News
How to know if your Financial Adviser is working out for you
2 April 2025
When it comes to managing your wealth, choosing the right Financial Adviser can make all the difference. For high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, time is incredibly valuable. A truly effective Adviser does more than manage your money, they help protect your financial future and unlock opportunities that align with your personal and professional goals. But how do you know if your Adviser is delivering real value? And how can you recognise when it’s time for a change?
The value of the right Financial Adviser
For HNW clients, working with a Financial Adviser who understands the needs of high net worth individuals and is well-versed in available tax allowances, exemptions, and planning tools is key to maintaining long-term financial wellbeing. The right Adviser understands the complexity of large portfolios, tax efficiency, international assets, and multigenerational wealth planning.
They offer bespoke strategies, including access to tax-efficient structures. They also act as a strategic partner across retirement, estate, and cross-border financial planning. Think of your Adviser as the project manager, the conduit to your financial lives.
A strong, proactive relationship with your Adviser should leave you feeling confident, informed, and free to focus on what matters most to you.
Signs your Adviser is working for you
1. Personalised strategy
Your Adviser builds a financial plan around your specific objectives, risk appetite, and life goals - whether that includes family legacy planning, charitable giving, or business succession. Nothing is off the shelf.
2. Proactive communication
You hear from your Adviser regularly, not just when you reach out. They stay ahead of legislative changes, market developments, and planning opportunities, helping you capitalise on them early. They also manage complexity efficiently, reducing your admin burden.
3.Fee transparency
Make sure you understand the type of service they offer before you decide whether to get advice from them. That includes the cost of the advice and the method of charging. Whether it's a flat fee, AUM-based, or performance-linked, your Adviser is clear, consistent, and fair. If their fees feel vague or change frequently, that’s a red flag.
4. Holistic wealth planning
They look beyond your portfolio to optimise tax, plan for succession, protect your family, and ensure your strategy evolves as your circumstances do. A good Adviser brings structure to the big picture, not just your assets, or the assets they personally manage.
Red flags to watch for
1. Advice that feels off track
If recommendations no longer align with your values, goals, or financial plan, your Adviser may be drifting. Advice should evolve with you, but always stay grounded in your objectives.
2. Product-led rather than client-led
If advice seems centered around selling specific products, especially those with high commissions, this could suggest a misalignment of incentives.
3. Always reactive, rarely proactive
If your Adviser only checks in when markets drop or when you raise a concern, you're missing the value of foresight and strategy. You should, at the very least, go through a detailed annual portfolio and financial reviews, thinking about the year that has passed, and the year ahead.
4.Poor communication or visibility
You should never feel in the dark about performance, risk exposure, or next steps. If you're unclear about where things stand, that's a problem. One thing to note, there are minimum qualifications that all regulated Financial Advisers need to have achieved. Most will have achieved benchmarks above that, such as the Chartered Financial Planner or the Certified Financial Planner qualifications.
They might also have specific qualifications covering the areas they specialise in, such as long-term care, equity release and pension transfers.
What if it’s time to move on?
If you're questioning your Adviser's value, it may be time to explore alternatives. Moving to a new adviser shouldn't be stressful or disruptive. Make sure to give your Adviser an opportunity to improve or explain; Changing Advisers is almost never an easy decision, make sure your decision is based on facts and accuracies.
What to look for in a new Adviser
• Proven experience with HNW clients and complex planning needs
• Deep understanding of tax-efficient investments and structures, especially strategies like ISAs, pensions, and other tax-relieved investments that are common among high-net-worth individuals (For example, tax-efficient strategies such as ISAs, pensions, and certain investment schemes can significantly enhance wealth preservation).
•Transparent, client-aligned fee model
•Strong communication and reporting processes
•International and cross-border expertise if relevant to your affairs
Questions to ask
•How do you personalise strategies for HNW individuals?
•What is your approach to tax efficiency and intergenerational planning?
•Can you support international and cross-border needs (if applicable)?
•How often will we review progress, and how will you communicate with me?
•What is your fee structure, and how do I know it's aligned with my outcomes? There are a number of different types of fee structures. Typically a financial advisor firm will use a combination of these fees, depending on the nature of the service and advice.
A smooth transition
The right Adviser will manage the transition for you, handling the paperwork, overseeing portfolio transfers, and minimising disruption. Your wealth should remain well managed throughout the process.
Key takeaways
•Review your Adviser relationship regularly to ensure it still meets your needs.
•Lack of alignment, poor communication, or misaligned incentives are all red flags.
•A great Adviser brings expertise, personalisation, and proactive value.
•Transitions can and should be simple, the right firm will take care of it. It’s worth taking the time to choose the right financial advisor for your circumstances.
How atlas private wealth can help
At Atlas wealth, we specialise in working with HNW clients across the UK and internationally. We offer sophisticated, tax-efficient solutions tailored to your unique goals, from legacy planning and international structuring to investment management and succession.
