Helena Wardle

Helena began working at Nationwide in 2006 and decided early on that she wanted to become a financial adviser. Helena qualified as a financial adviser in 2011 and has been helping support clients ever since.

Helena very much values learning and loves the challenge of getting to grips with complex and technical concepts, which is what lead her to become a Chartered Financial Planner. She took on a different challenge in 2018 and completed her MSc in Financial Planning. It was by far her most valuable learning experience; improving her objectivity, understanding of people, and her interest in academic reading and research.

As a self-confessed pensions geek, Helena specialises in helping people to plan for retirement and understand if they have enough to last. Her aim is to bring these complex financial planning areas to life for people in a way that they will understand.

For Helena, financial planning is about helping people to define what they want, decide on what they are prepared to compromise on (if they need to), and give them reassurance and a simple plan to follow.

The conversations Helena has with clients are often less about how much you have, and more about what do you want to achieve. It can sometimes mean having tough discussions around subjects people would rather avoid, but Helena is always honest and sensitive in her approach.

Helena loves the team spirit everyone has created at Smith & Wardle; working together, laughing together, and supporting each other. She would say there’s a very special atmosphere in the office; everyone cares about both the work we do and the clients we work with.