Monday
My week starts with a 6km run at 6am, 5km cycle ride concluded by a revitalising cold shower.
Then, with any shadows of the weekend firmly erased, I feel suitably prepared for work and raring to go – so, without further delay I head into the office.
First task is addressing the weekend's emails, who needs what, what jobs are to be added to my ‘to do’ list and what is my plan this week in terms of client meetings and prospecting.
First meeting is an existing client, she wishes to review her Sipp and wants to sense check the underlying investment performance and strategy.
She is 63 years old, divorced and always been comfortable taking financial advice. We get on very well which always makes the job easier. She has an external discretionary portfolio with a competitor, so I ask the relevant questions: "Has this been reviewed?", "What fund are you invested in?" and "Are you happy there?" "Tell me about the service they provide you?" She is happy just now, but we held a good conversation about how I could help her in future.
The second client of the day has general queries about his desire and plans to move abroad and become non-UK resident. I helped him out with most of the answers he posed, but had to check and revert to him with others – overall, he was happy.
Tuesday
Exercise repeat.
I have a client home visit in Epsom this morning.
After tea and pleasantries, he tells me of a sizable gain within his share portfolio and we discuss tax led investments. I suggest working for him to source a suitable enterprise investment scheme (EIS). ‘What’s that?’ he asks, and his curiosity leads me to providing him with a scope of intended work, since then we have subsequently agreed to work together.
I drive away with a task, a commitment but in the knowledge I can add genuine value to my client’s finances. This is why I love this job, it is what I enjoy, and it is also why I joined Tilney very recently.
For the first time in my career I can feel the stretch of providers and services I have access to, which means I am able to find invaluable solutions for clients that genuinely make a difference to them and their financial future.
Wednesday
We are mixing up Wednesdays with 45 minutes hard boiled cross trainer and weights. By midweek, I often think "I’m getting too old for this".
The working day starts with some administrative tasks including client call backs, prospecting, some delegation of paperwork required for future meetings, some support work I need to do for my boss.
Client meeting, investment conversation which this time around does not lead anywhere. One, perhaps, for the future when the time is right for her.
Thursday
More exercise, which is starting hurting a bit now but got to keep going.
Today we meet with a local solicitor firm. A bunch of advisers from our office walk up the hill in Guildford to a pre-arranged networking lunch meeting. We meet, introduce each other to the group, chat, exchange verbal ‘LinkedIn’ profiles and discuss typical clients we help and lay out plans for an active collaboration going forward.
This is always a really effective way of generating business each way. I thoroughly enjoyed it (and the sandwiches).
Friday
Slower 6k today, but still crossed the line.
I spend the morning studying for my next CII exam, which I am due to sit in the coming weeks. I created a plan to achieve my Chartered Financial Planner status, and it involves a fair bit of study, so this morning I crack on with this.
Come the afternoon, I have another client meeting in the office. A prospect meeting I observe with a colleague. The chap has various pension schemes that have not been reviewed in a while; he has heard about the new pension freedoms and is keen to understand his options at retirement. Alongside my colleague, we agree to work with this client going forward to, in the first instance provide him with the much needed pension analysis.
It's a great week, my business is moving forward, the studying is going in and I have had a fair bit of prospecting success. Now, it's time for a beer and some much needed ‘family time’ over the weekend. All, until I hit the alarm button at 6am Monday.
Craig de Jong is a financial planner at Tilney
