60 Seconds with Lesley Halliday

Monday 18 September 2023

Tell us about your role and your organisation.
My name is Lesley Halliday, I am Director and Financal Advisor at Halliday Financial Guidance Ltd

Halliday Financial Guidance provides bespoke, personal financial advice and recommendations on all areas of home finance including home buying and mortgage, pensions, savings and investments.
I began as a mortgage advisor 22 years ago and continued my personal development to offer my clients a full review service in all areas of home and personal finance, on a local, face-to-face basis.
My favourite part of the job is seeing someone buy their first house. Halliday Financial Guidance is a one-stop shop when it comes to home purchases. I liaise with the estate agents, and solicitors, and arrange the mortgage and associated insurance fully in-house. Being a first-time buyer can be daunting as you're dealing with so many terms you've perhaps never heard before, and everyone always has questions, which I am happy to help them through and have the pleasure of seeing them move in and take ownership of their first home.

Give us a brief overview of your career journey so far.
I've been involved in the Financial Services Industry since 2001, so basically most of my working life. In that time, I've developed my skills from Mortgage & Protection Advisor, to fully independent whole-of-market Financial Advice covering all areas of Family Financial Planning.
I pride myself on the personal face-to-face service and my passion is engaging more women in their financial affairs, particularly investments and pensions. The Gender Pension Gap keeps me awake at night!
Recent research from the Pensions Policy Institute, shows 50% more women than men are heading towards retirement without any personal pension savings, hoping to rely on state pension or their partner for retirement income.
With women typically earning less than men and being more likely to take career breaks, it's no wonder our pension pots are significantly smaller, and I'm on a mission to encourage my clients to take advice and review their savings for retirement to ensure we are not left behind.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Friendly, Professional and Fun!

What is one skill that helps you most in your role?
An interest in people is key.

What advice do you have for women in your sector/industry/type of role?
Being a woman in the Financial Services Industry can be a bit strange- it's one of those occupations that is still massively male-dominated- very often I am the only woman in the audience at industry events. I'd like to see more women come into the industry, as I believe our listening and personal skills can be beneficial to clients. Sometimes I joke I'm part counsellor to my clients. It's also a role that is very detail-orientated, and I think as women, we excel at this. If there were more women in the industry, perhaps more women would be inclined to seek financial advice. I think there's a great element of fear of being judged for our finances, which leads to 70% fewer women seeking advice than men, a statistic I find pretty shocking.

Are there any exciting plans in the year ahead in your organisation that you can share with us?
Yes- I am thrilled to announce that there will be a new portal system to communicate with clients. I've recently completed a Level 5 Chartered Management Institute Award in Leadership and Management, and I hope to bring another Female Financial Advisor into the firm in the next few years- the pandemic flattened these plans for a few years, but it's my ultimate goal to grow the business by helping another woman to work/ back to work. I started studying towards my first Financial Planning Certificate in 2003 when my toddler was in bed at night (she's now 22) and I think the role can be flexible for a working mother.

Who has been your biggest career inspiration and why?
Too many to list

If you had to pick your soundtrack song to get you through the working day, what would it be?
Anything with guitars!

What's your favourite break-time snack?
Dried mango!

How can you fellow WIB members keep up to date with you and your organisation?
Connect with Lesley on LinkedIn

Monday 18 September 2023