A week in the life of a financial adviser in Hanoi

A week in the life of a financial adviser in Hanoi

I have been working in Hanoi for a little while now and I have to say it is one of the most wonderful working environments that I have ever experienced. People have been exceptionally kind (although that is almost certainly because I’m now 65 years old and the Vietnamese culture is so deferential to elders). That’s a great plus point.

However, often potential clients really don’t understand what a financial adviser actually does day to day. So, here is a recent week in my diary, to give you a flavour of my working life here in Hanoi.

Sunday

I attend Hanoi International Church each week. This is an important time of contemplation and refreshment for me. I then went out for lunch with a group of Church friends.

I had my usual weekly massage at Zen Spa, followed by dinner at my favourite restaurant, ‘Le Jardin’ in Westlake. All ready for a new working week now!

Monday

Monday always starts with table tennis at Ba Dinh Sports Centre at 8am with my business partner Quang. I don’t know why I get up so early only to be thrashed each week by someone 25 years younger. I guess it teaches humility…

Breakfast at Saint Honoure with Quang (loser has to pay – that would be me) followed by my weekly meeting with staff, where we discuss the coming week and issues arising from the previous week. We agreed the need identify and begin to train a new Vietnamese individual for the role of financial adviser.

Later in the morning, I picked up Kavita from the airport. She is a good friend, experienced in Mergers & Acquisitions. She is with us for a few days to explore the possibility of heading up our M&A activity at S&P Investments.

The afternoon is much quieter; the only significant meeting was with a specialist in corporate life insurance who provides life cover for company directors and business owners.

Evening, shattered after ping pong in the morning – must have lost a couple of litres of water…

Tuesday

Morning meeting with Investors Trust. Matt, our investment manager, is with us this week and took the opportunity to explore the platform and costs.

Tuesday afternoon was spent with a new client,who requires and offshore investment vehicle, offshore bank account and to establish an offshore company.

The evening was spent at my business partner's restaurant, Lounge 88 in Tay Ho talking with a couple of Vietnamese clients about potential investment. It can be exhausting trying to explain that there is more to investment than 'cash in the attic' or property.

 Wednesday

Today was dominated by our early evening event

Twenty or so of our clients and potential clients met over drinks and canapes to listen to a talk on Brexit and its impact upon Vietnam.

It was quite a lively debate and lasted until almost midnight. The message was that ‘Britain is open for business’.

 Thursday

Another busy day for the team. S&P were invited to the Olympia Schools in Hanoi to share their work with the senior students. Ian, David and Hang had a fabulous time and were amazed at the quality and standard of English spoken by the children. We are all looking forward to the next one.

Matt, has been busy with the team this week and has taken himself off to Halon Bay for a few days. He leaves in the early hours of Sunday morning. Kavita goes back to the UK today.

 Friday

Friday is usually the quietest day of the week. Everyone just seems to slow down - perhaps it is the heat…

My only significant meeting was with a Vietnamese lawyer who had read one of my articles on alternative investment and met with me in the evening to discuss ways in which our respective businesses could assist one another. We decided to meet next week with Quang to explore further, particularly a joint venture in Mergers & Acquisitions.

 Saturday

Well, Saturday is normally free, but this Saturday was different as we are in partnership with another Hanoi school, offering advice to parents of the school’s alumni and on university fee planning. Seminars are held with parents each quarter on a different topic. Today’s topic was on the benefit of pound cost averaging and regular monthly investment. About 50 attended and parents really engaged with the subject.

Average daytime temperature this week - 34%C. Humidity 75%