HARRISON SMITH COLUMN: Why expert financial advice is your constant in a changing world
This has been a year of continuous change, marked by geopolitical struggles at home and abroad. Whatever your world of work, you’ve likely felt the effects in some shape or form.
The only constant during 2025 has, unfortunately, been my beloved Hartlepool United remaining a consistently average National League side (apologies, Simon Grayson!).
But jokes aside, this year has hammered home, more than ever, the importance of listening to expert advice. Particularly in times of change, turning to an expert is what provides the peace of mind you crave or the double-check needed to ensure your next step is correct.
I only need to look at my own situation. This year, I finally acted on plans to start a new venture and have leaned heavily on experts in many different fields to move things forward.
It would have been easy to think I know best, to try to save a few pounds, and do everything solo. But that’s often where people fall short.
The best analogy? If my car is broken, I take it to a mechanic. If my tap is leaking, I get a plumber. I don’t try to find waterproof tape and do it myself. This principle applies across all of life, and especially in finance.
Azalea Wealth Management provides that expert financial advice and personal guidance.
Whether it's retirement planning, personal insurances, investments, or just a conversation to clarify your situation, I understand the critical importance of these areas.
My philosophy is simple: If I’m not good at something, or if I don't have enough time to do it properly, I line up someone else to do it. You must trust a financial adviser to do things right.
With the sheer amount of information available nowadays - from Instagram reels to podcasts - it’s very easy to convince yourself that DIY financial planning is the best, cheapest way forward.
However, I've met countless clients over the years who chose to DIY their financial planning based on social media tips. Very quickly, conversations with these individuals reveal glaring gaps.
The reason is simple: financial planning is specifically personal.
Not another single person on the planet earns the same money, holds the same job, has the same family circumstances, enjoys the same hobbies, or has the same ambitions as you.
That is precisely why copying what you learned online or on social media simply won’t work as you think it might.
Over the next couple of months, we are likely to see another raft of legislative changes that will affect everyone’s financial futures, especially following the autumn budget.
Are you certain that your current plan is robust and still appropriate to ride those changes?
At Azalea Wealth Management, we build bespoke financial plans for every individual or business that walks through our door - no two plans are the same, and don’t believe anyone who says they are.
Through a process of ongoing management review, we work with our clients to navigate an ever-changing landscape built on value.
It will always be cheaper to 'do it yourself,' but the chances are you’ll end up with a car that still rattles or a tap that still leaks! Trust a specialist … trust Azalea Wealth Management.
The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
*Azalea Wealth Management is based in Hartlepool servicing clients regionally and nationally. For a no obligation consultation, get in touch through www.azaleawm.co.uk[azaleawm.co.uk]
Azalea Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.
