Alan Smith

HOW TO STAND OUT AND SECURE MORE CLIENTS AS A FINANCIAL ADVISER. 📈 Landing financial clients is challenging. Between building trust and navigating complex regulations, it's hard to differentiate yourself from your competitors. But what if there was a way to build credibility and attract quality leads? A book can do just that! Here’s why writing a book is a great move for financial advisors: 🔹 Stand Out: Showcase your unique brand and approach, helping you stand out from other financial experts. 🔹 Build Credibility: Establish yourself as an authority in your field – after all, "authority" comes from the word "author." 🔹 Generate Leads: A book is an in-depth marketing tool that can bring pre-qualified leads to your door, ready to engage. 🔹 Boost Confidence: Writing sharpens your message and proves your expertise, not just to the world, but to yourself. 🔹 Increase Visibility: In a competitive landscape, a book can elevate your marketing and make you more visible. We’ve seen many financial experts transform their businesses with a book – and you can too.  Are you considering writing a book to elevate your career as a financial advisor? Tell me what stage you’re at below… #FinancialAdvice #BusinessBook #ClientAcquisition David B Horne Sophie Stardust Joe Gregory Daniel Priestley Jonathan Farrar

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The value of a financial adviser. Financial Advisers charge in a variety of different ways. The most common way is to take a percentage from the Assets or Funds under management. This means that any money held in their investment funds. The average rate is 1%. Consider this. You invest £100,000 with your Financial Adviser. The fund increases by an average of 6%. You leave the fund for 20 years. It compounds. This grows over 20 years to £320,714.29. Looks good. Now lets deduct the adviser fee over those years. 1% adviser fee. The growth over 20 years is readjusted to £265,329.77. Still not too bad. So the cost of the adviser over 20 years reduces the investment fund by £55,384.52. Over half the original investment. That is £2769.22 per year. What do you think? Is it VFM?

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The 100 Envelope Challenge is a fun and effective savings method where you label 100 envelopes from 1 to 100, picking one randomly each day and depositing the corresponding amount. Meet the challenge and by the end of 100 days, you'll save AED5,050. This approach gamifies savings, making it engaging and ideal for those struggling with traditional methods. It's adaptable for UAE residents by adjusting amounts and can be done digitally. Start with fewer envelopes if necessary and stay motivated by tracking progress visually. Many continue saving after completing the challenge, building lasting financial discipline. My latest blog post for more info:https://lnkd.in/dSTv8dZU #SavingsChallenge #FinancialGoals #MoneyManagement #UAEExpatriates #PersonalFinance #SavingsTips #WealthBuilding

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Accumulation and Maintenance Trusts 🆚 Discretionary Trusts 🔹 Accumulation and Maintenance Trusts 🔹 Pros ✅ • Ideal for Minors: Designed to protect assets for children or grandchildren until they reach a specified age. • Inheritance Tax Benefits: Can reduce tax liability when structured correctly. • Reinvestment Capability: Allows trustees to accumulate and reinvest income. • Flexible Age Limits: Assets can be distributed once beneficiaries reach a chosen age. • Supports Education: Funds can help cover educational and living costs. Cons ❌ • Vesting Age Limitation: Once beneficiaries reach a certain age, they gain control. • Higher Administration: Requires detailed management and compliance oversight. • Tax on Retained Income: Income held in trust may be subject to higher tax rates. 🔹 Discretionary Trusts 🔹 Pros ✅ • High Flexibility: Trustees can decide on distributions based on beneficiaries’ needs. • Asset Security: Trust assets are protected from creditors or financial claims. • Multi-Generational Planning: An effective tool for flexible estate planning across generations. Cons ❌ • Complex Administration: Requires ongoing trustee management. • Potentially Higher Taxation: Income and gains within the trust may face higher tax rates. • Trustee Decisions: Trustees must ensure fair treatment aligned with the settlor’s goals. 💼 Why Consult an Adviser? Each trust type serves different purposes. A financial adviser helps ensure the right choice for your needs, maximising benefits and maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements. #Trusts #AccumulationAndMaintenanceTrusts #DiscretionaryTrusts #EstatePlanning #FinancialAdvisor #ProsAndCons #WealthManagement #CapitalAtRisk

