SPECIAL: Happy 5th birthday…

A very happy New Year to you all.  May 2019 bring you happiness and good health.

Town Close Financial Planning opened for business on 2^nd January 2014 – five years ago if my maths is correct.

It was the culmination of years of careful preparation and planning, cultivating the ability to be unmanageable and unemployable.

Yes, at the end of 2013, I had finally arrived. I was too big for my boots and had to put my money where my mouth was. Five previous bosses wholeheartedly agree.

It’s been a hugely enjoyable experience, I’ve loved every minute, the ups and the downs. It’s a cliché but I wish I’d done it ten years earlier.

TCFP now looks after 210 families and £100m+ of their hard-earned wealth. I’ve no idea how many potential clients I’ve spoken to over those years, my best guess is at least 2,000.

That either makes me the world’s worst salesman or shrewd. Probably a bit of both.

Here are 23 priceless lessons I’ve learned over the years (hyperbole is allowed, it’s my birthday!):

1. Working with great people is great – clients and colleagues – it’s uplifting and rewarding;
2. Scoundrels are a dime a dozen and they usually want £500 – £1,000 for the service they offer;
3. Always have a good printer, cheap printers are a false economy;
4. Getting a decent website up and running is way more complicated than it should be;
5. You can’t do everything yourself;
6. People rarely know what it is they want;
7. Working with your spouse is ….. interesting;
8. It’s as important to rest and play as it is to work;
9. Our clients have some really good ideas;
10. Don’t pay a stranger in advance;
11. We don’t know everything;
12. We can always do better;
13. If your colleagues are happy, the clients will be too;
14. You want things returned? Enclose a pre-paid envelope;
15. We’re in the business of reducing long-term regrets;
16. You can’t convince anyone of anything, only help them see it for themselves;
17. Financial innovation is everywhere, most of it only benefits the promoters;
18. You either trust someone or you don’t, there is no in-between;
19. Simplicity is the key to just about everything;
20. Good clients always find their way to our door;
21. Don’t work with clients who ignore your advice;
22. Amazon might be the single best time-saving service for a small business;
23. 80gsm paper is absolutely fine.

The cast list of people that have made this possible is long – mid 20s I’d guess, not including our excellent clients.

But this isn’t the Oscars, and I’m not big on gushing, so thank you all and here’s to the next five.

future proofing your finances

advice@townclosefp.co.uk 

Town Close are expert financial planners. Our goal is the same as yours – to help you do the things that are important to you in the time you have remaining.