The Boutique Premium

Having now been with Henwood Court for 6 months, this has offered an opportunity to reflect on my experiences of working for a Chartered  independent financial planning boutique, compared to larger wealth management businesses.

Planning before Product

One of the most noticeable changes has been the emphasis on a planning-led approach. The starting point is really getting to know the person and understanding their world, family, business, goals and objectives. Only at this point do we believe we can offer any meaningful financial advice.

The implementation of investment solutions/product recommendations only comes towards the end of the onboarding process, once we have a clear idea of the return’s clients require to live their desired lifestyle, and the level of support they wish to give to their beneficiaries.

The Great Conversation

I’ve been really impressed with the quality of client engagement. The level of detail we go into understanding clients during Discovery Meetings is something I hadn’t come across before.

Discussions are less centred on quarterly performance reports and market predictions, and more focused on life goals, financial independence, retirement aspirations, family wealth transfer, and legacy planning.

A lot of new clients we work with have already accumulated a significant level of wealth and, financially at least, are ready to retire. Whilst we use detailed cash flow projections to provide clarity and confidence, there is also a focus on client’s emotional readiness for retirement (or exiting the business).

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect has been seeing the positive impact a comprehensive financial plan can provide to clients, often at a crucial stage of their life.

Embracing the Evidence

Coming from an active management background, this was always going to take a bit of adjustment!

I’ve worked with some very talented Investment Managers and Research Analysts over the years, however in most cases this hasn’t led to investment returns that have outperformed market indices.

Henwood Court’s Portfoliosense® investment strategy uses a systematic, evidence-based approach to investing. By this we mean following a disciplined, rules-based, unemotional process, with our premise being markets are broadly efficient, and consistently outperforming them is extremely difficult.

Large vs Small

As a boutique firm with high staff to client ratios, the level of care and attention clients receive at Henwood Court has really stood out.

Boutique firms are typically able to offer a more highly personalised service and benefit from fewer clients per adviser, allowing for more attention and care per client. When factoring in financial planning expertise, investment returns, service levels and cost, boutique firms can demonstrate a ‘boutique premium’ vs larger firms.

A broader perspective

Having worked in the wealth management industry for almost 15 years now, each move I’ve made has challenged the way I think about advice and teaches you something different.

At Quilter Cheviot, I was fortunate enough to join a fast-growing regional team with a strong foothold in the IFA market. The focus was predominantly on investment performance, and I realised this has less of an impact without great financial planning and structure in the background.

At LGT, the conversation is less about outperforming the market. It’s about governance, succession planning, tax and preserving wealth across generations in the face of real complexity.

Since joining Henwood Court, this has reinforced my view proper financial planning is the foundation of good advice. Exceptional client service isn’t just about solving problems – it’s about building relationships so strong that clients stay with you for decades and confidently introduce their family and friends.