Monday
I like to watch CNBC first thing for an update on the market. Then after a quick breakfast, I take Alfie to school and, when I reach the office before 9am, I read through the Financial Times. I have four appointments arranged for the day and I familiarise myself with the background to each and put together some pension proposals for two of the clients.
Tuesday
Tuesday starts even earlier than Monday, but this one is my fault as I have agreed to meet an existing client for breakfast. Most of my clients are busy professionals so I have to be prepared to work around their hectic diaries. This particular client is an airline pilot – one of several I look after. He wants to look at consolidating his pension. Most of my pilot clients are ex-forces and have a mix of final salary and money purchase. They were able to access their pensions from the age of 35, but there was no indexation. When they reach the age of 50 they receive indexation, but several have seen a number of anomalies. Some have been given a factor of 20, others 25 and even a 23. We have spent months liaising with the armed forces administration to try to rationalise the discrepancies. Finally, we are getting somewhere and it has agreed the inconsistencies were unfair.
Wednesday
Wednesday provides an opportunity to complete a few compliance requirements from my network, Pi Financial. The network has asked me to check a recent pension case so I need to submit the complete case file. It keeps us regularly updated on regulatory and compliance issues and I receive bulletins most months, so I plough through these and complete the brief assessments. Pi also produces technical bulletins to keep its advisers knowledge up to date, so I will easily clear the minimum CPD and structured CPD limits.
Thursday
My first appointment on Thursday is with a well known celebrity chef who is based in London. So, I catch an early train and head for the City. We meet at a hotel and discuss his pension and his investment portfolio. He has arranged for me to meet several members of his extended family at the same time. They all have very diverse financial requirements, but it is an interesting and fulfilling day. I leave the City late, but with a large workload to catch up on the next day. I also make a note to invite the chef and his family to a future Bolton FC match, where I have a hospitality box.
Friday
My usual day’s schedule is thrown into disarray as I will be leaving early with Alfie to catch the Eurostar to Paris to see the UEFA Euro 2016 opening match – France versus Romania. I catch up on some of my paperwork from yesterday on the journey, but Alfie is really excited, which limits how much I can get done.
We have a great time and the only disappointment is the difficulty I have trying to locate a France football kit for Alfie who had his heart set on one.
Paul Brown of Bury Financial Services is based in Bury, Greater Manchester
