Chris Jordan CFP^CM of Heron House Financial Management is proud to be a part of a growing IFP Accredited Financial Planning Firm^TM. Here he shares some ideas on best practice and business growth.

Years of surveys have shown that consumers value the personal touch and want an adviser who recognises their individual needs and characteristics. This demand for ‘personalisation’ relates not only to clients’ assets but also to their gender.

I am not sure that I have ever posed this question to any of my clients: “Do you trust me?”It’s a given. It is implicit in all our dealings with each other and has been since the day we opened the doors in May 2000.

Each month Financial Planner will be interviewing a leading planner to ask him or her to share best practice from their business. This month we talk to Ben Westaway CFP^CM of Jessop Financial Planning in Sheffield.

Towards the end of 2011, Financial Planners might have been excused for dreading the onset of 2012. This was not because of the economic chill sweeping Europe or because of predictions from the pundits but because the year ahead would mark the countdown to the much anticipated Retail Distribution Review on 1 January 2013.

Each month Financial Planner will be interviewing a leading Financial Planner to ask him or her to share best practice. This month we talk to David Crozier CFP^CM of Navigator Financial Planning.

Planning for 2012’s Financial Planning Week in November has already begun after the success of the initiative last year.

Daily polls for the Institute for Financial Planning’s consumer- focused Financial Planning Week 2011 raised challenging points about consumers’ attitudes to finances. The polls, conducted by YouGov in association with NS&I, questioned over 2,000 people.

Andrew Brook Dobson CFP^CM of Accredited Financial Planning Firm^TM Brook Dobson Brear shares his best practice with the planning community.

Parallels between the UK and South African Financial Planning are explored by Financial Planner Tony Granger CFP^CM who has over 30 years of experience covering both countries.