News
How Goal-Based Planning Is Reshaping Financial Advice and Positioning Forward-Thinking Firms for Growth
Goal-Based Planning: The Strategic Opportunity Financial Advisers Must Embrace
Goal-based planning is transforming the UK financial advice landscape, creating significant opportunities for firms to differentiate themselves, attract new clients, and build sustainable growth. This strategic shift moves beyond traditional product-focused approaches to centre conversations around clients’ life goals—from purchasing a home to funding children’s education or planning for early retirement.
The Regulatory Driver Behind Goal-Based Planning
The introduction of Consumer Duty has accelerated this transformation by reinforcing the need for suitable, outcome-focused advice. As highlighted in a recent Money Marketing analysis, this regulatory framework has moved the profession away from product-led recommendations towards genuinely client-centric planning. The Lang Cat’s State of the Advice Nation 2024-25 report definitively concludes that firms are “increasingly moving away from simply recommending products and instead focusing on helping clients change their financial behaviour over time”.
Adviser Insights 2025: How Smart Marketing Can Help You Stand Out and Scale
What the Voice of the Adviser 2025 Report Means for Your Marketing Strategy
The newly released Voice of the Adviser 2025 report from Nucleus reveals a profession navigating unprecedented change. Drawing insights from over 100 financial advisers across the UK, this comprehensive survey exposes critical marketing opportunities for firms willing to adapt to evolving client expectations and digital transformation.
Executive Summary: A Profession at a Strategic Crossroads
The financial advice sector faces a pivotal moment where traditional relationship-building meets digital innovation. Whilst 86% of advisers recognise the need to engage younger clients, fewer than half are actively pursuing this demographic. This gap represents a substantial growth opportunity for firms ready to implement strategic marketing approaches.
How Supporting Vulnerable Clients Can Give Financial Advisers a Strategic Marketing Advantage
Why Supporting Vulnerable Clients Is Good Ethics and Smart Strategy
The FCA’s 2025 review delivers a clear message: whilst some financial advice firms have made commendable progress in improving outcomes for vulnerable clients, the majority still have significant work ahead. For forward-thinking financial planners, this isn’t just a compliance challenge—it’s a transformative business opportunity waiting to be seized.
Understanding Client Vulnerability: More Than Just Compliance
Vulnerability isn’t a rare exception in financial advice—it’s a possibility for any client at any time. Whether triggered by health issues, life events, reduced financial resilience, or limited capability, vulnerability fundamentally affects how clients experience financial advice and outcomes.
Bridging the Generational Pension Gap: Strategic Marketing Opportunities for Financial Advisers
Fixing Pension Misconceptions: A Generational Marketing Opportunity for Advisers
Recent research reveals significant knowledge gaps across different generations when it comes to pension planning, presenting substantial marketing opportunities for financial advisory firms. This comprehensive analysis examines the latest data on generational pension preparedness and provides actionable strategies for client engagement and business growth.
The Current Pension Knowledge Crisis
The UK faces a complex retirement readiness challenge affecting multiple generations simultaneously. Research conducted by Annuity Ready reveals concerning misconceptions about pension products, whilst separate studies by LV= highlight widespread confusion about retirement income options.
Three Underserved Client Segments from the 2025 Financial Resilience Report That Advisers Should Act On Now
Financial Resilience 2025: Unlocking Three High-Value Client Segments for Financial Advisers
The latest research from Royal London reveals a stark reality: whilst fewer adults now describe themselves in financial crisis, the foundations of Britain’s financial resilience remain alarmingly fragile. For forward-thinking financial advisory practices, this presents an unprecedented opportunity to serve underserved markets and build sustainable growth.
The Scale of Opportunity: Significant Advice Gap Persists
Royal London’s comprehensive 2025 Financial Resilience Report, surveying over 4,000 UK adults, confirms what progressive advisers already recognise: financial pressure remains elevated across all demographics. Despite slight improvements in inflation and interest rates, one in five adults have less than £100 in savings, and 43% admit their retirement plans have been disrupted.