Holly's Blog: Shortcuts, Awards...and Rose'n'Gio

Goodness me we’ve an exciting one for you this week! First we can share something new with readers – we’re ‘soft’ launching our Boring Money Shortcut. This is a 2 minute quiz designed to suggest an appropriate path for people when it comes to their long-term savings. And three providers or advisers you might like.

We have spent the last 5 years helping people to work out what the best options for them are, from an independent viewpoint. If someone has £15,000, is not confident and wants a hand, there’s no point in glibly saying “If in doubt, please seek financial advice tra-la-la” because we know the sums involved just aren’t enough. But an emerging practice of financial coaching could be the right answer. If you have £100,000, want to set up a DIY pension, and your main priority is paying as little as possible– which are the best providers? If you’re coming up to retirement and need some advice but don’t want the full fandango – what about digital advice

The quiz basically sticks a hoover into our collective independent brains, attempts to show people what we would suggest to them were we having a chat, and tries to help by suggesting the right sort of solution for you – and three providers or advisers you might like.

It’s early doors and there are improvements to be made – please have a go and tell us what you think. And if you like it – please forward to your friends/kids/colleagues/family! We’ll act on your feedback and then do a bigger public push and launch early next year.

Finding an adviser and a ‘Dr Pepper event’

This week, we had our own mini Golden Globes for financial advisers sponsored by abrdn. It was the best awards ceremony I’ve been to for years because it took 20 minutes, I had thick woolly socks on and I didn’t get groped on a dancefloor at midnight by an sweaty over-enthusiastic Dad Dancer.

We wanted to recognise excellence amongst our early group of advisers who are on our site, tacking reader questions and providing pearls of wisdom for everyone.

Our new Adviser Directory was created to help readers have questions answered by an adviser – but also to look for an adviser they frankly like the look of and feels like someone they could trust. Our most popular filters are Fixed Fee advice and also those seeking a female adviser – interestingly not location. Being happy to receive advice on a video call is a lasting change I think we see from Covid.

I talked at an event for financial planners this week. The speaker after me gave me a great new descriptor of things and events– they’re either a Coke or a Dr Pepper event. Pre-pandemic, if you had a business meeting in Europe, and you attended by video call rather than jumping on a flight, that would have been a Dr Pepper event. Why on earth are you doing that? Post-pandemic, if you joined by Zoom that would be a Coke event. No-one ever asks why you’re doing that. (Credit: Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Ogilvy. Thanks for the analogy inspo!)

Is looking for a financial planner based on postcode rather than what they’re actually like now a Dr Pepper event?

Back to our awards and our Winners and Highly Commendeds are listed here – well done guys. Made extra special because it’s all voted by consumers. If you or anyone you know is looking for a financial adviser, please visit our Directory OR if you have a question, please ask away.

Important life events

Thanks everyone. Have a brilliant weekend. I am now firmly into Strictly after weeks of denial. Giovanni has so clearly got the screaming hots for Rose, which is captivating. We’re split in our household about whether we’re backing Rose’n’Gio…or John and Johannes who I love watching.

And whilst we’re on life-determining events – if you haven’t heard the Ed and Elton Christmas song yet – just do it and get it over with as it will be the soundtrack in Morrisons and B&Q for every December for the rest of your life! There’s no avoiding it.

Goodness me, what a thrilling life I lead...

Holly