Financial advice isn’t only about your relationship with money. It’s about your relationship with your adviser. Evan and his SJP Partner, Liz, look back at their 32-year friendship – and share their memorable moments. 

Liz and Evan

Meet Evan

Evan was Liz’s first client when she became a financial adviser at 21 years old. Thirty two years later, she’s still advising him and his family.
Together, they have lived through both good times and bad.
Evan and Liz’s story shows how the right adviser can make all the difference to your finances and your family.  

Financial advice isn’t only about your relationship with money. It’s about your relationship with your adviser. Evan and his SJP Partner Liz look back at their 32-year friendship – and share their memorable moments.

“I love being a financial adviser,” says Liz. “And this photo of Evan and me, in pride of place above my desk, reminds me why, every single day.“

Taken during a recent outing, the photo could be of two close friends, or members of the same family. It’s a candid, spur of the moment photo that captures the close relationship between Liz, and her oldest client, Evan. Both are beaming at the camera, clearly delighted to be in each other’s company.

Evan doesn’t look or sound his impressive 96 years, but he’s Liz’s oldest client. And he was also her very first, when aged just 21, she started her career as a financial adviser. “Back then in 1992, we actually collected premiums in person,” remembers Liz. “I met Evan in my first year.”

“I always stayed longer than I meant to. We’d just chat and chat, and his wife Dorothy would sometimes fall asleep!”

Thirty two years later, Liz is still helping Evan and his son Phil with all aspects of their finances.  They go out to lunch together regularly, and always to celebrate Evan’s birthday with son Phil. “We’ve always had a lovely, friendly relationship, and we have a laugh and a joke at the same time,” says Evan.

“But at 96,” he adds with a twinkle ”I’m too old for Liz! She often reminds me that, if I live to 117, I’ll be the oldest man in the world – as well as her oldest client.”
 

“We’ve always had a lovely, friendly relationship, and we have a laugh and a joke at the same time”

Evan,
Client

A relationship that feels like family

Evan had already retired from his job in an NHS accounts department when he was introduced to Liz. She wasn’t his first financial adviser – but she was definitely the youngest. “I’ve always been very appreciative of the work all three of my financial advisers have done for me,” says Evan. “But Liz has become like family.“

When Liz joined SJP in 2012 and set up her own Partner practice a few years later, Evan went with her.

“Evan understands investments and markets and took a keen interest in managing his money well right from day one,” says Liz.” In fact, he taught me a thing or two.“

“He’s played an enormous part in my career as well as my life.“

Liz says that Evan taught her the value of the job of financial advising right from the outset. “He’d ask me quite tricky questions and I learnt to have the confidence to say, ‘I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll find out.’“

“He taught me the importance of honestly saying ‘I don’t know’ from an early age. That was a great lesson.” 

Evan and Liz have been through a great deal together, from day-to-day advice on investing and ISAs, to the aftermath of coping with his beloved wife’s death in 2018.  

When Dorothy first went into care, the local authority attempted to means test the family by using Evan’s ISA as well as Dorothy’s own savings, which could have significantly impacted the cost of her social care. “I called Age UK to verify that they couldn’t do this,” says Liz. “As a result, Evan still has his ISA which will pass to Phil, when the time comes.”  With Liz’s help, Phil is also building up a good pension pot and ISA savings so that he will be financially secure in the future.

When Dorothy did pass away, Liz was the second person Evan told. “And he said to me at that time, ‘When I go, will you make sure my son Phil is OK?” “Now, we’ve arranged things so Evan knows that Phil will be financially secure. We shared a hug – and a tear.”

Evan had already retired from his job in an NHS accounts department when he was introduced to Liz. She wasn’t his first financial adviser – but she was definitely the youngest. “I’ve always been very appreciative of the work all three of my financial advisers have done for me,” says Evan. “But Liz has become like family.“

When Liz joined SJP in 2012 and set up her own Partner practice a few years later, Evan went with her.

“Evan understands investments and markets and took a keen interest in managing his money well right from day one,” says Liz.” In fact, he taught me a thing or two.“

Liz and Evan

“He’s played an enormous part in my career as well as my life.“

Liz says that Evan taught her the value of the job of financial advising right from the outset. “He’d ask me quite tricky questions and I learnt to have the confidence to say, ‘I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll find out.’“

“He taught me the importance of honestly saying ‘I don’t know’ from an early age. That was a great lesson.” 

Evan's family

Evan and Liz have been through a great deal together, from day-to-day advice on investing and ISAs, to the aftermath of coping with his beloved wife’s death in 2018.  

When Dorothy first went into care, the local authority attempted to means test the family by using Evan’s ISA as well as Dorothy’s own savings, which could have significantly impacted the cost of her social care. “I called Age UK to verify that they couldn’t do this,” says Liz. “As a result, Evan still has his ISA which will pass to Phil, when the time comes.”  With Liz’s help, Phil is also building up a good pension pot and ISA savings so that he will be financially secure in the future.

When Dorothy did pass away, Liz was the second person Evan told. “And he said to me at that time, ‘When I go, will you make sure my son Phil is OK?” “Now, we’ve arranged things so Evan knows that Phil will be financially secure. We shared a hug – and a tear.”

talking

The moment neither will forget

Evan and Liz

“Liz comes to our home as a friend,” says Evan. “To us, she’s family.” But there was one day recently that Liz will never forget.

“When I arrived at the door for our regular review, Philip answered. He said, ‘Dad’s not well and I’ve called the ambulance.’  I went in and Evan was in his chair, struggling to breathe.”

“I sat with him, but when I went to leave, Evan grabbed my hand and said, “I don’t want you to go.”  

“I left not knowing what might happen.”

She was over the moon to receive a call from Philip the next day to say Evan was back home, and he was fine. “And when I did see him for his annual review, he seemed back to his old self. But he did hold my hand and tell me that he loved me.”

The value of a lifelong relationship

Liz says that of all her clients, there’s no one quite like Evan. To her, he’s a one-in-a-million client.

“As a lifelong financial adviser, you hold a place in their heart and they in yours,” she says. “Advice is about more than money. It’s making sure that money does the best for someone you care about.”

Evan puts it even more succinctly. “I never worry about my finances.,” he says. “I trust Liz completely.”

This is just one client’s story, and each situation is unique.

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SJP Approved 19/05/2025