For the first blog on our brand new website I thought it would be fitting to do a review of 2020 from a business and personal perspective since so much has happened in the last 12 months.
As a business, Leon & Co Financial Services only started actively trading in February 2020 and I joined the company on February 2nd, two days after the first UK Covid case arrived in York. Certainly an interesting time to start a business, particularly with the full lockdown in late March which threw a spanner in the works!
On one hand this meant some of the plans had to be put on hold, but being a new business meant we could quickly and easily adapt. All our systems are cloud-based, the software we use can be accessed remotely and client meetings can all be held by video calls.
Making people aware that we’re here has never been a challenge, we’re linked to an established accountancy practice and are involved in plenty of activity within the Yorkshire region. But just like with markets, when there is uncertainty, even though this is when people need us the most, they often don’t want to engage a new service.
However, people have adjusted to the new way of working, plans were enforced, vaccines made, generally light at the end of the tunnel. So, we have continued to take on new clients throughout the year and have started 2021 looking very strong.
There have clearly been challenges caused by Covid, but I think it has forced the financial services industry to adapt. Many of the product providers had archaic processes, but in March last year we were given no option other than to adapt and evolve. Providers that previously would only accept authority requests and application forms by post, are now accepting requests and documents electronically. It has improved efficiency and gives both us and our clients a better experience and that can only be a good thing.
Like many, I do miss face to face meetings. Going forwards once ‘normality’ returns I think that I will try to have most initial meetings face-to-face as a minimum, providing a client wants to do so. However, beyond that I foresee video calling to become an integral part of our process. Not only is it a massive time-saving tool, but the fact you can record calls, type notes, and share screens makes the whole process much more efficient and ultimately a better experience for the client.
If you would like to discuss any financial needs that you have or indeed any financial plans that perhaps you haven’t had chance to review, because you have been waiting for things to blow over, then get in touch. We are here, working remotely, happy to help.