Today brings an end to the first working week of 2023.

To help make sure the new year is a happy one for the wealth management sector, I have compiled a list of things the industry should try and leave in 2022.

Pitting the E, the S and the G against each other

ESG is likely to once again be a prominent theme in the private wealth sector.

Given environmental, social and governance encompasses such a broad range of areas, it is logical for firms and investors to separate the three themes.

However, it is possible to focus on one of these themes without putting the others down.

People that choose to focus on the ‘S’ are no better or worse than those that focus their efforts on the ‘E’ or the ‘G’. All three are very important and need to be addressed.

Anyone doing this – even in a small way – should be celebrated and encouraged, not forced to defend their decision.

‘Divorce day’

Articles and press releases about the so-called ‘divorce day’ always seem in slightly bad taste.

While so many family lawyers and mediators are working incredibly hard to make the divorce process less acrimonious and to treat clients sensitively at what is a very difficult time in their lives.

Presenting divorce as a commercial opportunity and sensationalising it in this way takes away from this hard work and suggests the industry is uncaring and only interested in the financial aspects of divorce.

This is not the case at all and it would be a positive step forward if communications reflected this.

Flexible working discourse 

Flexible working is a positive that emerged from the pandemic and is here to stay – at least in some form.

What does not need to stay is the continual debate that has been ongoing since people started working at home at the beginning of the pandemic. Staunch in their views, individuals will loudly argue everyone should be in the office five days a week with no exceptions, while others argue no one should step foot in an office again.

For most people the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Leave it to employers and their staff to establish their own arrangements.

We do not know anyone’s personal circumstances or the intricacies of another business’ needs.

Plus the debate has become really quite boring now…

Not caring about things

Finally, let’s stop being afraid to show we care about things (in a professional way of course).

While social media may have been full of conversations about ‘quiet quitting’ towards the end of last year, it does not have to be that way. It is ok to care about your job and want to perform well.

Put in some extra time to prepare for the big presentation, ask questions, even ask for more work. As long as you are also taking time to look after yourself and your own wellbeing, there is no shame in going the extra mile to succeed at something you care about.

Equally, care about your hobbies and passions and share them with your colleagues and work contacts. Everyone’s life goes beyond their job and people are genuinely interested to hear about what you do in your free time.

Not only does this help build closer connections, but it can also provide some much needed lighter moments when work gets a little too serious.

Happy New Year to all our readers, may it be a prosperous and healthy one for all.