We have had a few prospective clients come to see us recently that have been... difficult. This is not to say they have been nasty or anything like that. I am sure they are lovely people! But, when they left, we certainly haven't been hoping they would return too quickly.

We get it, coming to see a financial adviser is scary

You're worried. The news is full of stories of people that have lost some / all of their money on an investment. During the commercial break, there is an advert about an adviser spending your retirement funds on a life of sun and jetskis in the Med. You open the post in the morning, and you have a letter from your pension provider full of 'Anti-Scam' leaflets.

I think this awareness is great! It's important to highlight it, but also, it's important to understand that as ever, it is the small minority that experience this and also the small minority of advisers (they're not advisers! They are just saying they are. And some are criminals,) that own a jetski.

The most usual outcome is... well, it's boring. Spend less than you earn, save the difference, invest in a pension, and enjoy a comfortable retirement. That is the norm.

We understand that you may be fearful and that may lead to trepidation and you not being the usual outgoing, bubbly, friendly character that you are. Also, you might be intimidated that you don't know much about money. You know what? I know nothing about what you do! Not a jot. We know about money as it's our job, just like you know about your profession.

As such, we are happy to let it go and assume you will perk up when you know us a bit better and trust us more. We are willing to earn that trust.

We want to work with you if...

There are thousands (hundreds of thousands) of people we can work with, but we can only look after hundreds. So, we want to work with nice people! People that:

• Are fun to be with

• Are open with us and willing to let us help them

• If there is a misunderstanding, will give us the benefit of the doubt until we can show what has happened.

• Join in the fun with us.

• Listen to what we say and enact it. If you don't like what we are saying, be willing to go through the reasons why and change your mind.

We will put ourselves through the wringer for you and emotionally it is hard for us to do that for so many people! Although rewarding, it's flipping draining going through people's highs and lows with them.

We might not necessarily want to work with you if...

• You don't want to tell us anything about your money. How do you think that is going to work out? How can we help you if we don't know about it? Have you ever been to a Doctor with a problem and said "Alright Doc, somethings wrong, I've got loads of symptoms but I'm not telling you. Can you guess?"

• You believe your 'mate down the pub'. Unless I'm your mate down the pub, you should absolutely not be listening to them and I don't really want to spend half our time together discounting their spurious investment beliefs. I want to talk about you. If you want to do what they do, get them to advise you!

• You know how to do everything already. Don't come to a meeting to tell us that! Just don't come in the first place. Let me have a tea break.

You absolutely don't know how to do everything we do by the way. The people that are like this are usually the ones making the most obvious mistakes. This is the mother of all points! You think we do just investments. What we really do is help you make the right decisions.

Why be so guarded, secretive and prickly? Let us in, we can help. If you don't want help, leave us alone!

Truth never damages a cause that is just

Mahatma Gandhi