What skills are needed in the post-Covid world?

Foster Denovo's Ms Bogdanovski adds: "In terms of other skills we would always look for driven advisers who put their clients at the heart of what they do, have a holistic approach to financial planning and who fit the culture and ethos of Foster Denovo.

"This has not changed during the lockdown and will always be what we look for in our advisers."

Shaun Godfrey, head of marketing for St James's Place Academy, agrees: "The core skills for advisers remain the same as before - a focus on building close relationships with clients, presenting and communicating information, entrepreneurial and commercial thinking, and setting personal work aims and objectives."

But, he adds: "We are currently in a state of flux and life will not return to the way it was pre-Covid-19. And the ways of delivering this service has changed and it is important that advisers are able to use a variety of mediums to deliver the regular contact and personal service that clients expect."

Also, as the PFS's Mr Richards notes, it will still be imperative to maintain knowledge of General Data Protection Regulation and be aware of data breaches as people use different types of technology to deliver advice. 

We would always look for driven advisers who put their clients at the heart of what they do. -- Helena Bogdanovski

"Many people are working on personal devices and networks that are not as secure as corporate ones. Security and data protection must be monitored and maintained", he states, intimating the importance of IT and compliance skills within advice firms or at the companies to which advisers might outsource IT and compliance. 

So, whether it is face-to-face interaction, video conferencing or virtual meetings, presenting on virtual stages or communicating through social media platforms, it is important that advisers know how to integrate technology and the tools available to showcase the core values of advisers and to keep delivering a valuable service to clients. 

simoney.kyriakou@ft.com