At Cervello we tend to help people who have similar values.

Typically our clients, with a couple of exceptions, are based in either Essex, Hertfordshire or London.

Typically they’re hard working, family focussed and are positive, forward focussed and are typically optimistic.

Typically they’re approaching retirement with some big questions to answer. We help them navigate their financial affairs to often answer an important question…

“Have I got enough money to ensure that I can ensure I’ve got complete freedom to choose how I spend my time?”

If the answer is Yes the conversation with our clients is then about how they spend their time to be happy and to make sure if the assumptions we’ve made to build their plan change we can ensure they remain on track.

Often this leads to conversations deeper than money. Like the most efficient use of time….or how the money can be used if it’s given away…or using the money to contribute to making you a little bit happier.

However when the answer is “Not Yet” and a client hasn’t achieved financial freedom part of our role is to put action in place to help our clients achieve this.

Now interestingly, at the ripe old age of 42, I haven’t yet accumulated enough assets to achieve total and complete financial freedom.

If I’m perfectly frank I intend to work for years to come regardless of whether I need to or not (I think there’s massive amounts of value in work to keep you goal focused, mentally active and interested in life) however I also believe accumulating enough wealth to never have to work again is a decent ambition as it allows you to only take on work which truly matters to you.

So, despite me not being able to fully ‘retire’ today I’ve got a plan.

The plan is clear enough to tell me the age I will be financially free at an age not too far in the future…and I take the action I need to ensure that I’m on track to get there.

It’s interesting…

I think one of the best ways to work out your financial adviser or planner is the one you want to work with is by asking the following:-

“What does your financial plan look like?”

Or

“How old will you be when you achieve financial independence?”

I reckon you can tell a lot about someone if they truly practice what they preach…this is particularly important when you’re trusting them to help you achieve your financial goals.

So, next time you’re working with a financial planner….or potentially choosing a new one you might want to ask what they’re doing to financially plan…

To understand whether they are a truly authentic individual and they “practice what they preach” will allow you to decide whether you’re working with the right adviser….or not.