For Mental Health Week, we want to look at human side of financial planning, specifically the impact a good adviser can have, the interpersonal skills needed, and how good financial planning advice can make a real difference to people’s wellbeing.

Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), define financial wellbeing as “…feeling secure and in control. It’s about making the most of your money from day to day, dealing with the unexpected, and being on track for a healthy financial future. In short: financially resilient, confident and empowered.”

According to MaPS, people who experience financial wellbeing are less stressed about money. This, in turn, has positive effects on their overall mental and physical health, and on their relationships.

Whilst this is likely to make a lot of sense to a lot of people, many people don’t experience good financial wellbeing. Financial stress is known to be one of the leading contributors to poor mental health which makes the role of a financial adviser a critical one. But do we instantly attribute the role of a financial adviser in this way? Probably not!

Helping us to understand the how financial advisers / planners can make a difference to client wellbeing, we are joined by Tina Steele, Principal of Steele Aspire Financial Management