Moira Somers: What clients want from advisers

Our latest Intelligent Adviser podcast is now online and features an interview with Dr Moira Somers, a clinical neuropsychologist, academic and executive coach based in Winnipeg in Canada.

An Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, Dr Somers’ work is divided between direct client services on the one hand, and consulting to business and financial services on the other.

In the interview, I ask her about her career and her new book, Advice That Sticks: How to give financial advice that people will follow. The book contains the findings of her extensive research into what clients want from a working relationship with a financial adviser, and explains what advisers can do to ensure that the advice they give will be heeded.

Moira also discusses the negative impact that mental illness and cognitive decline can have on financial decision-making.

Finally, she also he gives her views on the future of the financial advice profession, and what advisers need to do to add value as portfolio management becomes increasingly commoditised — and, crucially, how they can demonstrate that value to clients and prospects.

You can listen to the podcast now, either on SoundCloud or iTunes.

Please do leave a comment and, even better, a review.

You can find out more about Dr Somers’ work by visiting her website, moneymindandmeaning.com.