Conversation, counselling, and emotional support– clients ask for more from their financial advisers

by | Nov 23, 2021

Share this article

  • A third (34%) of financial advisers revealed that clients need more emotional support than financial, such as guidance and assistance with their day-to-day lives
  • 34% also confirmed that clients want more contact out of traditional working hours
  • One in eight (13%) consumers who have previously, or currently seek financial advice, want their adviser to be more familiar and sympathetic to their personal situation

Consumers are increasingly seeking financial advice at pivotal, and often more vulnerable, moments in their lives. As a result, it’s reshaped the role of financial advisers as clients are much more demanding about what additional support they need. Adviser’s skillsets have had to expand beyond just providing financial advice. A third (34%) of financial advisers revealed that clients need more emotional support than financial, such as guidance and assistance with their day-to-day lives, according to new research from wealth manager Charles Stanley. Almost a third (31%) of advisers also said that clients now require more support in general.

The research coincides with Charles Stanley’s adviser conference which seeks to uncover at which point and why clients engage with financial advisers, how the conversation has shifted, and how advisers can engage with the next generation of clients. As well as providing a more rounded service, clients are increasingly expecting financial advisers to be more accessible.

More than a third (35%) of financial advisers revealed that clients now wish to meet more frequently and have more contact time with them. A third (34%) also confirmed that clients want more contact outside of traditional working hours. Since Covid-19 restrictions have lifted, almost the same number (33%) confirmed that the demand for face-to-face contact has also increased.

 
 

Covid-19 has also exacerbated client needs and the skillsets required of advisers are more diverse than ever. When thinking about what clients want most from their meetings, 31% of financial advisers said that clients want answers to any questions they have. Whilst the same number (31%) said clients want them to use real-life examples. But clients are also wanting more personal touches added to the advice they receive. 29% of advisers recognise that clients want them to understand their personal situation whether that be family life, employment status, or day-to-day struggles. A quarter (26%) want their adviser to build their relationship with them.

As part of the study, Charles Stanley also asked UK adults who have previously sought or currently seek financial advice what their expectations and requirements are of financial advisers. In addition to the traditional adviser role and being masters in their field, many consumers expect financial advisers to go above and beyond, becoming more like counsellors in their approach to their service.

When thinking about what advisers could do to make the experience of receiving financial advice better, 19% said they want advisers to answer any questions they have, while 19% want to be talked to like a human being. 19% said that regular communication from their adviser would also make for a better experience when it comes to receiving financial advice, while 15% said more support around hours that suit them, even if it’s after core traditional working hours, would make it better. More than one in ten (13%) said their adviser could be more familiar and sympathetic to their personal situation.

 
 

Sean Osborne, Group Head of Sales at Charles Stanley, comments: “Financial advisers are not only expected to be a master in their field, but they are also increasingly challenged with the need to offer emotional support and support to vulnerable clients. Clients no longer only seek financial advice from their adviser, but also look for someone who can go above and beyond the traditional role and demonstrate their skillset as a counsellor, mediator, and listener, all the while being more contactable and accessible out of hours.

“Covid-19 has thrown huge curveballs to both advisers and clients, changing the ways we work, digitisation, the financial priorities everyone has, and the moments that matter which prompt conversations between the two. Advisers have been quick to adapt to a more virtual model of advice, but things are shifting again as clients want more face-to-face contact and a broader skillset from their adviser. The lines are being blurred between professional and personal advice in a post-Covid world, and advisers are under pressure to deliver on all fronts.”

Charles Stanley is due to launch its Moments that Matter report which looks at life stages and milestones that trigger client conversations with financial advisers, and how advisers can adapt to facilitate new or challenging conversations and demands with clients.

 
 

Share this article

Related articles

IFAM 127 | Not if, but when | April 2024

IFAM 127 | Not if, but when | April 2024

Not if, but when… Spring finally seems to have arrived! Since our last edition, we have had the Spring Budget and the Bank of England (BoE) rate announcement to name but a few important landmarks. This has kept us, like all of you I am sure, quite busy over the last...

Sign up to the IFA Magazine Newsletter

Trending articles

IFA Talk logo

IFA Talk is our flagship podcast, that fits perfectly into your busy life, bringing the latest insight, analysis, news and interviews to you, wherever you are.

IFA Talk Podcast - listen to the latest episode

x