“There’s no such thing as a daft question – asking it is always the right move.”
I had no intention of working in financial services, I had secured a place to study for equestrian teaching qualifications when my mum suggested I ‘get a job and save some money’; I landed an office junior position with a large insurance company – and so began a lifelong career in financial services.
I’ve had a variety of roles over many years – including insurance underwriting, pensions scheme administration, mortgage adviser, regional sales support manager, paraplanner, financial adviser and compliance manager. This experience, particularly compliance, has led me to be focussed on getting things right. There are no shortcuts in this job, and I don’t take any.
I returned to advising in 2013, when asked to take on the clients of a colleague, many of whom I had already dealt with in a paraplanning or compliance capacity since 2005. I requalified at that time and became a full-time adviser, taking on more clients over time through referrals.
Our clients share with us more information about their personal and financial circumstances, aims and aspirations than they are likely to share with anyone else. As an adviser I get to learn what really matters to someone, how they think, their worries and aspirations; this is a huge privilege and requires a great deal of trust between client and adviser, it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
It’s a pleasure to be able to help clients towards achieving their financial goals, to guide them through tax-efficient savings and investments; saving for, and navigating the transition into, retirement and beyond; and to help with planning for the less pleasant outcomes such as death, later life care and Inheritance Tax (IHT). It’s just as rewarding to support clients and families through a claims process, a divorce or a bereavement and to see the benefits of prior planning.
I believe the clients who get the most from the relationship are those who feel completely at ease picking up the phone or dropping me an email to ask me anything; and I encourage all my clients to do so, however small, unrelated or obvious it might seem – just ask.
I really enjoy my job, and I do spend most of my time doing it – but when not working I love spending time with my beautiful daughters and my dogs (though the dogs do spend quite a bit of time at work with me!). I’m a member of our village amateur dramatics group – regularly treading the boards in a spring play or winter pantomime. I live in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and prefer to be outdoors walking or gardening; I do like going to see a play, a musical, a comedian or live music – recently Country and Rock; and I also enjoy the odd bit of crafting, sewing and DIY.
I came in to financial services by accident, but staying in it has been a deliberate choice.
