Diary of an adviser: Paul Hill

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Diary of an adviser: Paul Hill

Meeting with newly referred clients, a school play and making time for breakfast means a busy week for this adviser

Monday

I am up at 7am, no 6am trains to the city for me; instead a pleasant drive to the office, taking in Beachy Head and into the office for 8.30am. 

I spend the obligatory first hour discussing the previous week with Caroline, my assistant, when we also talk about the week ahead. 

I have two brand new clients to prepare for this week.

Today, I am reviewing the research I have been doing for the past few weeks so I can prepare a letter for the client I am seeing tomorrow.

I like to take the whole file away from the office and grab a spot of breakfast in a local coffee shop.

This takes me through to early afternoon. 

Each month I give two hours to volunteer for a local charity.

I am purely there to answer any questions or concerns. Usually this is around care home fees.

Tuesday

I am in early to undertake the final checks for my client meeting at 11:30am.

This client came from another firm who, being at capacity and knowing the service we offer, refers its new business to us.

This client requested we undertake a full pension review and I gave advice on the potential of releasing his tax-free lump sum now. The client accepts our advice and we submit all the paperwork.

I spend the rest of the afternoon catching up with a couple of clients on the phone about topping up their investments. I finish at 6pm for the drive home.

Wednesday

On Wednesday mornings I meet with my business partner David and colleague Maria to discuss the business.

Often we have a business development manager visit, undertake one-to-ones, complete continuing professional development, discuss compliance updates and of course, go out for breakfast.

This week our main discussions are around our new website, undertaking the last few changes.

I spend the afternoon prepping for my second client meeting of the week.

I shut the laptop at 7.30pm. 

Thursday

Happily I am up early, not to get to work, but to go and see my daughter in her school play.

After an Oscar-winning performance and some dad chit chat, I am back on the road for 10am.

As always when I am travelling by car, I call Caroline at the office and in my whirlwind style, download the many business items that have been going through my head all morning.

I put in a call in to a client who has asked for an additional telephone review of her investments. 

In the afternoon I meet with some lovely clients who were referred to me earlier in the year.

I set them up with some cash investments and saving plans to satisfy their income for the next five years and some ‘real investments’ to satisfy their income until retirement. We also take a look at their pensions.

Friday

It is school pick-up on Fridays and strictly no work on weekends, so by 1.30pm that is me until Monday. 

Far from a usual Friday, a local solicitor has requested I be interviewed for a series of podcasts they are creating.

I have been given the brief: “Talk about investments and markets and stuff.”

Clearly I cannot escape the ‘B word’, so I get to have ‘that’ conversation one more time. I should just record the Brexit spiel and put it on repeat for client meetings.

Paul Hill is an independent financial adviser and director of Complete Financial Planning 

If you would like to write a week in your life as a financial adviser, please contact: melanie.tringham@ft.com