Monday
I leave home and get the train into London King’s Cross and walk to my office.
I get in at 7.15am – I like to be in early to beat rush hour and it allows me to finish early.
I start by reading the emails received over the past few days and the post that is on my desk. Afterwards, I prepare for this morning’s client meeting.
After the client has left, I pop out to get a late lunch.
I then have a meeting with my paraplanner and provide him with the client file to prepare the report. I leave the office at 4.15pm to make my way home.
Tuesday
I start at 7.30am checking emails and reading the client files ahead of my client meetings. I drive to my first client review meeting for 11am in Bedford – a nice couple in their late 70s.
Following this meeting I grab a sandwich en route to the second in Milton Keynes at 2pm, which is with a younger couple who are interested in ethical investments.
After another successful meeting I head home where I collate the paperwork and check messages and emails received during the day. I then take my wife and son out for a meal.
Wednesday
Another early start, as usual; I am in the office before 7am.
I leave the office at 8am to make my way to a continuing professional development event organised by Downing on board the HMS Belfast, to obtain an understanding of their investment and due diligence process.
After the event I make my way back to the office, grabbing a sandwich on my way, where I sit down with my paraplanning team, explaining the client files and requirements from yesterday.
I make a few phone calls and appointments, dealing with client questions they have due to market volatility.
I leave the office and head home, and after a quick change and something to eat I am off to my under-18 football team’s home football match that kicks off at 7.45pm.
I finally get home at 10.45pm ready to relax.
Thursday
I am back in the office at 7.15am, checking the post and email communications, along with typing up notes from yesterday’s conversations.
I prepare for a client meeting this morning – it is an existing client that wishes to receive an income from pensions.
After the meeting, I update the file notes on our system and have another meeting with the paraplanning team to update them with the next steps.
I read our investment updates and review various market-related communications before I leave the office at 4pm and make my way home.
Another quick change takes place before going to football training, where I spend the next 1.5 hours coaching a bunch of 12-year-olds.
Finally, I get home, have something to eat and chill out with my wife in front of the TV.
Friday
Today is a full day in the office, spending my time reviewing the progress of the reports and administration of the previous client meetings with both the paraplanning team and administration team.
I then speak to the investment team to instigate releasing client funds from portfolios as requested. I check the appointments and meetings for next week to ensure all preparation is completed.
I look forward to a night out with my wife and friends tonight and to a weekend of refereeing various football matches and chilling out.
Malcolm Snook is a senior financial planning manager at MPL Wealth Management
If you would like to write a week in your life as a financial adviser, please contact: melanie.tringham@ft.com
