A new survey of UK Financial Planners found 96% were optimistic about their firm’s prospects for the next 12 months.

Standard Life’s bi-annual survey also found that Financial Planners expect digital ways of working - adopted in response to the Coronavirus pandemic - are here to stay.

When compared to how their business operated before the pandemic, more than eight in ten (83%) and two thirds (66%) said virtual client and internal meetings are more likely to happen in the future respectively, while three quarters (74%) said staff were more likely to work remotely.  

The survey found that 95% were optimistic about the security of their job over the same period.

Of those surveyed, 85% were optimistic about taking on new clients in the next 12 months.

Two thirds (67%) were optimistic about the UK’s economic recovery after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Caroline Miller, UK distribution director at Standard Life said: “It’s really good to see advisers we work with emerging from a difficult few months with optimism about the future. The advice industry has risen to the challenge posed by Covid-19, adapting established ways of working to continue delivering exceptional service to clients during a period of disruption.

“Now, as we move out of lockdown and look ahead, I’m not surprised that many advisers are planning to embrace the digital forms of communication and remote working practices they initially introduced out of a necessity for the long-term. The world of savings and investments is undoubtedly becoming more digital, and we need to evolve in line with client expectations.

“However, we do need to remember that personal relationships are the foundations of the advice industry. I’m confident the technology advisers have told us they’re keen to keep using post Covid-19 will support that and help them continue to deliver the quality experiences their clients have come to expect.” 

Data for Standard Life’s Quest report was collected between 27 May and 11 June 2020. Some 250 UK advisers who work with Standard Life took part in the survey.