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WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO WILLIAMS BIRLEY WEALTH MANAGEMENT
This month Wirral Life caught up with Andy and Simon from Williams Birley Wealth Management , who are based in Brimstage Hall , Wirral .
Simon , we believe that it ' s coming up to your 5th anniversary at Williams Birley ... Simon - Yes that ' s true , Andy and I have known each other nearly 25 years ! Andy – Ouch , that makes me feel old !
Simon , Why did you choose financial advising ? I studied law at University and actually spent the first half of my twenties working in sports event management , which I loved . Financial advising was always something I ’ d had in mind for my long-term career and I ’ ve worked in the industry for eight years now .
Simon , financial advising isn ’ t the most obvious career after a law degree ? No I guess not , initially it was an interest in investments and the stock market , as well as wanting to be in a client facing profession , where I could interact with new people on a daily basis . I enjoy the variety that no two clients or meetings are ever the same , everyone is on a different journey with their financial planning . By helping people make good , informed decisions with their finances , it creates reassurance for the future , and I love that about my job .
What do you think your typical client looks like ? Simon – We really don ’ t have a ‘ typical ’ client . Our clients are so wide ranging , at various stages of their lives and careers . Whether it ’ s business directors wanting simple pension advice for them and their staff or new parents wanting to start an investment plan for their new born , there are many different ways we can help people . I ’ ve actually recently started a Junior ISA for my 1 year old , Samuel , where a relatively modest monthly investment , if invested well , will make a real difference for him when he reaches 18 .
Andy – I like that you called it simple pension advice , someone once described pensions to me , as being like a ‘ dark art ’! But I think part of our role it to make it easy to understand .
Simon – Yes , absolutely . I ’ d go even further and say there is a misconception that to be a client of a Wealth Management company , you need to have large sums of money to invest ; you really don ’ t , anyone and everyone can benefit from good financial planning .
Andy – I agree and you ’ ve got to have a plan . I ’ ve met very few people that fluked a nice retirement !
So do you think that lockdown has resulted in any specific focus for Williams Birley in 2021 ? Simon – Without a doubt . There has been a lot of focus in the media recently around mental health and wellbeing , and more specifically the impact financial well-being can have on this - it ’ s something we ’ re really committed to at WB . Andy and I both got accredited to facilitate education workshops to deliver to businesses and their employees . Education around how to manage your finances is so important but so lacking . So whether its via Zoom or in person , we ’ re really looking forward to doing a lot more of that this year .
If you could only provide one piece of advice to someone in one of your workshops or to a reader of Wirral Life , who has never thought about financial planning before , what would it be ? Simon - It is never too late , or too early to start financial planning . Whether it ’ s getting a clear understanding of the different pensions you have accumulated through your working life or beginning to invest an affordable monthly amount into an ISA , planning effectively and getting the right advice can have really big impact on yours and your family ’ s long-term future .
Andy – I agree and it starts with the simple question , “ If I keep doing what I am doing now , how will my finances look in the future and is that ok ?” If you cant answer that question , or the answer is no , then you are going to need to take action and get some advice .
If you would like to have a no obligation chat with us about your personal circumstances to see how we can help you make some financial plans or if you would like us to organise a free webinar for your business , please contact us at : williamsbirley @ sjpp . co . uk or call 01244 403 300 .
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