Where Are You Flying To?...

Financial Independence…

First off, let me explain what I mean by financial independence.  I guess we all have our own views on what it might mean, so let me tell you what my version is and you can see if it resonates with you.

You wake up one morning, you throw the curtains open and you say to yourself ‘what a beautiful day!.  You don’t have to go to work today.  In fact, you never have to go to work again!.  So, you decide to (insert superb activity), or you think you’ll (insert another superb activity). 

You’re financially independent.  You’ve got enough money to live the life you want for the rest of your life.  Exciting stuff!  That’s what I mean by financial independence.  Sound good?  Anyway, back to the plane… 

Turbulence…

If you’ve experienced turbulence on a flight, it can be frightening.  The sudden drops are unpredictable and disconcerting.  To be blunt, the thought of not making it to the end of the flight crosses your mind.  We’ve all seen the (over dramatic) films but it does happen (very occasionally) in real life.

Talk to a pilot and you’ll be told that experiencing a few bumps from time to time are part and parcel of flying.  Turbulence is caused by sudden changes in air flow due to a range of influences such as wind speed, storm activity and the underlying landscape. 

Pilots are well-trained to deal with this.  New technology on planes gives pilots sophisticated tools for navigating their way around rough spots. And plane bodies are engineered better than ever to deal with chaotic air movements.

Mistakes Happen…

But no system is perfect and, inevitably, there will be periods when you just have to grin and bear it. And that’s why cabin crew always recommend that while you’re in your seat, even after take-off, you keep your seat belt fastened at all times (they’re there to keep us safe, not just serve drinks!).

You see, no matter how well pilots are trained and no matter how well planes are built, to an extent, you’re entering in to the unknown when you get on a plane.  Sure, it’s a well-trodden path but every flight is slightly different from the last one so there’s certainly an element of uncertainty along the way. 

This is Your Captain Speaking…

Like your friendly pilot, a good financial planner has lots of tools to help you deal with the difficult air pockets that come along in the financial markets from time to time.  For instance, they can build you a portfolio that is made to withstand much of the volatility.

While no-one can forecast what markets will do day-to-day, a good adviser can help you navigate the best route to your destination and, of course, they’ll make sure you don’t do ‘silly’ things that could add to the unwanted turbulence.

Like your pilot, a good adviser can also provide a measure of reassurance during the rocky times. Dealing with the occasional periods of rough weather is part of the experience, and they have the tools at their disposal to keep you on course throughout the market turbulence. 

Safe Landing…

I’ve probably stretched the analogies too far (as I often do) but I hope you can see that the role of a good financial adviser (I call them financial planners) is to get you where you need to be as safely as possible.  That doesn’t mean there won’t be some potentially scary moments along the way but that’s all part of the experience!

The Coronavirus is causing turbulence in every facet of life and I’ve no idea if (or when) we’ll get back to normality but I see it as my role to help our clients weather the storms, keep them safe and get them landed in the destination they set out for, in one piece!

Until next time…