Financial advisers are ‘more important than ever’

Financial advisers are ‘more important than ever’


Share this Article

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Director of Supervision – Investment, Wholesale and Specialists, Megan Butler, recently said that flexibility and choice in the financial market is creating more complexity. She believes that the role of financial advisers is “more important than ever”. We’re inclined to agree (well obviously!) and here are the reasons why.

What do independent financial advisers do?

One of the assumptions that Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs), and many other businesses for that matter, often make is to assume that everyone knows and understands what we do. Of course, that isn’t necessarily the case! How can you know if you need an IFA if you don’t know how they can help you?

In a nutshell, IFAs are highly qualified professionals who can offer a multitude of benefits to you. As part of our services here at Acumen, we can assess your financial goals and help you to invest sensibly, advise you on tax laws and other financial legislation, insurance and offer a wide range of financial planning guidance – from the most minor to the major life-changing decisions.

An IFA’s input can help you to plan for long-term and short-term goals, such as retirement or your children’s education. They can also provide crucial assistance with the growth and planning of your investment portfolio. A financial adviser can help you to save one of life’s most precious commodities – time. With their expert industry knowledge, IFAs can cut through the jargon and dizzying array of options to help you to zero in on the right solutions for you and your unique situation.

IFAs can help you in the following ways:

  • Meet you face-to-face to determine your financial goals.
  • Help you to deal with the financial worries that keep you awake at night.
  • Assist you with sensible planning to achieve your financial goals.
  • Clarify a range of financial and related services that would help.
  • Monitor your investments and recommend improvements where appropriate.
  • Explain investment options to you, along with the potential risks.
  • Keep you fully informed about tax implications and legislation.
  • Help you make good financial decisions

What should I look for in a financial adviser?

One of the key things to check about your potential financial adviser is their level of education and experience. That might sound blatantly obvious. However, if you’re judging your decision on a word-of-mouth recommendation – which is, of course, extremely valuable – it can be easy to overlook finer details such as these. In Acumen’s case, we have more than 90 years of combined industry experience and all of our IFAs have a wealth of industry qualifications.

It is also essential to meet with your prospective financial adviser, to get to know them (as well as vice versa) to establish a rapport and to gauge whether you will enjoy working together. When all is said and done, trust is a vital component of any working relationship – especially one that concerns your hard-earned finances. We not only take time to get to know you and understand your financial aspirations and worries, but we are available to advise you whenever you need us, at no extra cost.

Where to get independent financial advice

Acumen has helped thousands of clients to reach their goals. As independent financial advisers, our approach is always unbiased and impartial. If you’re looking for independent financial advice in the North West, then why not visit us at our Lancashire-based office to see how we can help you. We also have office facilities in other regional centres too. We offer competitive rates and are completely transparent about our costs. You can trust that you will always receive excellent value for money, as well as exceptional advice. Our friendly team is proud to provide extraordinary customer service in everything that we do.

If you’re looking for an independent financial adviser, and would like more information on the services available from Acumen Financial, contact us today on 0151 520 4353 or email info@acumenfinancial.co.uk.


Related Articles

  • Financial Planning
    November 18, 2014
    Planning your financial future
    Have you ever wondered what an IFA does within a working day? Acumen Financial Partnership Direct....
  • News
    December 10, 2014
    Major announcements in the 2014 Autumn Statement
    We have pleasure in sharing our summary of the key announcements in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statem....
  • Financial Planning
    December 22, 2014
    Top Tips to consider when choosing an IFA
    When it comes to making life-changing financial decisions, seeking the services of an Independent Fi....