Monday
However, the meeting went extremely well. The client instructed me to review his existing pension arrangements, as well as set up a new regular contribution through his company. He was a referral from a mortgage broker who does not do investment business.
Having been an adviser for over 25 years, I have built up some very useful connections with other professionals in the industry. Also, unlike many of my colleagues in the industry, I try to find space for clients who are not such high net-worth individuals, and they have turned out to be a good source of business.
Tuesday
Another early start – every Tuesday morning I go to Business Networking Breakfast at 6.45am. This is the only referral marketing that I do, as I find that many networking functions are time-consuming and ineffective. This group only allows one person from each profession to join, and it has produced phenomenal results for me over the last six years, having enabled me to build up long-lasting business relationships with other professionals. The afternoon is spent with emails, phone calls and general IFA stuff. Getting a cold.
Wednesday
Time for a cup of coffee at home this morning and a bit of Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ before braving the Northern Line. I had a meeting with a long-standing client who had just been made redundant aged 55. She wanted to maximise her pension and Isa allowances for the tax year with part of her redundancy money. For the rest of the meeting we discussed protecting her lifetime allowance, and also the preparation of a life cash-flow analysis. She is at a bit of a crossroads in her life, and we agreed to look at different scenarios, and the effects they would have on her financial planning. Cold coming on nicely.
Thursday
It’s my assistant Lucy’s birthday today, and she brought in cake – as per office tradition. I spent the morning first preparing for this afternoon’s client meeting, then sending out quarterly valuations and catching up with clients. Next, shopping at M&S with my colleague Sarah for party food. Finally I had a meeting with my client to go through pension and protection recommendations prepared that morning, and a mountain of paperwork.
I finished off the day with a drinks party in the office for members of our networking groups. Drank through the cold.
Friday
No meetings today – I love Fridays in the office. Lots of ‘home clothes’ and good humour. I spent the morning trying to eliminate the red on my interminable task list. I have some referrals to contact, so I sent them all introductory emails, and each one replied to arrange meetings within the next couple of weeks. It was not always like this – I have not forgotten how hard it was to build my business in the early years.
Finished the week off with some compliance and my annual online tax exam. Oh, the glamour. But at least my cold has gone.
Henrietta Oxlade is an independent financial planner of London-based Radcliffe & Newlands
