First Post

So, I thought it would be a great idea to have a blog.

After all, everyone else is doing it.

Now I’ve got to think of something to say!

I hope that those practitioners that I’m already working with will use this as a forum to discuss issues of interest. I hope that practitioners that I don’t currently work with will somehow stumble across this and join in too. I also hope that other Financial Planners will enter the fray.

To give a bit of personal background, I am predominantly a pension specialist and really fell in to working on divorce cases by default. Without question, this has given me the most satisfaction, in terms of feeling that I make a difference for the Client. So now I specialise in this work.

I’m a bit evangelical about the role of Financial Planning in divorce, especially the need to bring this element in to the equation early enough. However, having said that, I am very mindful of the pressures that Lawyers are working under, in terms of time and costs, not to mention Judges and Barristers.

With that in mind, I am very interested in Collaborative work and Mediation for obvious reasons. My mission, I suppose, is to get a similar level of involvement in the Ancillary process, early enough to do a proper job.

I’m also mindful of the appalling reputation that my ‘Profession’ has, for sharp practice and aggressive selling. I didn’t always work in this industry and I tend to share most peoples view. However, things are improving I hope, as the well qualified, fee based end of the industry seeks to separate itself from the likes of the Banks and Direct Sellers.

The Resolution Accreditation has made all the difference for me personally. Fellow Resolution members have been extremely welcoming and generous with their time and the POD meetings are invaluable. I would urge any Financial Planners who are interested in this work to get on the list for the training.

So, my hope is that we find a way to make this work for the benefit of our Clients. Hopefully this blog will play its part.