Sometimes with the work we do with our private clients we’re conscious of a gap…

A gap between a clients currents situation and where they want to be.

 You might assume as financial planners ‘the gap’ our clients are trying to close is always a financial one. Often it is.

Part of what we do is to work with our clients to put a plan in place, and then take action, to try to close the financial gap between where they are now and where they want to be.

However often the gaps we talk about with our clients aren’t financial…

It’s about the important things in life…

The gap between what they’ve achieved and what they still want to do.

The gap between how they spend their time now and how they want to spend their time ideally.

and

The gap between the relationships they have with the ones they love and the relationships they want.

Now there’s no denying that money (and the journey towards financial security) for most of us plays an important part in that process and enables freedom of choice in a number of aspects of our lives.

However I believe that the most important thing (or even close to the most important thing) is how wealthy we are is a flawed thought process.

 There’s plenty of evidence, both rhetorical and academic, which tells us that financial security both during our working lives and in our later lives (when we might work less) does play it’s part in our happiness…but often a lot less than we all believe.

One of my favourite insights comes from a lady called Bonnie Ware.

Bonnie worked as a hospice nurse for years and during her time asked many questions of the patients who at the end of their lives were in her care. You can read a summary of her thoughts here or pick up a copy of her book “The top five regrets of the dying” on Amazon (or your bookshop of choice)

Interestingly in Bonnie’s list money doesn’t feature once.

The dying regretted how they lived their lives, how they spend their time and how they often didn’t nurture relationships. They also said they ‘wished they’d let themselves be happier’.

I think her insights, from people who are so near to the end of their lives, hits the nail on the head. There are a bunch of things way more important than money.

So money might play a part in our lives but relationships, achievement and happiness are all important…so this leads to an, erm, rather awkward question…

Is there value in seeing a financial planner?

 …and I suppose the answer to that depends.

If your own particular financial adviser or planner just focuses on your wealth they’ll likely add a decent amount of value. Financial advisers and planners across the land add value to their clients lives by saving them tax and helping them make decent strategic decisions.

However the financial planners I believe add the most value focus not only on the money but how it applies to the other non financial aspirations in their lives….the aspect of our lives many of us would agree, from scientists who have studied this area to insightful hospice nurses to probably you and defiantly me, are more important.

Linking our financial goals to what’s truly important is what lots of the best financial planners do across the UK and what we do for many of our clients too…

It might be a weird thing for a financial planner to say but…

Money, when compared to family, achievements, relationships and happiness is often just a means to an end.

 So, if you share the same philosophy….it might be worth selecting a professional who feels the same way.

To contact us, and see whether we can help you not only with your finances but also connecting your money to some of the more important things in life feel free to contact CassieDaems@cervellofp.co.uk or 01708 606 202.