THE ten advisers doing battle in our IFA of the Year competition, run in association with Scott Moncrieff Wealth Management, cannot be accused of enjoying an easy ride on the back of benign markets.
However, the client whose financial affairs rest in the capable hands of our competitors, Angus MacDonald, will be encouraged by the calm response each adviser has demonstrated to a range of challenges. While less experienced practitioners may have b
een tempted to chop and change, each IFA has taken a measured approach in adjusting the portfolio as and when required.
But while the FTSE continues to confound both expectations and an economy beset by uncertainty, few experts pretend to know what's going to happen next. So our ten IFAs are being asked to demonstrate not only sound judgment but nerves of steel as they create a long-term strategy that gives MacDonald a chance of achieving his retirement income goals.
The value that IFAs can add in economically turbulent times has been highlighted by recent research from IFA Promotion. It found that, in the first three months of this year, the number of UK consumers seeking independent advice on investments rose by a third, relative to the previous quarter, while there was a 50 per cent increase in requests for advice on mortgages.
As our competition unfolds, the guidance offered by IFAs in uncertain markets is no doubt something that MacDonald is beginning to appreciate.
The full article contains 243 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
