Having been advising clients for over 15 years I have met with hundreds of other professionals and prospects to learn about them and to introduce the service I offer and the benefits of this.

This blog however is not going to explain these to you it is more a, top tips to help you pick the right financial planner for you.

Below are my best tips to select wisely:

1. Have rapport

The person you select is likely to be with you through some really important times in your life. Having good rapport with that individual will be vital to ensure they provide help and guidance through the big decisions ahead. From experience, where the rapport hasn’t been great the outcomes for that client have not met the level I would want. Rapport is a two way process and if you aren’t willing to be open what the planner or responsive then perhaps they aren’t the right person for you.

2. Do your research

There are lots of planning firms out there to choose from, doing a little digging around can provide some insight into what others have said. This research can be prior to meting with the potential planner or perhaps ask to speak to some of the planners clients to get real life responses to your queries or concerns.

3. Check the FCA register

This could be as part of point 2 above but the FCA register can provide some interesting information about the planner and their firm. Things such as permissions or limitations should be considered. If for example you want an independent planner with permissions allowing a certain type of service the register should give some insight into whether they are the right fit.

4. Speak to friends and trusted confidents

Who are your friends and trusted confidents using? This might not mean that person is right for you but often we socialise or work with people with similar objectives as ourselves and therefore their planner might have good experience and knowledge in the area you need help. The British are often too reserved to talk about money but asking who someone uses doesn’t haven’t involve getting into the nitty gritty of your personal balance sheet but could help with a name or two to consider.

5. Enjoy the journey

Planning is and should be fun. It is very personal to you and therefore you should feel at the centre of the process. If this isn’t the case, ask why not and make sure you are getting the answers (both good and bad) that you need to make informed choices. The planner is there to guide and educate not dictate!

Hopefully the above will help with your selection process and make sure you get the best for you and your loved ones.

Thanks for reading.