I was reminded of this survey when chatting with fellow advisers recently. It says we think our clients value trust, empathy and communication, in other words the fluffy stuff, which is what we talk about on our websites. Clients say they want the best possible returns, to ‘reach their financial goals’ and get richer. Are we getting it wrong? I don’t think so. Most of the reviews we get talk about help, guidance and understanding, none mention ‘the yacht I never thought I could afford until I met Philip’. So maybe it’s a bit like dating (from what I can remember, of course). You think it’s all about looks; but you find happiness with someone you can actually talk to.
“Letter of authority: Why now is the right time for change”
This may sound like a non-issue from outside the world-of-financial-advice bubble. It is the bain, however, of the daily working lives of many of us, particularly of those paid by we advisers to do the dirty work of dealing with the many providers with whom we have to work.