'What my first experience of financial advice taught me'

'It was cathartic'

clock • 5 min read

After writing about financial advice and investments for a number of years, an experienced freelance financial journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous, took their first steps to getting fully-fledged financial advice. Here's what they learned...

A few weeks ago, immediately before the world became, understandably, obsessed with coronavirus and Covid-19, I took my first tentative steps on the path of ‘proper' financial planning. While I'd had a dabble with some mortgage advice here, and a bit of risk-profiling there, for all my years writing about IFAs and all facets of the financial services profession, I'd never sat down with an adviser and gone through the full process, until recently. Probably because - like so many prospective clients - I didn't feel I had enough money to warrant it. I had a bit held in both a cash ISA an...

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

Phillip Wickenden: The political map has been redrawn

Phillip Wickenden: The political map has been redrawn

'The market is not pricing personalities. It is pricing discipline'

Phillip Wickenden
clock 11 May 2026 • 6 min read
Why the end of paper shareholdings matters now

Why the end of paper shareholdings matters now

‘There is still time before the 2027 deadline’

Ben Rogers
clock 11 May 2026 • 4 min read
How advisers can support clients through market volatility

How advisers can support clients through market volatility

‘Losses simply hurt more than gains feel good’

Sophia Panayi
clock 08 May 2026 • 3 min read