If you're unsure about your current advice relationship, we're here to offer a second opinion, with no obligation. Let us help you take control of your wealth with confidence.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.
The value of the right Financial Adviser
For HNW clients, working with a Financial Adviser who understands the needs of high net worth individuals and is well-versed in available tax allowances, exemptions, and planning tools is key to maintaining long-term financial wellbeing. The right Adviser understands the complexity of large portfolios, tax efficiency, international assets, and multigenerational wealth planning.
They offer bespoke strategies, including access to tax-efficient structures. They also act as a strategic partner across retirement, estate, and cross-border financial planning. Think of your Adviser as the project manager, the conduit to your financial lives.
A strong, proactive relationship with your Adviser should leave you feeling confident, informed, and free to focus on what matters most to you.
Signs your Adviser is working for you
1. Personalised strategy
Your Adviser builds a financial plan around your specific objectives, risk appetite, and life goals - whether that includes family legacy planning, charitable giving, or business succession. Nothing is off the shelf.
2. Proactive communication
You hear from your Adviser regularly, not just when you reach out. They stay ahead of legislative changes, market developments, and planning opportunities, helping you capitalise on them early. They also manage complexity efficiently, reducing your admin burden.
3.Fee transparency
Make sure you understand the type of service they offer before you decide whether to get advice from them. That includes the cost of the advice and the method of charging. Whether it's a flat fee, AUM-based, or performance-linked, your Adviser is clear, consistent, and fair. If their fees feel vague or change frequently, that’s a red flag.
4. Holistic wealth planning
They look beyond your portfolio to optimise tax, plan for succession, protect your family, and ensure your strategy evolves as your circumstances do. A good Adviser brings structure to the big picture, not just your assets, or the assets they personally manage.
Red flags to watch for
1. Advice that feels off track
If recommendations no longer align with your values, goals, or financial plan, your Adviser may be drifting. Advice should evolve with you, but always stay grounded in your objectives.
2. Product-led rather than client-led
If advice seems centered around selling specific products, especially those with high commissions, this could suggest a misalignment of incentives.
3. Always reactive, rarely proactive
If your Adviser only checks in when markets drop or when you raise a concern, you're missing the value of foresight and strategy. You should, at the very least, go through a detailed annual portfolio and financial reviews, thinking about the year that has passed, and the year ahead.
4.Poor communication or visibility
You should never feel in the dark about performance, risk exposure, or next steps. If you're unclear about where things stand, that's a problem. One thing to note, there are minimum qualifications that all regulated Financial Advisers need to have achieved. Most will have achieved benchmarks above that, such as the Chartered Financial Planner or the Certified Financial Planner qualifications.
They might also have specific qualifications covering the areas they specialise in, such as long-term care, equity release and pension transfers.
What if it’s time to move on?
If you're questioning your Adviser's value, it may be time to explore alternatives. Moving to a new adviser shouldn't be stressful or disruptive. Make sure to give your Adviser an opportunity to improve or explain; Changing Advisers is almost never an easy decision, make sure your decision is based on facts and accuracies.
What to look for in a new Adviser
• Proven experience with HNW clients and complex planning needs
• Deep understanding of tax-efficient investments and structures, especially strategies like ISAs, pensions, and other tax-relieved investments that are common among high-net-worth individuals (For example, tax-efficient strategies such as ISAs, pensions, and certain investment schemes can significantly enhance wealth preservation).
•Transparent, client-aligned fee model
•Strong communication and reporting processes
•International and cross-border expertise if relevant to your affairs
Questions to ask
•How do you personalise strategies for HNW individuals?
•What is your approach to tax efficiency and intergenerational planning?
•Can you support international and cross-border needs (if applicable)?
•How often will we review progress, and how will you communicate with me?
•What is your fee structure, and how do I know it's aligned with my outcomes? There are a number of different types of fee structures. Typically a financial advisor firm will use a combination of these fees, depending on the nature of the service and advice.
A smooth transition
The right Adviser will manage the transition for you, handling the paperwork, overseeing portfolio transfers, and minimising disruption. Your wealth should remain well managed throughout the process.
Key takeaways
•Review your Adviser relationship regularly to ensure it still meets your needs.
•Lack of alignment, poor communication, or misaligned incentives are all red flags.
•A great Adviser brings expertise, personalisation, and proactive value.
•Transitions can and should be simple, the right firm will take care of it. It’s worth taking the time to choose the right financial advisor for your circumstances.
How atlas private wealth can help
At Atlas wealth, we specialise in working with HNW clients across the UK and internationally. We offer sophisticated, tax-efficient solutions tailored to your unique goals, from legacy planning and international structuring to investment management and succession.
If you're unsure about your current advice relationship, we're here to offer a second opinion, with no obligation. Let us help you take control of your wealth with confidence.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.
The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.
