As a private banker, you spend decades building something very special: trust. Over time, you create a client book that is more than a list of accounts. It becomes a collection of relationships. Clients rely on you for advice and stability. Many even see you as part of the family.
Then comes the traditional ending: retirement. At the very moment clients may need you most, you step away. They are planning succession, managing liquidity, or navigating family dynamics. Is this fair to them? And is it fair to you, after a lifetime of building these bonds, to live only from a pension and savings?
This leads to an uncomfortable but essential question: is there another way?
Independence offers a different path. By moving into an independent wealth management structure before retirement, you stay close to your clients. You work on your own terms. You maintain design continuity, bring in younger partners, and ensure long-standing relationships remain supported.
For many ultra-high-net-worth clients, continuity matters deeply. They do not want to be handed over when their trusted adviser retires. They want the same voice and the same relationship. At the same time, they want the security of a team that can carry the story forward.
Before you follow the default retirement script, pause for a moment. Could independence extend your impact? Could it honour the trust your clients placed in you? And could it help you shape your legacy?
👉 What is your view: should retirement really mean the end of client relationships?
