10 helpful questions to ask if you’re looking for a financial adviser in Worcester

Finding the right financial adviser for you can be tricky. There are many professionals both locally and throughout the UK that may be suitable for you, and working out how to choose one can feel like a mammoth task.

Fortunately, as the leading financial planning firm in Worcestershire, we’re well-placed to be the right partner who can help you manage your wealth.

So, read on to discover 10 questions to ask yourself if you’re looking for a financial adviser in Worcester, and how we can help you achieve your goals at Britannic Place.

1. Who is financial advice suitable for?

In short, financial advice is for everyone! Whether you want to find out how to invest your money so you can reach your life goals, or make your wealth as tax-efficient as possible, working with an expert can be an effective way to achieve your targets.

At Britannic Place, we often work with:

• Those approaching or arriving at retirement
• Individuals already enjoying retirement
• Business owners and senior executives.

Of course, even if you don’t fall into these categories, we may still be able to help you with personalised financial advice. Give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

2. What is the difference between a financial adviser and a financial planner?

The points of difference between financial advisers and planners are fairly nuanced, but the distinction between the two is important.

In essence, a good rule of thumb is that a financial adviser will help you make the most of your money. Whereas, a financial planner will help with your life, using your money to help you achieve your goals.

At Britannic Place, we are very much financial planners. We help you organise your wealth so that you can live the kind of lifestyle you want, both now and in the future.

3. What is a Chartered financial planner and why would I want to work with one?

Chartered status is considered to be the “gold standard” of financial planning.

Awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), Chartered status is given to firms and individual planners who have shown a dedication to the profession, and a commitment to upholding the very highest standards when serving clients.

Our director, Steve Perera, is a Chartered financial planner. Furthermore, Britannic Place is also a Chartered firm – in fact, we’re one of just three Chartered firms in Worcester.

4. What other accreditations might an adviser have, and why do they matter?

There are many other accreditations that advisers and planners might have beyond Chartered status. These might demonstrate their specialism in a particular area of advice, or a broader commitment to the profession as a whole.

At Britannic Place, not only is Steve a Chartered financial planner, but he also holds a range of other top-level qualifications, including:

• Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) Retirement Advice Standard
• Affiliate of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
• Fellow of the Personal Finance Society (PFS)
• Fellow of the Pension Management Institute (PMI)
• Associate member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)

These additional accreditations show Steve’s expansive knowledge and his commitment to his profession.

5. What are the benefits of working with a financial professional?

There are many benefits to seeking professional financial advice. Some of the most commonly reported benefits from advised clients include:

• Help managing investments
• Paying less tax
• Successfully making the transition from working to retirement
• Securing wealth for the benefit of clients’ families in future.

Perhaps the most important aspect of working with an adviser is the peace of mind it can offer. Knowing that you have an expert helping you manage your money can reassure you that your wealth is suitably organised.

By working with us, you can be confident that you’re on track to reach your goals for the future.

6. Do I want to work with an independent or restricted individual?

The choice between an independent or restricted financial expert comes down to your personal choice.

A restricted adviser or planner will usually work for or be associated with a larger organisation. Their advice will be personalised, but they will be restricted in some form, either in the providers they can recommend or by product.

Meanwhile, independent financial advisers and planners can choose whichever financial products they think are most suitable for individual clients to achieve their goals.

At Britannic Place, we are proud to be entirely independent. That means we can consider all products across the market, and select the ones that are most suitable for you, rather than being restricted to certain options.

7. Is paying for advice worth it?

Statistically speaking, yes, paying for advice is worth it.

According to data from the International Longevity Centre (ILC), receiving financial advice between 2001 and 2006 would have resulted in a £47,706 uplift in wealth between 2014 and 2016.

Furthermore, the ILC research also found that those who had an ongoing relationship with their adviser had nearly 50% higher average pension wealth than those only advised at the start.

This is echoed by research from Royal London, which found advised clients to have higher levels of satisfaction than those who don’t have an ongoing relationship.

Advised individuals also said they felt more in control of their money and had greater peace of mind.

So, the research strongly supports the worth of advice, both financially and emotionally.

8. What do your other clients say about you?

Our clients are hugely complimentary of the work we do. As of September 2023, we have a score of 4.9 out of 5 stars from 125 reviews on VouchedFor, a review site specifically for financial advisers.

Meanwhile, in an internal survey we ran with our clients:

• 100% said they believe that working with us has helped or will help them to achieve their financial goals
• 96% say it is very easy to be a client of Britannic Place
• 91% of clients would recommend us to friends and family.

As you can see, our other clients highly commend our services.

9. What are my goals for the future?

When you work with a financial planner, one of the very first questions they’re going to ask you is what you want to achieve in life. These goals will form the bedrock of your plan, with your wealth organised around them.

So, if you’re looking for a professional to work with, you might want to give this some thought. Some of the most common goals we hear from clients at Britannic Place include:

• Wanting to travel the world in later life
• Helping children or grandchildren onto the property ladder
• Creating a legacy to leave for their family in future.

Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Your goals will be entirely personal to you.

10. How is my wealth currently organised, and is this the most suitable arrangement?

In all likelihood, this is the question that will have driven you to seek an expert: is your money organised in the very best way it can be for you?

Financial planning can help you understand the different methods of holding wealth, and how you can use them to suitably organise your money.

Crucially, when you work with us, we’ll do this with your goals in mind. Your money might be the fuel, but your financial plan is the vehicle that will drive you towards those goals.

Get in touch

If you’d like to work with the leading financial planning firm in Worcestershire, please do get in touch.

Email info@britannicplace.co.uk or call 01905 419890 today to speak to an experienced adviser.

Please note

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax planning.