In another non-stop week, this financial adviser is helped along by an excellent team.
Monday
I leave home at 6.20am every day as it takes about an hour on the tube and I like to get into the office early to get a head start on the clients.
The team starts to come in and by 9am we are ready to have a breakfast meeting to agree the priorities for the week ahead.
We now have two full-time mortgage and protection administrators, one full-time paraplanner and three advisers in the team; it is a busy office.
I meet with Clare, my head of operations, for a sandwich lunch and we review the current projects, team updates and company finances.
I head out to meet a long-standing client for the rest of the afternoon, she has a small portfolio of residential properties in the south east and is looking to refinance several of them in the next six months.
We discuss the strategy in light of current legislation and her specific circumstances.
Tuesday
I go straight to a property networking breakfast in the City and catch up with the other members who regularly attend.
We are a small group of business owners from different sectors who face similar challenges and so have a lot to discuss; it is a good forum for referrals and support.
The rest of the day is spent in the office ensuring the team are handling their current cases and keeping clients notified.
We recently moved into a co-working building, which offers a good environment for the team and lots of new connections for business referrals.
As our industry is heavily regulated, this is my regular slot for ensuring file compliance is in place.
Wednesday
We sponsor a monthly networking group called Business Buzz and so some of the team head down to the venue in Soho with our banners and name badges to help set up.
It is a good turnout and we meet quite a few new people, some of whom may want a mortgage or commercial finance.
In the afternoon we meet up with a business development manager of one of our key lenders at the office – these meetings help keep us posted on new products available for our clients.
The team assist me with the event follow up calls and online connections.
Thursday
Another networking breakfast. This time it is a property group who have around 40 members – it is always interesting tohear about emerging industry issues and speak to other brokers and businesses in the same space.
We work with professional introducers who refer us to their clients and we meet a lot of brilliant introducers here.
Back to the office for three client calls and to help finalise the new deals that have been agreed so far this week.
We continually monitor progress with lenders and solicitors and the team ensure the clients are kept informed.
I leave the office early for a change to try to make my children’s bath and bed time.
Friday
We have a review call with our accountant who has prepared the monthly management accounts.
We look ahead at cash flow, what business is coming in and where we can consolidate overheads.
I catch up with Clare on marketing initiatives and tracking our leads for the month.
We have our monthly team meeting this afternoon so I spend a little time preparing.
We have big targets to hit and a great team delivering.
Bruno Welch is managing director and mortgage consultant at Clayton Welch Associates
If you would like to write a week in your life as a financial adviser, please contact: melanie.tringham@ft.com