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#Finance Professionals! Have you written your business-building book yet? 📚 If not, check out Bookmagic AI and find out how you can get out there and working for you and your business faster than you ever thought possible! #ClientAcquisition #BusinessBook #BookMagic

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Practise before you "REACH".... ( and please dont Preach). Its easy to sit in cool AC classrooms, maybe, read some bestsellers and then, quote the likes of Aswad, Warren & Chris Woods. Eureka Moment : You think, you know it all...... Until, you have an interview & you are found sitting in a formal environment with older-serious looking folks, these mean guys mean "mean-business" and they quiz you with questions on current affiars, global developments & various numbers, again based on what you have on your own CV. YOU : you end up with numbing your nuts 🥜 as you know almost nothing.... My 2 pennies : Focus on "preparing and practising" before actually landing up for interviews and wasting the precious time of the interviewer. Sincere Efforts Shine through.....

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New Blog! CBT can be a valuable resource if you’re experiencing the breakdown of a significant relationship. Read here: https://lnkd.in/edgS4FYe

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Consolidating pensions simplifies your financial life by bringing multiple pension pots into one account. This reduces the complexity of tracking various plans, statements and fund performances. Have you consolidated your pension benefits??? #pension #retirement #financialplanning [email protected] +254 716 238 180

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📊 Is There an Untapped Opportunity in Retirement Advice? Our latest survey results are in, thanks to the insights from forward-thinking advisers who shared their experiences. Here’s what we found: 💡 58% of advisers currently don’t change their service packages for clients approaching retirement and those already retired. This highlights a potential opportunity to address evolving client needs with a more personalised approach. Could this be a chance for advisers to elevate the retirement journey for clients? Join us in our upcoming webinar to explore the full survey findings and learn how advisers can make a lasting impact in retirement advice. 👉 Webinar details can be found here > https://lnkd.in/gBZCMKDJ All advisers who have completed the survey will receive a personalised report. It's not too late if you haven't yet. I've added the link to the survey in the comments.

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"What tools are in your IFA tool box?" I often refer to products as tools. But, what tools are actually in my IFA toolbox? Discretionary investments: →Tax Free Investments →Unit Trusts →Share Portfolios →Cash solutions/deposits/savings accounts →Endowments →Structured Products →Hedge Funds →Voluntary Annuities →Alternative Investments Compulsory investments: →Retirement Annuities →Preservation Funds →Living/Life Annuities/combination annuities Insurances: →Medical Aid →Short term (Gap cover most NB!) →Long term insurance (Life, Disability, Dread Disease, Personal and Business assurance) There is no standard recipe. Every client is a case of one. Unique needs and goals require a diverse menu of available options.

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Many of our clients have had a series of jobs over their careers and, perhaps like you, they have a stack of papers about various pensions they have. In reality they have no idea how much they are worth and if they are older pensions whether they have guarantees, limitations or protections built in. So step 11 in #JustOneFinancialThing is to find out what you have got now. You cannot build a plan for the future without understanding where you are currently are. There is a FREE service to help you - link in the comments, or if you don't know where to start, seek out an Independent Financial Adviser (try VouchedFor). If you are starting out in your career and been enrolled in our workplace pension, do take an interest in how much is being contributed and where it is being invested. This series was inspired by the late Michaels Mosley's series of podcasts, looking at small steps that can lead to better health and wellbeing.

