Having been in the insurance and investment world for close on 30 years now, one thing that stands out for me is the need to guide clients through the morass of industry jargon, misconceptions and the oversupply of information that leads to confusion and uncertainty.

Investment strategies need to be clear and simple and keep pace with changing macro global circumstances. Asset class selection is paramount and keeping costs down imperative. However, keeping costs low should not be done at the expense of quality results. There are some superb active fund managers out there and their skills should certainly be employed where they fit within an overriding strategy.

I also believe personal insurance should be used to guard against the risk of loss of your largest assets. Your most valuable asset is clearly your ability to earn income and that needs to be implemented at the correct levels. Once adequate protection is in place, then your monies are better spent on investing than over insuring.

Life is a journey and your investment and insurance needs change over time. My intention, throughout this journey, is to develop and nurture an enduring relationship based on trust as opposed to selling the ‘next best’ product on the market. A solid long-term relationship of understanding and respect leads to the best results for both the client and the advisor.