Rehearse before the hearse

When someone loses a loved one, the world can quickly become overwhelming. Important decisions arrive at the very moment clarity feels hardest to find.

This reality is now under closer scrutiny and the FCA has recently announced a review into how advisers, platforms and wealth managers support bereaved clients, citing research that found only 47% felt they received the right support after a death. The regulator has made clear that this is a true test of a firm’s culture and a cornerstone of long-term trust.

For us, this reinforces something we have believed for a long time that good support cannot begin at the point of crisis.

That is why we use what we call the ‘financial dress rehearsal’.

Preparing for the calm before the storm

A financial dress rehearsal is a structured, thoughtful conversation that takes place with your financial planner before life events force important financial decisions on you.

Just as actors rehearse before opening night, we believe people deserve the chance to explore future scenarios calmly, clearly and without pressure. Not to predict the future, and certainly not to dwell on worst‑case outcomes, but to understand what would happen if circumstances changed.

The FCA has highlighted concerns around confusing communication, delays, poor service and inconsistent fee handling following a bereavement. They are reviewing the entire client journey, from the moment a firm is notified of a death through to the settlement or transfer of investments.

At the heart of this is a simple truth that when emotions are high, systems and processes should feel human, not bureaucratic.

A dress rehearsal helps ensure that when a difficult moment does arrive:

• Decisions are familiar rather than frightening.
• Roles and responsibilities are already understood.
• Support feels joined‑up rather than fragmented.

It shifts the experience from reactive to reassuring.

What the dress rehearsal explores

Every rehearsal is personal, shaped around your life and the people important to you. The topics of conversations may include:

• How income would continue if a partner died.
• How investments are designed to support surviving family.
• What happens next if long‑term care becomes necessary.
• How loved ones would access money quickly and smoothly.
• Where key documents are kept and who would help manage them.

We avoid jargon and theory and talk about real scenarios, real emotions and real decisions.

The FCA has been clear that bereavement processes should be designed with people at their centre and we agree wholeheartedly.

A financial dress rehearsal brings compassion into planning, ensuring that service standards, communication style and fee structures are already clear long before they need to be applied under stress.

When life changes, clients are not left navigating unknown processes or deciphering unfamiliar language. They are supported by plans that have already been talked through, tested and understood.

Familiarity brings calm when it is needed most

A financial dress rehearsal shows that uncertainty in life is normal, but preparation makes all the difference. Knowing there is a plan, knowing who to speak to, and knowing what matters most can bring significant peace of mind, not only to you but to your family too.

It reflects our belief that the true measure of a financial firm is not how it performs when things are easy, but how it supports people when life is at its hardest. If you would like to explore what a financial dress rehearsal could look like for you, we would be very happy to talk.