If you already have clients who work with Ardent, you will probably be aware of the work we do with pensions and investments and our commitment to providing an excellent service.

You may also know that, in 2021, New Model Adviser included us on the list of the top 100 UK financial firms, and that we were named a VouchedFor Top Rated firm earlier this year.

What you may not be so familiar with is the many other ways we can help your clients. Read on to discover eight ways we can help your business to provide a more holistic service that could put you ahead of the competition.

1. Preparing for retirement

Planning for retirement is so much more than picking a pension. That’s why we will talk to your clients about how they see their retirement, including the lifestyle they aspire to and whether they intend to stop work completely or continue on a part-time basis.

By fully understanding your client and their needs, we create a strategy that’s individual to them and will provide the lifestyle they seek for as long as they need it.

If you’re an accountant, we will work hand in hand with you to ensure that every element of your client’s finances are taken into account, and any recommendation dovetails into your advice. This means your client benefits from a more joined-up approach to their finances, helping you provide the best possible service.

2. Help during retirement

Retirement is an exciting stage although it can raise many questions. For your client, this could be: “what is the most tax-efficient way to take an income?” and “will my pension run out?”

With extensive experience in accessing pensions as tax-efficiently as possible and through our use of income modelling software, we’ll provide your clients with the answers they seek. This will help ensure they have peace of mind that they can enjoy the retirement they want for as long as they live for.

This joined-up approach can also help to boost your business’s level of service and reputation.

3. Intergenerational wealth planning

Having to consider our mortality is not something many of us want to do, yet doing it as soon as possible is usually a shrewd move.

Whether you’re a solicitor writing wills or an accountant with high net worth clients, minimising an Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability could help your clients leave significantly more money to loved ones.

That’s why we can work with you to create a bespoke intergenerational wealth plan that helps reduce IHT and could provide your client with more control over how the money is used by beneficiaries.

4. Helping you to invest ethically

Investing with a conscience does not necessarily mean losing potential growth. According to a Morningstar article in February 2022, ESG funds performed on a par with, or better than, conventional investment funds in the five years leading up to it.

While demand for ESG investments has grown, your clients may be concerned about “greenwashing”, which is when a company appears more environmentally responsible than it is.

This is something we are extremely aware of, which is why we’re very careful about the ESG funds we use. This means your clients will have peace of mind that any ESG investments they make through us will be as environmentally and socially responsible as they would like.

5. Helping during a divorce

If you are a solicitor, you’ll know that at one of the most upsetting times in your client’s life, it can be difficult for them to understand their total marital assets.

You may already know that research by Legal & General found that 24% of divorcees waive their rights to their ex-spouse’s retirement fund, which can result in financial hardship later on.

That’s why we will work with you and your clients to help ensure your client understands the value of the marital assets, and what a fair asset split should look like.

Furthermore, we will provide a non-judgemental, clear and individual financial strategy to help your client get back on their financial feet and look forward to a brighter future.

6. Preparing for later-life care

As a solicitor or accountant, you may be only too aware of the effect long-term care costs can have on a client’s wealth. While it’s good news that many of us can look forward to a long life, it can result in significant care costs.

According to PayingForCare, the cost of care could range from £28,392 a year to £64,064 a year in 2022 depending on the level of care your client needs and where they live in the UK. These costs could significantly reduce the amount of money your client can leave to beneficiaries after their death.

As members of the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA), we will help ensure that your clients can afford the level of care they want, while simultaneously reducing its effects on their wealth.

7. Releasing capital from your home

Whether it’s for a better retirement, later-life care or to do much needed work on their home, your clients may want to unlock capital from their property. While this can be an effective solution, care needs to be taken, as it could reduce the amount they leave to loved ones and have wider financial implications.

We will take a holistic view of your client’s financial situation to ensure that equity release is right for them. If not, we will look to see if alternative options exist.

8. Providing a financial safety net

Research by Nationwide suggests that 60% of people go to work when ill because of money worries, with a third continuing to work when their doctor has told them not to.

Having financial protection could give your clients peace of mind when the unexpected and unwanted happens. This could allow them to maintain their lifestyle, and ensure they can afford their mortgage repayments, which means the family home will not be at risk.

It could also mean they don’t use up their savings or investments in order to survive, something that could put their long-term financial security in jeopardy.

While having protection is a cornerstone of good financial planning, your client probably wants peace of mind that it will meet their needs and that it provides value for money. Thanks to our extensive experience in financial protection and life cover, we can help ensure this.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss any of the above issues, or your clients would like to create a wealth strategy, please contact us on hello@ardentuk.com or call 01904 655 330.

Please note

This article is for information only. Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Similarly, a pension is a long-term investment. The fund value may also fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loans secured on it. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.