The number of households facing huge debts in the UK is on the rise due to the high cost of living and inflation. This is one of the reasons why many people are looking for financial advisors. In this report, we will look at the various roles of financial advisors in the UK.
Contents
Who are Financial Advisors?
A financial advisor is a person or company that specializes in offering advise to individuals or companies. The person achieves this by using a combination of their academic knowledge and experience to come up with a financial plan that is useful to the customer. A good example of financial advisor is a financial analyst who advises customers on what stocks or bonds to invest in.
The Financial Advisory Industry in the UK
The UK has a vibrant financial industry. This has made London, a leading financial capital of the world. The city is home to many local and international banks and investment firms. As in other places, the financial advisory industry in the UK is divided into four. First, there are small boutique firms that provide financial advice to individual customers. Second, there are boutique firms that advice companies. Third, there are big financial advisory companies that offer financial advice as part of their services. For example, banking groups like Lloyds and Barclays have financial advisors, who provide these services to their customers. Similarly, insurance companies like Aviva and Admiral Group have advisors. Finally, there are legal financial advisors, who advise customers on legal issues.
The financial advisory industry is highly regulated in the UK. The industry is overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which has put in place regulations to make the industry safe. The industry was also overseen by the European Securities Market Authority (ESMA) before the UK left the EU. As a result, advisors were mentioned widely in the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MIFID II). The industry is regulated to make it safe and prevent conflicts of interest. We witnessed these conflicts during the financial crisis of 2008/9. At the time, financial advisors were known to advise customers in one way and then act in the exact opposite way.
What Financial Advisors Do in the UK
Financial advisors offer various services to their customers. Some of the most common work they do are:
Investment Advice
The UK has a vibrant investment scene. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is home to thousands of companies in all sectors. Most people in the UK have indirectly invested in the UK stock market through their pension funds. However, most people don’t know how to directly invest in stocks, ETFS, or other investment products. As a result, they turn to financial advisors to get investment advice on the best stocks and financial assets to invest in. These advisors are usually found in boutique investment firms or in other financial institutions. An investment financial advisor in this situation will look at the amount of money the client wants to invest in and the duration they are seeking to invest in, and their risk profile. After doing this, they can advise them on the type of portfolios they can create.
Advise on Insurance
The UK is known for the large Lloyds of London insurance marketplace where the biggest insurance deals are made. The country is also known for the large insurance industry it has. While the number of insurance companies have been falling, the current number of insurance companies is still high. The challenge with most people is that they don’t know much about insurance. As such, insurance advisors help customers understand insurance lingo and the types of insurance covers to take.
Retirement Planning
The UK population is aging. As people age, the concept of retirement planning becomes very essential. Retirement planning is the process where a financial advisor sits with a client, looks at the current income, and comes up with a plan for them to retire peacefully.
Estate Planning
With more people in the UK getting richer and old, the concept of estate planning becomes essential. The process helps to guide how a person’s wealth will be treated when they die. By so doing, estate planning can help reduce conflicts and ensure that a person’s wealth is protected well. This can be achieved by donating funds to charity or forming a trust. A financial planner can help you come up with a good will to ensure that your wealth is distributed well.
Tax Planning
Another work done by a financial advisor is tax planning. As with all countries, people need to pay their taxes to fund the services offered by the government. In the UK, people must pay their taxes to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Handling taxes is usually a simple thing to many people. However, the process is usually long and complex for wealthy people with vast sources of income. Financial advisors help them to plan their taxes and pay the least amount.
Relocating To or From the UK
Financial planning is important whether you are moving from the UK or returning to the country. For example, if you are moving completely from the UK, you need to take steps to remove yourself from the UK tax system. If you are moving to the UK, you need to add yourself to the system. This will help put you in the right side of the law. A good financial advisor will help you achieve this well.
The Best Financial Advisory Firms in the UK
As a customer, depending on your current situation, having a good financial advisor can help you handle some of the most pressing issues. As a country with many financial advisors, you need to ensure that you get the best. To do this, you need to consider the situation you want to address. This is because some advisors focus on singular issues while others focus on diverse issues. Here are some of the best-known financial advisors in the UK:
- Quilter Financial Planning
- Close Brothers Asset Management
- Grant Thornton Group
- Mazars Financial Planning
- Charles Stanley
Summary
Hiring a good financial planner is a good thing. These people have decades of experience dealing with the financial problem that you are going through. They will also guide you to avoid making common mistakes that people do.
