Chris Budd: Financial advice might make clients less happy

The Story and The Situation

clock • 4 min read

Chris Budd, a former financial adviser and author of The Financial Wellbeing Book, takes at look at how financial advice might actually be making clients less happy...

When a client tells you about the situation, what is the story that you hear? The Situation And The Story is a book about writing by Vivian Gornick. I write and publish novels and I read this book recently for a fresh take on writing fiction. It's brilliant message, however, also has something important to say about how financial advisers are uniquely positioned to really help clients to understand their relationship with money. In this way, they can improve their clients' financial outcomes. The Situation In the book, the author tells of a canoeing trip on the Rio Grande River,...

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

Why human connection remains central in a digitally enabled advice sector

Why human connection remains central in a digitally enabled advice sector

'It is clear that the sector is moving through a significant period of transformation'

Tim Riseborough
clock 17 December 2025 • 3 min read
Why advisers shouldn't rush into private markets

Why advisers shouldn't rush into private markets

'There's only so long the hamster wheel can keep turning'

Justin Cash
clock 15 December 2025 • 4 min read
Adviser workload set to rocket ahead of IHT on pensions changes

Adviser workload set to rocket ahead of IHT on pensions changes

Large volumes of clients will need reviews of financial plans

Isabel Baxter
clock 15 December 2025 • 3 min read