How Financial Advisers Can Better Serve Neurodiverse Clients: A Practical Guide

The conversation around diversity and inclusion within financial services has gained significant momentum. One area now firmly in focus is neurodiversity. With between 10% and 15% of UK adults classified as neurodiverse, this represents a substantial portion of existing client bases. For financial advisers looking to strengthen client relationships and build competitive advantage, recognising and adapting to neurodiverse clients’ needs is both a responsibility and a strategic opportunity.

Consumer Duty Two Years On: Turning Compliance into a Growth Strategy for Financial Advisers

Two years after the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty came into effect in July 2023, its impact on UK financial advisers has moved beyond initial compliance. The challenge now is embedding Consumer Duty principles into every aspect of business operations—and using them to drive growth and competitive advantage.

For financial advisers seeking to attract new clients and build stronger professional relationships, Consumer Duty presents both regulatory obligations and strategic opportunities. By aligning with its principles, firms can ensure compliance whilst differentiating themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Why Gen Z’s View of Financial Advice Is a Strategic Imperative for UK Financial Planners

A recent spotlight feature by Money Marketing examines what Gen Z really thinks about financial advice, and the findings should be a wake-up call for financial professionals. The attitudes, preferences, and behaviours of this younger generation represent both a challenge and an opportunity for planners who want to future-proof their firms, deepen professional referral relationships, and build a distinctive brand.

Closing the Empathy Gap: How Financial Advisers Can Build Trust Through Genuine Care

The Zurich Empathy Report 2025 reveals a critical market opportunity for financial advisers willing to embed empathy into their client experience strategy. With research spanning over 11,000 consumers across 11 markets, the findings demonstrate that empathy isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a measurable driver of business growth and competitive advantage.

The Empathy Advantage: Why It Matters for Financial Advisers

According to the comprehensive global survey, three in five consumers only engage with companies demonstrating genuine care. Almost half admitted to leaving a brand due to lack of empathy. For financial advisers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Three Trends Shaping Adviser Differentiation in 2025: Strategic Opportunities for UK Financial Planning Firms

As the landscape for financial advisers evolves rapidly, three major forces are converging to reshape how firms compete, grow, and build sustainable brands. Recent research from Mariner identifies tech-driven platforms, shifting client expectations, and the need for meaningful differentiation as key trends for 2025. For UK-based financial planners seeking to grow, strengthen professional referral partnerships, and stand out in a crowded marketplace, these trends offer both warning signs and fertile opportunity.

Navigating Uncertainty: How Financial Advisers Can Lead with Confidence During Market Volatility

Recent research from St. James’s Place highlights that half of UK adults are experiencing heightened uncertainty about the future, with many reacting by cutting spending or delaying major financial decisions. For financial advisers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance to demonstrate leadership, strengthen client relationships, and stand out as a reliable source of clarity in uncertain times.

Inheritance Planning Communication Gaps: Strategic Marketing Opportunities for Financial Advisers

Date: 18 September 2025
Author: Aspina Marketing Insights

Recent research from Charles Stanley reveals alarming gaps in family inheritance planning communication, presenting significant opportunities for financial advisers to build client acquisition strategies whilst addressing a critical market need. With over £5.5 trillion set to transfer between generations, the stakes have never been higher.

The Scale of the Inheritance Communication Crisis

Generational Knowledge Gaps

The research exposes concerning communication breakdowns across generations:

Major Retirement & Investment Gaps: Strategic Marketing Opportunities for Financial Planners

Date: 15 September 2025
Author: Aspina Marketing Insights

Recent findings from Hargreaves Lansdown’s Savings and Resilience Barometer reveal a sobering reality: only 43% of UK households are currently saving enough for an adequate retirement. This substantial gap presents significant opportunities for financial planners to expand their client base, establish authority, and develop stronger professional referral partnerships.

Understanding the Scale of the Challenge

Retirement Adequacy Crisis

According to the research, just 43% of households are on track for “an appropriate retirement.” This figure combines the Pension Commission’s target replacement rate (approximately two-thirds of pre-retirement income) with a basic living wage pension benchmark, representing a more realistic assessment than previous metrics.

How Younger Generations’ Investment Appetite Creates Strategic Opportunities for Financial Advisers

Recent research reveals that younger generations are demonstrating a significantly stronger appetite for investing than older demographics, creating both immediate opportunities and long-term strategic advantages for UK financial advisers. However, capitalising on this trend requires understanding the unique characteristics, challenges, and preferences of Gen Z and millennial investors.

The Investment Appetite Gap Between Generations

Research from Stratiphy has revealed a stark generational divide in investment behaviour. Almost half (47%) of 18-34-year-olds in the UK have invested in the past 12 months, compared to just 23% of those over 55. This represents more than double the investment participation rate, indicating a fundamental shift in how younger generations approach wealth building.

How Behavioural Science Transforms Financial Advice Relationships and Creates Competitive Advantage

The financial planning industry increasingly recognises that successful advisory relationships extend far beyond technical expertise and portfolio performance. Research demonstrates that emotional and behavioural factors often outweigh purely financial considerations in client decision-making, creating significant opportunities for advisers who understand and leverage these insights to build stronger client relationships and differentiate their services.

The Emotional Foundation of Financial Advisory Decisions

According to research from Morningstar, emotional factors account for approximately 60% of a client’s decision to hire an adviser, compared to 40% for financial factors. This finding challenges the traditional assumption that clients primarily seek advisers for technical expertise or investment performance.