Delivering peace of mind in an age of uncertainty

In times like these, advisers earn client trust by remaining a calm, reassuring presence for clients bombarded by market noise. According to the lang cat’s 2025 Advice Gap research, a third of those who paid for financial advice in the last two years did so because it gave them peace of mind that they would have enough money in future. Periods of market turbulence are the perfect time to emphasise that investors should always focus on the long term in seeking future financial security and not react in panic to every market movement.

This customer-facing message is reinforced behind the scenes by firms efficiently taking care of the ongoing work of managing market uncertainty, including rebalancing portfolios, adjusting plans to reflect clients’ evolving goals, and staying firmly on the right side of regulatory compliance.

With volatility likely to persist, technology has a vital role to play in maintaining client confidence.

Advisers and planners tell us that these tools are most effective when used interactively, sitting down with clients and walking through the different outcomes together. Visualising their potential financial future helps clients understand and value the financial plan, leading to better decision making and enhancing the adviser-client relationship.

For those still building wealth, clear illustrations of the compounding effect of early, consistent investing on eventual returns can be a powerful motivator. It can also help dissuade clients from reducing their investment contributions, or cashing out, in response to short-term needs or fears.

For retired clients, cashflow planning in conjunction with analysis of essential and discretionary spending is crucial to assessing income sustainability. It can uncover where savings can be made, or whether a more comfortable lifestyle is achievable, and how different choices will impact the longevity of their capital. These fact-based conversations help determine whether desired income levels can be maintained, or if spending plans need to be adjusted.

Communicating with care

Another key consideration is how firms communicate with clients during ongoing market turbulence. Each firm will have its own approach but making sure all communications with clients pass the ‘trusted reassurance’ test is vital. This means ensuring that the business management system is robust enough to deliver the right messages to the right clients, including those identified as vulnerable.

As we look ahead to the second half of 2025, advisers will be watching closely for further central bank moves, potential escalation in geopolitical tensions, and continued market volatility. It’s hard to predict what will happen next, but one thing is clear: in this environment, the value of regulated advice, supported by smart technology, is more important than ever.

Using technology to stay close to clients come what may, can help calm fears, prevent costly knee-jerk decisions, and strengthen long-term relationships. Clients value the peace of mind that comes with paying for advice from calm professionals well-equipped to keep their plans on the right track, no matter what the world throws at them.

This article was first published in Money Marketing on 16 July. Please find a link to the original piece here.