By John Westwood, Founder and Executive Chairman, Blacktower Financial Management
When you place your financial future in someone else’s hands, experience matters. Trust matters even more.
As Blacktower reaches its fortieth year, I often reflect not just on how much the financial world has changed, but on what those changes mean for the people we advise. Because behind every pension, portfolio or plan is a family, a future and a set of decisions that will shape the years ahead.
Forty years ago, financial advice looked very different. It was often focused on individual products rather than long-term outcomes, and clients typically worked with advisers in one country, for one phase of life. Today, life is more complex. People live and work internationally, retire abroad, support children and grandchildren across borders, and face a far wider range of financial choices and risks.
For clients, this complexity can feel overwhelming. Our role has always been to bring clarity.
Modern financial advice is no longer about selling products. It is about understanding what matters most to you, whether that is retirement security, family protection, tax efficiency, lifestyle flexibility or leaving a meaningful legacy. Good advice connects all of these elements into a clear, coherent plan that adapts as your life changes.
At Blacktower, we have spent four decades evolving our approach to reflect this reality. We focus on long-term relationships rather than short-term transactions, and on planning that supports you through different stages of life, different markets and, increasingly, different countries.
One of the most significant changes our clients experience today is global mobility. Many people now hold assets in multiple jurisdictions, draw income from more than one country, or plan to retire somewhere new. With that comes questions around residency, pensions, tax planning, estate planning and regulation.
These are not decisions that can be addressed in isolation. What you do in one country can have consequences in another. This is where experience and international understanding make a real difference. Our long-standing focus on cross-border financial planning allows us to help clients navigate these issues with confidence, avoiding unnecessary complexity and costly mistakes.
Regulation has also changed significantly over the years, and while it may not always be visible, it plays an important role in protecting clients. Strong regulatory standards encourage transparency, suitability and accountability. For you, that means clearer advice, better documentation and greater confidence that your interests come first.
We have consistently invested in governance, compliance and adviser training, not as a box-ticking exercise, but because robust standards underpin trust. When markets are volatile or circumstances change, clients should feel confident that their advice remains appropriate, well governed and aligned with their goals.
Technology has transformed how clients interact with their finances. What once involved paperwork, delays and limited visibility is now faster, clearer and more accessible. Clients increasingly expect secure digital access to their information, timely reporting and efficient service.
Looking ahead, technology will continue to enhance the advice experience. It will support more personalised planning, clearer insights and better coordination across pensions, investments, tax and estate planning. Importantly, technology supports advisers rather than replaces them, allowing more time for thoughtful discussion, planning and guidance focused on what truly matters to you.
Another change we see more often is how clients think about wealth itself. Increasingly, people want their financial plans to reflect their values. Ethical considerations, sustainability, responsible investing and long-term impact are becoming central to decision-making, alongside financial returns.
These conversations require care and understanding. Our advisers are equipped to help clients explore how their values can be reflected in their financial strategies, without losing sight of long-term objectives and appropriate risk management.
Throughout all these changes, one thing has remained constant. Financial advice is built on trust and long-term relationships.
For forty years, Blacktower has supported clients through market cycles, regulatory change, technological shifts and personal life transitions. We have adapted how we work, but not why we work. Our purpose has always been to help clients make confident, informed decisions about their financial future.
As we look to 2026 and beyond, the world will continue to change. Markets will evolve, regulation will adapt, and new challenges and opportunities will emerge. Our commitment remains the same: to provide clear, considered advice that helps you navigate complexity, protect what matters and plan for the future with confidence.
After forty years, our focus is still where it belongs: on you.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.