Finance column: Today’s needs, tomorrow’s security

Winning the Resolution Finance Professional of the Year Award has been both humbling and affirming. I was disappointed not to attend the ceremony in person, but the recognition has given me a moment to pause and reflect on what this means – not only for me personally, but for the growing role of financial advisers in the family law landscape.

Resolution has always championed putting clients first, prioritising children, and approaching separation with dignity. As financial planners, our ethos should mirror this. We are not simply technicians dividing assets; we are collaborators working alongside lawyers, mediators and accountants to build secure futures for families. This award, for me, is less about achievement and more about responsibility – to deepen collaboration, raise standards, and ensure financial planning remains integral to family justice.

What the award represents

At first glance, financial advice might seem peripheral in a profession centred on law and relationships. But in reality, money is often the thread that ties outcomes together. Settlements do not exist in a vacuum; they determine where someone lives, whether they can retire, and how children’s needs are met. Recognition of financial advisers within Resolution highlights that the profession is no longer just an “add-on”, but an essential partner in shaping fair and workable agreements.

The award also represents the evolution of practice. Ten years ago, many separating couples would have left court with a pension-sharing order or lump sum division without fully understanding the long-term implications. Today, Resolution members increasingly acknowledge the value of financial modelling, tax planning, and scenario testing. My award reflects not only individual practice, but also a wider cultural shift towards greater collaboration.

The changing financial landscape for families

The backdrop to our work has never been more complex. Rising interest rates, inflationary pressures and volatile markets are impacting household budgets and settlement negotiations alike. Pensions, often the second-largest asset after property, remain misunderstood and undervalued. Business ownership has grown rapidly, with more entrepreneurs holding significant wealth in illiquid company shares rather than pensions or savings. And the tax environment has become ever more complicated – for example, pensions will no longer be exempt from inheritance tax from April 2027.

For separating couples, this complexity creates risks. One is that a party accepts a settlement which appears fair on paper but is unsustainable in practice. Another risk is that pensions are ignored, leading to later-life poverty. Or that valuable allowances are wasted, increasing the tax burden unnecessarily.

I have seen first-hand cases where one party insisted on retaining the family home, only to discover five years later that they could not afford the mortgage or upkeep, while the other party enjoyed the stability of pension income. Conversely, some clients push for immediate cash, disregarding the value of deferred benefits that could provide lifelong security. Without specialist advice, these pitfalls are not always obvious until it is too late.

The role of the financial planner in family law

So what do financial planners actually bring to the table in family cases? I would distil it into three key areas: clarity, confidence, and continuity.

• Clarity: by explaining the true value of assets, particularly pensions and investments, and modelling different settlement options, we help clients and their lawyers see beyond the numbers on the page. A pension is not just a pot of money; it represents income for decades to come. An investment portfolio may carry risk that is invisible without analysis. Clarity ensures informed decision-making.
• Confidence: Clients in the midst of separation often feel overwhelmed. They are asked to make life-changing financial decisions at a time when emotions are raw. By working collaboratively with solicitors and mediators, we can test options in real time: what happens if we adjust maintenance by £500 per month, or offset pension against property? This reassures clients that choices are not only fair but also sustainable.
• Continuity: Once the legal process concludes, life continues. Clients still need advice on investing lump sums, consolidating pensions, or restructuring mortgages. The financial planner’s role extends beyond the court or mediation room. We ensure that settlements translate into practical, long-term security.

One case that stands out involved a self-employed professional with significant business assets but minimal pension savings. Without careful planning, any settlement would have left him cash-poor and vulnerable in retirement. By working with his legal team, we structured a mix of pension contributions, asset transfers and business restructuring that provided both liquidity and long-term security. It untangled the complexity and left both parties in a better position. This was not simply a “financial solution”, but a joint effort between legal and financial professionals to achieve fairness.

Collaboration across professions

Of course, collaboration is not always straightforward. Lawyers, accountants and financial planners often approach problems through different lenses, using different technical language and working to different timescales. Clients, understandably, can become frustrated when advice appears fragmented.

The answer, I believe, lies in early involvement and shared dialogue. Too often, financial advisers are brought in at the eleventh hour – sometimes after heads of terms have already been agreed. By involving us earlier, lawyers can avoid settlements that unravel under financial scrutiny. Similarly, advisers must respect the legal process and work within its framework, offering analysis that is clear, concise and relevant to the case at hand.

Resolution provides a unique forum to build this collaborative culture. Cross-profession training and networking events foster mutual understanding. I have personally benefited from sitting down with family lawyers and mediators, learning about their pressures and sharing insights from my side. The award I received is a testament not just to my own practice, but to the growing recognition that we are stronger together.

Looking ahead

So where do we go from here? I believe the future role of financial planners in family law will be shaped by three key trends:

1. Integration of financial modelling: cashflow planning software is already transforming how we present options. In future, I believe joint meetings where advisers run live models alongside lawyers will become the norm, allowing clients to see instantly how different settlements play out.
2. Greater client education: clients need to be empowered to ask the right questions. Resolution’s ethos of client-centred practice should extend to financial literacy, ensuring individuals understand the basics of pensions, tax and investments. Financial planners can play a key role in this educational mission.
3. Closer professional networks: I foresee more firms developing structured partnerships between family lawyers, financial planners, accountants and therapists. This multi-disciplinary approach mirrors the reality of family separation, which is legal, financial and emotional all at once.

For financial planners, the challenge is to maintain integrity, ensuring advice remains client-focused, not product-driven. For lawyers, the challenge is to invite financial input early and openly. Together, we can transform outcomes.

When I think back to the award, what strikes me most is not personal pride but a sense of shared purpose. The Finance Professional of the Year accolade is not a finish line, but a starting point – a call to deepen collaboration, to raise standards and to put families at the heart of what we do.

Our shared guiding principle is to prioritise children and ensure separation is handled with fairness and dignity. Financial planners, working hand-in-hand with lawyers and mediators, have a vital role to play in making that vision a reality.

As we look ahead, I remain committed to building bridges between professions, empowering clients through clarity, and ensuring that every financial plan serves not just today’s needs but tomorrow’s security. Because when we work as one team, families stand the best chance of moving forward with confidence, stability, and hope.

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