Our mission as a financial adviser is simple, and it’s putting the client first. All too often, we get caught up in the nitty-gritty of portfolio construction, asset allocation and diversification before understanding who our clients are and what aspirations they harbour. It’s always worth reminding ourselves that we’re about people first and are financial experts second.

I’m always looking for metaphors to explain the relationship between life, clients and our role in this equation. …

As demand for domestic and international financial advice continues to soar, more must be done around financial services careers to attract young talented individuals into the financial services industry, to prevent advice becoming a privilege exclusively for the wealthiest of those in society.

As I was quoted as saying in the Financial Adviser, if we don’t, the number of advisers will continue to drop and only the super-rich will be able to afford to seek financial advice.

There are certainly no signs of the level of demand for international financial advice falling any time soon, triggered, amongst other things, by…

HERE’S A FACT: IN 2018, 121 PEOPLE FELL OFF FORBES’ “THE WORLD’S BILLIONAIRES” LIST. BACKTRACK A BIT MORE, AND YOU REALISE THAT OVER 70% OF THE NAMES ON THAT LIST IN 1982 WERE NO LONGER ON THERE BY 2014.

So what went wrong? Possibly nothing. But it’s a reminder that staying rich is far more difficult than becoming rich.

How is that possible, you think? Surely people who have money will make more money?

Not quite. You see, making money from money requires three things –commitment, discipline and forward planning. Without that, having money is no guarantee of financial security.

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You will often find in life that there are broadly speaking 2 different types of people; those that typically enjoy their 9–5 jobs, with the benefit of taking an annual holiday somewhere nice, but never really push their potential to the full limit, and then those that will stop at nothing to succeed and what they regard as being successful, and for them, everything is all about “making it” in life.

Those I know and have worked with that want to succeed in life have a certain picture/vision in their head of what that success looks like. They know what…

I recently prepared a presentation on the importance of leadership, and I thought it might be beneficial to highlight some of the observations and also provide my leadership tips. After all, we’re all learning — or should be — from each other all the time.

Being a good leader is essential in order to maximise efficiency and reach objectives. It’s not just about delegating workload, but about effective communication, building team morale, maintaining motivation and successful co-ordination.

I have listed below some examples of highly significant leadership qualities a successful leader would have, followed by my leadership tips:

• Integrity

• Honesty

• Humility

• Courage

• Commitment

• Sincerity

• Passion

• Confidence

• Positivity

• Wisdom

• Determination

•…

“Let the Good Times Roll” by legend B.B King. It’s a great song — but it recently got me thinking…How many of you are taking into consideration a diversified investment strategy approach?

I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but the sentiment in the song is the crucial problem that we have to address as financial advisers, and as your partners in a journey towards financial security. Many underestimate the power of a diversified investment strategy, and this is crucial to any financial planning.

Essentially, human beings are good at assuming the good times will continue. What we’re really bad at — at individual and institutional levels — is realising that good times don’t roll forever.

Basically, we have a problem. The way our brains are wired seems to make it difficult…

What does it mean for financial advisers returning to the UK? What are the impacts? If you are thinking of moving back to the UK this blog is a must read!

Sometimes financial advisers working in the international space may, at some point in their careers, consider making the move back to the UK, perhaps for family reasons, cost of living or their children’s education, for example.

Maybe because 4 years ago I made the move myself, the international community often asked me about how to make such a transition a successful one. I noticed many common themes during my time back in the UK. Not least, as you have been an expat during your time working abroad, you’ll typically find it easier to work with returning expat clients. This therefore…

Vision and mission statements are considered a crucial element of any organisation’s toolkit be it large or small.

All good and laudable — because it gives organisations something to aim at. It helps define their corporate culture. It gives companies a homing beacon. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

At the risk of sounding controversial, I’m going to have to say I’m not entirely convinced. Aren’t mission and vision statements a bit of a brochure-filler these days? Words strung in a line without really impacting how an organisation lives its life or serves its customers.

Okay, unpopular opinion, I know. But my concern here is that that mission and vision statements are a bit inward looking…