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🎄 D A Y • 2 • C H O O S I N G • T R U S T E E S 🎄 When setting up a trust in your will, you 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 to manage it. Trustees are the people who will look after the assets in the trust and ensure they’re used in line with your wishes. 💡 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: 🎄 Trustees can also be your executors, but they don’t have to be. You can appoint separate people if you prefer. 🎄 Choose individuals who are trustworthy, financially savvy, and able to handle the responsibility. 🎄 It’s wise to discuss this with your chosen trustees beforehand to ensure they’re happy to take on the role. 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐓𝐢𝐩: When picking trustees, consider their relationship with the beneficiaries. It can help if they understand the beneficiaries’ needs but remain impartial to ensure fairness and professionalism in managing the trust. If you need further help then contact me on 📞 07955 681 329 📧 [email protected]

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Great article on IHT planning. The question is however, how much of it will still be valid come the Budget at the end of October? If you want to review your planning around IHT it would be well worth a discussion once the Budget details have been revealed.

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Bare Trusts 🆚 Discretionary Trusts 🔹 Bare Trusts 🔹 Pros ✅ • Simplicity: Easy to set up and manage. • Certainty: Beneficiaries have an absolute right to the assets. • Tax Efficiency: Potential inheritance tax benefits when structured correctly. Cons ❌ • Fixed Beneficiaries: Once set, beneficiaries cannot be changed. • No Trustee Control: Trustees have limited influence on distribution timing. • Limited Flexibility: Less suitable for changing family needs or complex planning. 🔹 Discretionary Trusts 🔹 Pros ✅ • Flexibility: Trustees can decide who benefits, how much, and when. • Asset Protection: Generally shielded from beneficiaries’ creditors. • Multi-Generational Planning: Helps manage wealth across generations. Cons ❌ • Complex Administration: Requires active management by trustees. • Potential Tax Liabilities: Higher tax rates if income is retained within the trust. • Trustee Responsibility: Needs careful alignment with the settlor’s goals. 💼 Why Consult an Adviser? Choosing between trusts involves assessing your goals, family dynamics, and tax implications. A financial adviser can guide you in selecting the right trust to suit your needs, ensuring compliance and optimising benefits. #Trusts #BareTrusts #DiscretionaryTrusts #EstatePlanning #FinancialAdvisor #ProsAndCons #WealthManagement #CapitalAtRisk

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Financial advisers know that great advice doesn’t just come down to numbers; it’s also about presenting those insights clearly, concisely, and in a way that truly resonates with clients. BAM Paraplanning has produced and is now using the new 'Research and Advice Overview Presentation' template! (this is not to replace a Suitability Report!) Because let’s face it—first impressions matter, and the way you present your financial strategies can make all the difference in building trust and credibility. 🏆 Let’s chat about how I can help you deliver advice and documents that truly stand out and bring your advice to life! 🚀 #PresentationMatters #ParaplanningExcellence #ClientSuccess

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🗓️ Monday Morning Focus: Sales Targets 🗓️ As an SME business owner, Monday mornings are about setting the tone for the week ahead. One of the critical tasks on my agenda is reviewing our sales targets. Hitting our sales goals is essential for growth sustaining our operations and ensuring we can continue to provide exceptional service to our clients. 🔍 Here's how I tackle this: Review Last Week's Performance: I start by analyzing our sales data from the previous week. What worked? What didn't? This helps identify patterns and areas for improvement. Set Clear Goals: Based on our review, I set specific, achievable targets for the week. I communicate these goals clearly to the team so everyone knows what we're aiming for. Team Alignment: A quick team meeting to align everyone on our objectives, discuss strategies, and address any concerns. It's all about fostering a collaborative environment where everyone is motivated to contribute. Leverage Data and Tools: Utilizing our CRM and other sales tools to track progress and adjust strategies in real-time. Staying agile is key! Client Engagement means ensuring we maintain strong relationships with our clients, understand their needs, and consistently deliver value. Every Monday is a new opportunity to drive success and build momentum. It's not just about meeting numbers—pushing boundaries, innovating, and striving for excellence in everything we do. How do you approach your sales targets each week? Let's share insights and strategies! #SmallBusiness #SalesGoals #MondayMotivation #SME #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Accounting #BusinessFinance #smallbusiness #businessownership #ILOVEWHATIDO

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