Unlock Your Adviser's 'Black Book'

Where I live, it’s nearly impossible to find a decent builder who's reliable and good value. The same goes for a plumber, car mechanic, or even a dentist!

So, when a friend or neighbour shares a positive experience, I make sure to secure the contact details for a time that I might need them. After all, personal recommendations and experiences are more valuable than a random Google search.

It recently dawned on me that we have our own version of a secret 'black book’ of key contacts here at Capital, and it's often proved valuable to our clients.

A couple of recent examples come to mind:

• A client, James, mentioned that he had valuable artwork at home, but the premium quoted to insure it was so excessive that he was considering taking a chance and leaving it uninsured.

So, we put him in touch with a private client insurance broker we know well and who helped some of our other clients. The broker, Sam, then travelled to meet James at home to review the artwork and other valuables.

Sam then spoke with a specialist art insurer (unavailable to the public directly) and returned with a quotation.

James was delighted to find that the quote was lower than the one his current insurer offered, which excluded the valuable artwork!

Result: a happy and well-insured client.

• Clients David and Sarah shared their dream of buying a holiday home in a location in Spain that their family had been going to for years. The perfect property eventually came on the market, but they had to move quickly.

They called us, and we connected them with a specialist lender and Spanish property lawyer (with an office in London) who acted on their behalf throughout the transaction.

The property purchase meant converting a considerable sum from Sterling to Euros to complete the purchase. So we suggested speaking with an alternative company offering a better exchange rate than their bank's offer.

We connected them with a foreign exchange (FX) broker we've known for many years. The broker's rate was much better than the bank’s, saving them thousands of pounds.

As a result, David and Sarah flew their entire family out for the housewarming party!

Now that they have a significant asset in Spain, we suggested they consider a Spanish will, as the law, particularly around property, differs from the UK.

Once again, we were able to put them in contact with a specialist family law practice to ensure that their paperwork was in good order.

Our network of trusted professionals, carefully curated over the years, includes:

• Lending specialists for complex financing, second homes and development capital
• Private Medical Insurance experts who can secure better term than available elsewhere.
• Lawyers for more complex estate planning and trusts,
• Property finders for offices and homes.
• Tax advisers for business and personal planning issues in the UK and overseas.
• Insurance specialists—for home, vehicles, and company cover.
• Travel specialists who can arrange travel and unique trips.
• Business coaching and personal development.

We’ve also been asked to help with prestige car purchases and financing the purchase of a helicopter!

We all need some specialist help or advice occasionally, so be sure to ask your financial planner. They may have just the right contact in their little black book.

Oh, and if you know a good builder, please send them my way!

* The client names have been changed.