A FINANCIAL adviser who entered the industry only seven years ago after her daughter showed her a job advert has been named among the nation’s best.

Christchurch-based Karen Baker has been rated among the 200 top independent financial advisers in the UK, based on customer feedback to the website vouchedfor.co.uk Karen had done a variety of jobs while raising two children. In 2006, her then 18-year-old daughter Leila showed her an advertisement for a trainee stockbroker with US firm Edward Jones.

“She said, ‘You need a proper job. I’ve found this and this is for you’,” Karen said.

After taking a series of aptitude tests, she went through an intensive period of training at Canary Wharf and found she loved the profession.

She said she liked to set clients at ease and look at all their circumstances.

“I try to take a holistic approach from the beginning,” she said. “Sometimes people don’t tell you things, which are important unless you talk a little bit around it.”

Vouchedfor.co.uk operates much like TripAdvisor, with customers leaving feedback online about the professionals they have dealt with.

“There are more than 20,000 independent financial advisers in the UK so I’m thrilled to be in the Vouchedfor.co.uk Top 200,” said Karen.

“What makes it even more special is that I’ve been selected thanks to my clients. It means a lot that they’ve gone out of their way to support me and I’d like to thank them all.”

She added: “I’m passionate about independent financial advice. While talking about how to look after your money isn’t ‘sexy’, with a growing pension and savings gap, planning your financial future is more important than ever.

“In a nutshell, that’s what financial advice is all about – making sure you make the most out of your hard-earned cash and aren’t left short of funds in retirement or on a rainy day.”