending time with family, pursuing hobbies or charity involvement. Sports, holidays, travel, golf, mowing the lawn, the shopping! The list is endless and stretches from the lifetime dream to the mundane.

So my job is translator. From jargon to understandable.
My job is entertainer. Making the dry and necessary, interesting and informative.
My job is educator. Helping clients help themselves where possible and filling in the gaps where needed, either myself or by introducing a fellow professional / specialist in areas where I don't operate.

The reward for my job? Of course there is the financial but I'll finish this post where I started it, with my retired client, Mrs B, who was kind enough to say (and even kinder to agree I could repeat these words)
"Ian is the only financial person I've dealt with in the last 50 years who actually makes sense and explains things in a way I can understand"
Thanks, Mrs B.
Reward enough right there :-)

Income Drawdown and a Masterpiece

Another step forwards in the online world - my first blog...
What to say , what to say, especially when I know no-one is reading this...

Currently finalising paperwork for a complex Income Drawdown case. Essential paperwork is completed in right order as anything else could impact on tax free cash available.
Super work from my colleague as well as liaising with one of the best occupational pension scheme administrators I have ever dealt with means there should be no problems and all will go to plan.

Off to the Masterpiece fair once work completed - Also aiming to have LinkedIn, Twitter and this new blog all updating concurrently as well as showing on the almost-ready-to-go-live new website.

Digital Fingers Crossed...

Test First Post

Test First Post