The North is home to many of the UK’s best financial planners, and here we highlight advisers who are going the extra mile for their clients and the profession.

Our roundtable debate focused on what the future holds. We can be encouraged by ongoing efforts to improve financial literacy among younger people, as well as the work carried out to raise awareness of fulfilling careers in financial advice. Having undertaken a Masters degree in Manchester myself, and attended numerous careers fairs in the region, I feel confident in saying that roles in our profession have not always been well promoted.

There were many interesting points raised in the discussion. The GameStop frenzy and the rise of cryptocurrency, for instance, are an adviser’s worst nightmare in some regards. They have also become a prime opportunity to explain the value of a proper financial plan and the value of long-term investing.

The impact of technology is relevant too. There are many demands on our time these days, which advisers are managing to cut through by using apps, portals and videoconferencing. These are also key tools in attracting the ‘tech generation’ as clients or colleagues.

Whatever the challenge, it seems that advisers in the North are evolving to meet the needs of present and future clients. Here we highlight some of the companies and people who are leading the way.

Ian Horne
Head of Audience Development – UK

VIEWS FROM THE NORTH

Advisers in the North have plenty of interesting perspectives, as we discovered when we brought together four of the region’s brightest minds – Kusal Ariyawansa, branch principal at Appleton Gerrard; Stephen Hughes, director and cofounder of Five Wealth; Tim Latham, chartered financial planner at Equilibrium; and Anita Wright, financial adviser at Bolton James – with Citywire’s Ian Horne and PIMCO vice president Joseph McCurdy.

Our roundtable debate saw them air a range of views on the next generation of advisers and clients. It was clear that technology has a firm place in that future – albeit with limits. Digital onboarding and a subscription model were seen as a great way to attract ‘Henry’ clients – high earners, not rich yet. Trading apps, for equities or more esoteric areas like cryptocurrency, were also seen as a good thing to pique interest in investing and pave the way for financial education, another key point for discussion.

ENGAGING THE TECH GENERATION

Technology has been a great enabler over the past year, but can be a double-edged sword when it comes to engaging younger generations in long-term financial planning.

Gathering at a virtual roundtable organised by PIMCO and Citywire as part of a series of regional events, advisers from the north of England discussed strategies to engage ‘generation tech’ in financial advice – not only in terms of management of their finances but as a potentially attractive career.

For Stephen Hughes, director and co-founder of Five Wealth, technology can help advisers make compliance less onerous for clients and greatly enhance the service and delivery of financial advice.

‘We’re a compliance-led industry and have been for many years,’ he says. ‘All the advisers here have probably apologised to clients in the past for the amount of paper we’ve thrown at them, or the obstacles we seem to present to doing business and to getting on with things.

DELEGATES

KUSAL ARIYAWANSA
BRANCH PRINCIPAL AND CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER, APPLETON GERRARD
ANITA WRIGHT
FINANCIAL ADVISER, BOLTON JAMES

JOSEPH MCCURDY
VICE PRESIDENT, PIMCO
STEPHEN HUGHES
DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, FIVE WEALTH
TIM LATHAM
CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER, EQUILIBRIUM

What role do bonds play in the portfolios of the next generation of advisers and their clients? Regardless of the answer, you need a global bond fund manager you can depend upon.

Click here to find out more.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

