Mark Powell, Independent Financial Adviser

An introduction to Mark Powell

Your career to date?
I came into this business in 1986 not to be rich but to see that people and families would not be poor or destitute. I have seen so many lives change because people would not change. Just to spend a moment and place yourselves in the life of a child or a widow searching for the answer to why did they not think about me. You cannot turn back the clock but you have time to change its path (I guess you will see that saying in a quote in the future - lol).

The topics I am immediately thinking about are current interest rate issues, women advising women and changes to state pension age etc.

You can't do anything about them so plan your life the best way you can and work around them, don’t let a circumstance hinder what you want to do. Women advising women is immaterial as long as an individual is getting the right advice it should not matter where it is coming from. Thank God we are not lemmings!

What do you specialise in?
Inheritance Tax.

If you could offer one piece of financial advice to an individual, what would it be and why?
To get the foundation in place while you are young and healthy. I have heard too many clients say "I wish" when it's too late. When you have a sure foundation you can always build from there. Be prepared in life.

Which areas of financial planning do you feel an individual should be addressing in the next 2 years?
This depends on their needs, you can't say. Every one has a different priority and different circumstance, no individual is the same.The seasons change for us all.

What is the most common mistake you find individuals make in financial planning?
I would not call it a mistake but just what they are focused on. They don't always see what we see, because it's not our goals but theirs. We can only guide and advise but in the end it's the individuals choice.

As an independent financial adviser what, for you, are the main benefits of being a part of Honister Partners Ltd?
I know that regardless of anything else, the client is looking at me and my integrity. We get support and we have some genuinely good people within the company including marketing.