As with any role there are those exceptional people for whom their role is a true vocation and their career shines! There are others who sleepwalk through work, going through the motions, or just do the job adequately at best. There can be a huge gap between the two; but what are the factors that really make a difference between adequate and exceptional financial planning advisers? How can you ensure you truly excel?
Great wealth planners tailor their advice to suit each individual client to provide the very best bespoke service.
A great financial planner in wealth management is like a trusted guide and strategist rolled into one! They listen and take the time to understand people, anticipating needs and asking key questions to open up areas of thought and consideration for their clients. It’s not just about the facts and figures!
Does this sound like you?
Naturally, a truly great financial planner, is a whole mix of attributes which come together to create someone special.
Here’s what sets the great wealth planners apart…
Being true pros at investment strategies, tax planning, estate and retirement planning, great financial planners know all the intricate rules and products of wealth management. By knowing the technical side of the wealth management industry inside out, together with market trends and economic conditions, well-rounded, robust plans for clients are created and honed.
Utilising WealthTech on a daily basis has a whole host of benefits:
Staying informed and proactive and ready to adjust strategies, maximises the benefits for clients. Financial markets, as we know, can change quickly, so great financial planners have the analytical skills to navigate these shifts.
By committing to continuous learning, it is easier to stay up to date with industry trends and regulations and ensures a thorough well-versed knowledge of the latest analytical methods and technologies. Having this ability to research and analyse complex financial data, quickly (perhaps with the help of WealthTech), guarantees informed, bespoke decisions for clients.
Life throws curveballs (doesn’t it just!?), and so do finances. The best financial planners are resilient problem-solvers, able to pivot, adapt, and creatively resolve challenges while keeping clients’ best wealth planning interests front and centre.
Wonderful wealth planners understand that every client is unique: by listening closely, tailoring advice, and designing personalised strategies based on each client’s unique goals, risk tolerance, and timeline, they provide a truly bespoke package. Great financial planners aren’t afraid to adjust advice in line with client’s life changes.
Creating and building a long-term partnership, by establishing a mutual trust is paramount. Proactively anticipating client needs and prioritising client’s best interests, developing long term strategies for them, whilst adhering to high ethical standards are all key attributes to a meaningful client centric approach.
By using excellent communication skills, the breaking down of complex financial jargon into relatable, understandable advice is great for clients especially when delivered in a clear and concise manner. Successful financial planners ensure clients don’t feel overwhelmed but instead feel confident, empowered and informed about their financial decisions.
By using active listening skills and empathy to pay close attention to what a client wants, and addressing any concerns that clients may have, means that financial planners can respond appropriately to clients’ emotions and perspectives to build on solid relationships. Trust and reliability are key.
In wealth management, trust is everything. A high calibre wealth planner acts transparently, prioritising client’s interests over everything else. Proactively and morally anticipating client’s needs and providing advice with integrity and confidentiality in a timely manner.
Committed to ethical practices, there is never any doubt that everything is conducted with total integrity, ensuring clients are happy and loyal for the long term.
At the end of the day, treating people how you would like to be treated yourself is the basis of good moral conduct and applying this to every client and colleague interaction can only be a great thing!
We’ve talked above about what makes an exceptional financial planner, in terms of what a client expects, and what one associates with good advice, but what about what type of person it takes to provide this?
There are many personality types in the world, which is what makes us all interesting. There are certainly traits which make up the type of person who becomes a top financial planner in wealth management – here are a few bite sized attributes:
Having the full package of innate and learnt skills, and the predisposed character traits to become an excellent wealth management planner, means nothing without the right team and company behind you.
The company you work for has to be just right too. You need to have a manager who brings out the very best in his team, who listens and acts when required. The values and ethics of the company and team need to align with yours and the type of advice you want to provide.
If you feel you aren’t in the right place at the moment and know you have more to give if you were in your truly happy home, then we can help! We know our clients inside out, and after chatting to you to find out who you are and what you want, we can match you with the right company and the right position. We are here to listen and help, and with 97% of our placements still thriving in their new roles 5+ years onwards, we are multi-award-winning specialists in our field.
If you are looking for your next financial planning career step, or are early in your wealth management career, and unsure about the path you should take, please do give one of our team a call to chat through your options. Our national team of value-led, ethical and effective head hunters have on average over 35 years in both Financial Services and Financial Services Recruitment. So they know the industry really well and know some great people and companies within it.
Here are some other great articles of ours that are well worth a read:
Research and Planning – you can never do too much of this. Be your best prepared version of yourself. Practice – the technical stuff and the interview itself. Don’t forget to relax and smile – take deep breaths to calm nerves before the video starts. Let your personality and your interest in the company and role shine through!
Just like any interview, face to face or on video, preparation is key as first impressions count. Showing how much you know about the company, could make the difference between getting that dream role, or it going to someone who did their homework, before the video interview
Let’s start with the person, because after all, Wealth Management is a people business – we need ethical advice when trusting someone with our money. It’s so important to have the right fit for your company team too – who the person is, is everything. We take the time to truly get to know our clients and our candidates as people. We assess both thoroughly, so that we can make long lasting matches where people thrive.
We are national multi award winning Wealth Management Recruiters, with on average, 35+ years’ experience both in financial services and in recruitment, our reach is long and we have wide ranging connections across the industry. We care about people as individuals, both clients, candidates and retiring IFAs who need IFA acquisition introductions.
An empowered, supported, cared for candidate will do well at interview. They know why they are there; they have done their research and so will be able to ask better questions. They are well matched for the role and they are excited with the opportunity and are engaged in the process. They can explain their career succinctly and be able to show evidence of their key achievements. They are supported by their Truestar Talent Manager, who is their advocate throughout the process.
