January 1, 2024
Simon, our featured adviser for February, talks about what makes Talis IFA’s approach different.
“The professional question I am most often asked is, ‘I have this amount of money – what should I do with it?’ My answer often comes as a surprise… ‘Wrong question!’ Instead, I ask, ‘What do you want to achieve?’ And the answer to that question is often, ‘I haven’t really thought about it.’
“At Talis, we don’t sell particular products. Our ‘life first, money second’ approach means that we focus on objectives, and only once our clients are clear about those do we recommend products or solutions to help achieve those objectives.
“I help my clients to understand the implications of their financial decisions, and to steer them towards decisions that place their life objectives at the very heart. Supporting people in better understanding their own goals and to make the most appropriate financial choices to achieve those goals is one of the most valuable things we do.
“Of course we also advise on the practical things; finding a more cost-effective mortgage deal, improving tax-efficiency of investments and pensions or putting affordable life insurance in place, but most important is our skill in asking the right questions – the answers to which help our clients really think through the practicalities and the ‘what ifs’. Sometimes it’s about getting people to recognise problems they don’t even realise they have. And an ability to do that comes from experience. My 40-plus years in the profession means that I can ask the right questions and draw the answers out – and sometimes those answers are not what my clients expected!
“It’s also about trust. My clients trust me, not only with their money, but with their aspirations and their secrets. They understand that I can help them best when armed with that knowledge.”
site by motley.co.uk