TERMS OF SERVICE

New Model Adviser® is owned and operated by Citywire Financial Publishers Ltd (“Citywire”). Citywire is a company registered in England and Wales (company number 3828440), with registered office at 3 Spring Mews, London, United Kingdom, SE11 5AN. 1. Intellectual Property Rights 1.1 We are the owner or licensee of all copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in and to these works (including all information, data and graphics in them) (collectively referred to as “Content”). You acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in this Content shall remain at all times vested in Citywire and / or its licensors. 1.2 This Content is protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved. Images and videos used on our websites are © iStockphoto, Thinkstock, Topfoto, Getty Images or Rex Features (among others). For credit information relating to specific images where not stated, please contact picturedesk@citywire.co.uk. 1.3 You must not copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, transmit, distribute, publish, summarise, adapt, paraphrase or otherwise publicly display any Content without the specific written consent of a director of Citywire.  This includes, but is not limited to, the use of Citywire content for any form of news aggregation service or for inclusion in services which summarise articles, the copying of any fund manager data (career histories, profile, ratings, rankings etc) either manually or by automated means (“scraping”). Under no circumstance is Citywire content to be used in any commercial service. 2. Non-reliance 2.1 You agree that you are responsible for your own investment decisions and that you are responsible for assessing the suitability and accuracy of all information and for obtaining your own advice thereon. You recognise that any information given in this Content is not related to your particular circumstances.  Circumstances vary and you should seek your own advice on the suitability to them of any investment or investment technique that may be mentioned. 2.2 The fund manager performance analyses and ratings provided in this Content are the opinions of Citywire as at the date they are expressed and are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any investment or to make any investment decisions. Citywire’s opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any investment for any specific purposes or requirements and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. 2.3 Persons who do not have professional experience in participating in unregulated collective investment schemes should not rely on material relating to such schemes. 2.4 Past performance of investments is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Prices of investments may fall as well as rise. 2.5 Persons associated with or employed by Citywire may hold positions or take positions in investments referred to in this publication. 2.6 Citywire Financial Publishers Ltd operate a policy of independence in relation to matters where the operators may have a material interest or conflict of interest. 3. Limited Warranty 3.1 Neither Citywire nor its employees assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on our site. 3.2 You acknowledge and agree that any information that you receive through use of the site is provided “as is” and “as available” basis without representation or endorsement of any kind and is obtained at your own risk. 3.3 To the maximum extent permitted by law, Citywire excludes all representations, warranties, conditions or other terms, whether express or implied (by statute, common law, collaterally or otherwise) in relation to the site or otherwise in relation to any Content or Feed, including without limitation as to satisfactory quality, fitness for particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, accuracy, or completeness. 3.4 Notwithstanding any other provision in these Terms, nothing herein shall limit your rights as a consumer under English law. 4. Limitation of Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Citywire will not be liable in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise for any liability, damage or loss (whether direct, indirect, consequential, special or otherwise) incurred or suffered by you or any third party in connection with this Content, or in connection with the use, or results of the use of Content. Citywire does not limit liability for fraudulent misrepresentation or for death or personal injury arising from Citywire’s negligence. 5. Jurisdiction. These Terms are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of England and the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in the event of any dispute in connection with this Content or these Terms

CITYWIRE INVESTMENT WARNING

This communication is by Citywire Financial Publishers Ltd (“Citywire”) and is provided in Citywire’s capacity as financial journalists for general information and news purposes only.  It is not (and is not intended to be) any form of advice, recommendation, representation, endorsement or arrangement by Citywire or an invitation to invest or an offer to buy, sell, underwrite or subscribe for any particular investment.   In particular, the information provided will not address your particular circumstances, objectives and attitude towards risk.  

Any opinions expressed by Citywire or its staff do not constitute a personal recommendation to you to buy, sell, underwrite or subscribe for any particular investment and should not be relied upon when making (or refraining from making) any investment decisions.  In particular, the information and opinions provided by Citywire do not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives and attitude towards risk.  

Citywire uses information obtained primarily from sources believed to be reliable (such as company reports and financial reporting services) however Citywire cannot guarantee the accuracy of information provided, or that the information will be up-to-date or free from errors. Investors and prospective investors should not rely on any information or data provided by Citywire but should satisfy themselves of the accuracy and timeliness of any information or data before engaging in any investment activity. If in doubt about a particular investment decision an investor should consult a regulated investment advisor who specialises in that particular sector.

Information includes but is not restricted to any video, article or guide content created or provided by Citywire.

For your information we would like to draw your attention to the following general investment warnings:

The price of shares and investments and the income associated with them can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the amount they invested. The spread between the bid and offer prices of securities can be significant in volatile market conditions, especially for smaller companies. Realisation of small investments may be relatively costly. Some investments are not suitable for unsophisticated or non-professional investors.  Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision to buy, sell, underwrite or subscribe for any investment and should take into account your circumstances and attitude to risk. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.