How working with a financial planner could improve your work-life balance

As a working professional, your days might be filled with back-to-back meetings and end with unanswered emails. 

You may find that you’re constantly juggling the needs of your clients, team, or business, with little room to focus on your wellbeing. 

Over time, this fine line between working hard and being consumed by your career can blur. This is especially the case if you thrive in high-pressure environments or are responsible for managing your own business. 

Eventually, what begins as a desire to succeed in your career can develop into “workaholism”, the tendency to work excessively without much thought to your physical and mental health. Some of the symptoms you may experience include:

• Prioritising work over basic human needs

• Putting in far more hours than is necessary

• Using work to avoid dealing with personal issues. 

If left unchecked, workaholism can have lasting consequences. A report from Mental Health UK found that 21% of employees needed time off in the last year due to stress-related poor mental health. 

Unfortunately, when you step away from work to recover, this might only increase the pressure you experience. You may create a backlog of work, resulting in a cycle that’s difficult to break. 

While there are many strategies to improve your work-life balance, one you may not have considered is seeking support from a financial planner. 

Continue reading to discover how a planner can reduce workplace stress and free up time to focus on your daily life. 

1. They can reduce financial stress and worry

Your working day likely demands a significant amount of focus. Whether you’re managing a team, responding to client requests, or overseeing operations in your business, it’s normal to feel mentally drained by the end of the day. 

Despite these demands, you may still find financial responsibilities waiting for you when you get home. 

Financial tasks such as filling in your self-assessment tax return, reviewing pension contributions, or assessing your budget, often require clarity and focus. 

These qualities are difficult to find at the end of a long day. Yet, leaving essential financial responsibilities unaddressed means they weigh on your mind, adding even more stress to your already demanding life.

This is where a financial planner can provide some much-needed value. 

You may find it much easier to carve out space for rest when you delegate some of your financial decisions to a trusted planner. 

They could help you organise your finances, identify opportunities for tax efficiency, and ensure you’re making the most of your allowances, all of which can reduce feelings of anxiety and give you time to focus on yourself. 

Knowing you have an expert in your corner can also give you more confidence in your day-to-day life, as the clear plan they provide can allow you to feel more in control and even sleep more soundly at night.

2. They free up your time and help you work towards your goals

As you work hard for a successful career, it’s easier than you might think to fall into the habit of micromanaging every aspect of your life.

Yet, attempting to keep everything moving often leads to burnout. When you’re mentally and emotionally drained, you may find it harder to make sound decisions, especially those that affect your long-term finances.

Working with a planner can help alleviate some of this pressure. They could enable you to focus your attention where it matters most, streamlining your energy and avoiding becoming overwhelmed by tasks you could otherwise delegate. 

A goal-focused planner could also help you identify inefficiencies and redirect your efforts towards aspirations that align with your long-term plan. 

For instance, if you’re aiming to step back from your business, fund your children’s higher education, or retire earlier, your planner can help you identify the steps needed to get there. 

They’ll even conduct regular check-ins and reviews, giving you the reassurance knowing that you’re on track. This often leads to the peace of mind and mental clarity needed to enjoy your life outside of work. 

Letting go of some of this control doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing sight of your goals. Rather, it allows you to pursue them more effectively. 

3. They allow you to enjoy the wealth you’ve already worked hard for

When you spend so much of your time earning and saving, it’s easy to develop a mindset focused solely on accumulating wealth for the future. To achieve this, you may regularly delay gratification or even fail to take regular holidays.

While this is admirable, it may also prevent you from fully enjoying the wealth you’ve already accumulated. 

Granted, if you’ve built up significant savings, own a business, or have a considerable portfolio, you may feel hesitant to spend anything, especially if you’re unsure about how much is “enough” to fund retirement. 

In fact, without a bespoke long-term plan, you may constantly defer enjoyment as you’re always saving for a “rainy day”. 

Thankfully, a financial planner could help you understand your financial situation in detail, giving you the confidence to enjoy your success. 

When you have a clear picture of your assets, responsibilities, and future needs, you might feel more comfortable making decisions that improve your work-life balance today, such as taking time off work. 

This is because enjoying the wealth you’ve accumulated gives you the perspective needed to make more time for yourself and reflect on what matters.

Get in touch

We could lift a weight from your shoulders when it comes to managing your finances, so you can focus on improving your work-life balance.

To find out how we can support you, please fill in our online contact form, email us at enquiries@belvederewm.com, or give us a call at +44 (0)203 633 6603.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.  

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.