Client meetings, charitable giving and a game of rounders make up this planner’s week
Monday
I spend the morning catching up on emails and making sure I have everything I need for the week ahead.
In the afternoon I head to see a longstanding client based on the south coast, close to where I live.
We have a quick look at her portfolio, then spend the next hour putting the world to rights. I’m home quite early, so head down to the beach for a swim.
Tuesday
The morning is spent in a risk committee meeting. This is a quarterly meeting to make sure we are aware of any risks our clients and our business might face.
We ensure we have taken whatever steps we can to protect our clients.
I spend an hour with our marketing team planning for a seminar we will run after the summer.
In the afternoon I have a second meeting with a prospective new client. He is a music company executive worried about his retirement plans.
He was referred to me because he wants to know his investments are sustainable.
His previous adviser had tried to talk him out of this and insisted he invest in fossil fuels.
Wednesday
We have a team meeting this morning – our team consists of three chartered planners and two administrators. We need to keep talking regularly to make sure we are prioritising the right things.
I have time for a quick yoga class at lunchtime.
Following this, I have a meeting with the founder of a design studio – both our companies are certified B Corps – which means they agree to meet high social and environmental standards – so I understand that his motivations are not always financial.
I am helping him find a balance between generosity and ensuring he is financially secure in the future. He is planning on making his business employee-owned and wants his team to share in the business’s success.
It is a process we have been through at EQ.
Our technical team host a refresher session on inheritance tax planning, which they have been planning for a while – potential changes recommended by the Office of Tax Simplification are at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
In the evening I head out to see Le Butcherettes in Brighton.
Thursday
I meet with a new client who attended our recent ‘Going Green with your Money’ seminar.
She works in IT and is thinking about investing some of her savings. She has never invested before so we talk for a long time about her aims and her concerns.
We agree the best thing for her is to keep her savings in cash, but to start making monthly payments into an Isa so she can get used to investing.
After work, the entire company heads to Hyde Park for our annual sports day. As usual, the rounders match starts off friendly, but soon gets very competitive.
Friday
We have philanthropy training today.
We view charitable giving as a core part of our financial planning service.
Our charitable arm – the EQ Foundation – has created a database of charities to help people make more informed choices about their giving.
Jeannie Boyle is a chartered financial planner and director at EQ Investors
If you would like to write a week in your life as a financial adviser, please contact: melanie.tringham@ft.com
