A year and a day: Missing personal handshakes and dealing with slow providers

What have advisers learnt?

clock • 3 min read

It has been one year and one day since the first coronavirus lockdown began, writes, Mark Battersby, who talks to a few financial advisers about the lessons they have learned from these challenging 12 months and what has changed

Veronica Mann, a Chartered and certified financial planner at Talis Independent Financial Advisers, says her business grew during lockdown but she misses the "personal handshakes". "We've just adapted to it and got on with it", she adds. "I have an office in my garden and I continue to function as normal." Almost exactly 12 months ago Mann, who is also a member of the Society of Later Life Advisers, was coming back from Singapore, which she fondly recalls was a very nice trip and well-timed before the UK lockdown took hold.  As for the future return to the new version of normality,...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Regulators publish joint consultation on DC pensions value for money

Regulators publish joint consultation on DC pensions value for money

'Pension schemes' performance will be public with a simple rating system'

Martin Richmond
clock 08 January 2026 • 5 min read
Female clients twice as likely to be unhappy with their adviser than men

Female clients twice as likely to be unhappy with their adviser than men

Dissatisfied with communication, trust and adviser/client relationship

Isabel Baxter
clock 08 January 2026 • 2 min read
Why the 'comfortable middle' faces a tougher decade ahead

Why the 'comfortable middle' faces a tougher decade ahead

‘From a client’s perspective, it feels like earning more while keeping less’

Anthony Villisis
clock 08 January 2026 • 5 min read