Conversations about the rising cost of living are front and centre in client meetings. Research shows that 57% of people cite living costs as their number one financial worry. Among 20 to 39-year-olds, that figure climbs to 67%.
Inflation not only eats into purchasing power, but it also erodes confidence. When everyday expenses rise, clients may begin to wonder whether their retirement plans still hold up. That uncertainty can quickly turn into anxiety. This is where advisers play a vital role. Reassurance, perspective and clarity have never been more valuable. And many advisers are already finding ways to turn cost-of-living concerns into confidence-building conversations.
From Data to Reassurance
Clients often meet inflation through rising bills or alarming headlines. Having someone they trust to put that into context is invaluable. Clear, regular updates that focus on what these changes mean in practical terms help cut through the noise and keep clients focused on their long-term plans.
This reassurance goes far beyond numbers. It is about the peace of mind that financial planning brings, something we highlighted in our The Good That Financial Planners Do video series, which shares the real impact advisers have on people’s lives.
Making Inflation Personal
Not all clients experience inflation in the same way. One family may be feeling the pressure at the petrol pump, while another feels it more keenly in rental costs. Personalised tools can help turn these concerns into clearer conversations, giving clients confidence about the resilience of their financial plans.
Flexible Planning Builds Confidence
Static plans can sometimes feel fragile in uncertain times. By showing clients that flexibility is already built into their financial planning, advisers can help them see that adaptation is not a weakness, but a strength. Visual guides and clear scenarios can be particularly powerful here. Timeline’s planning tools and charts give advisers a way to show clients how different outcomes might look in practice, making financial plans easier to understand and engage with.
This is also where Timeline’s Historical Charts come in. Drawing on nearly a century of market data, they make the long-term impact of investing early and staying invested through periods of change visible in a way that numbers alone cannot achieve. For many clients, seeing that long-term journey mapped visually provides reassurance at moments of short-term uncertainty.
Building Loyalty That Lasts
Addressing everyday money worries deepens client relationships in ways that market performance alone never can. Markets rise and fall, but when clients are anxious about their lifestyle, both today and in retirement, it is the adviser’s guidance that provides the reassurance they need. That support builds loyalty that endures beyond market cycles, regulatory changes or news headlines.
It is also a theme that regularly comes up when we speak to advisers. In Adviser 3.0: The Podcast, Samantha Challis from Another View highlighted this in a recent episode, emphasising the importance of being there for clients at all times and going the extra mile to make sure they feel truly supported.
How Timeline Supports Advisers
At Timeline, we are focused on making it easier for advisers to have these conversations with confidence. From cashflow modelling based on real-world data, to visual forecasting and historical charts, our technology is designed to make financial planning conversations clearer and more engaging for clients. And because costs matter to clients, we have kept ours transparent and competitive, so advisers can deliver more value without adding pressure to their bottom line.
Cost-of-living anxiety is unlikely to disappear any time soon. But with the right tools, supported by the reassurance only advisers can provide, clients can feel more confident about their financial journey.
