In conversation with advisers: Where should the initial focus be - costs and client planning?

clock • 1 min read

Partner Insight: Flora Maudsley-Barton, managing director of Parsonage Financial and Kerry Nelson, managing director of Nexus Financial met in London recently to discuss the topic of costs and client planning.

In the first video of the series (see above), Flora Maudsley-Barton and Kerry Nelson talk to Julian Marr, Editor of Professional Adviser about their passion for financial planning and what to focus on when a client walks through that ‘proverbial door.'

Kerry Nelson says: "One of the things you need to look at is whether the proposition is scalable, as your client bank builds up, and their own finances build, you want a proposition that moves with them as well."

In-house or outsourced?

Nelson believes it is almost impossible to do everything for the client in-house, a point she reached several years ago: "I had a realisation that I couldn't do everything on my own, as something would ‘give.' It also doesn't help you as a business and the client at the end of the day, because it puts them at risk if something happens to you."

Maudsley-Barton is open about the idea of outsourcing, as a means of helping the client further [as part of their investment solution]: "We start with what is going to be the easiest way to help the client - if it is an outsourced single-fund solution and we can get that for the client at a low cost, so that is an option for the client."

Ultimately, Nelson thinks it is important to ‘keep things quite straightforward for yourself.'

Nelson says: "I am very passionate about investment, but there are only so many hours in the day… going forward, it is important to have a clear strategy: how it's going to work for you and your client's business, before you start that proposition."

 

Please visit Adviser Points of View, a site created by Incisive Media (publisher of Professional Adviser) in partnership with Architas.

More on Investment

US-Iran truce eases inflation picture but markets to experience 'hangover'

US-Iran truce eases inflation picture but markets to experience 'hangover'

Fed and BoE face 'balancing act'

Michael Nelson
clock 15 June 2026 • 3 min read
FCA takes civil action against Neil Woodford and W4.0 for 'operating without authorisation'

FCA takes civil action against Neil Woodford and W4.0 for 'operating without authorisation'

Accused of breaching FSMA

Michael Nelson
clock 08 June 2026 • 2 min read
M&G's PruFund coming to Scottish Widows Platform

M&G's PruFund coming to Scottish Widows Platform

First third-party platform launch

Jen Frost
clock 08 June 2026 • 2 min read

In-depth

IHT on pensions: Advisers on a new way of working

IHT on pensions: Advisers on a new way of working

‘It has shifted the timing and focus of conversations’

Jenna Brown
clock 10 June 2026 • 8 min read
Workplace culture and the thriving financial advice practice

Workplace culture and the thriving financial advice practice

Best Financial Advisers to Work For 2026

Jenna Brown
clock 04 June 2026 • 10 min read
Labour leadership contest: What a change could mean for IHT on pensions

Labour leadership contest: What a change could mean for IHT on pensions

Advisers warned against banking on U-turn

Jen Frost
clock 28 May 2026 • 6 min read