Diary of an adviser: Paul Brassington

Then I receive a bolt out of the blue. I recently saw a client to facilitate access to her pensions to provide a lump sum to pay for the holiday of a lifetime to Italy with her husband. On the third day of the holiday her husband unexpectedly died.

Home, but devastated, she needed help and guidance and rang me. I set her mind at rest after contacting all her pension providers on her behalf. This falls into the important and urgent category and takes precedence over everything else.

I soon get back on track – everything actioned for the week and home to the family. It's boots cleaned before my son’s football match in the morning.

Paul Brassington is a financial adviser at Edward Mellor, based in Stockport