It is not just Mr Johnson’s potential tax changes that could mean it is a great moment to take a fresh look at people’s plans.
The arrival of a new chancellor could signal a much more urgent need to review personal finances.
What do we know about Sajid Javid’s approach to finances? He is a former City banker, which is likely to influence his approach to running the nation’s purse.
He offered tax cuts for high earners as part of his pledges when he was campaigning for leader of the Tory party.
With some predicting a general election before the end of the year – or even before the October 31 Brexit deadline – a tax-cutting platform would be hugely popular with Tory votes, which suggests that the new chancellor will prioritise the move.
Again, that would put more cash in many of your clients’ pockets and prompt another reason to get in touch with them.
As an aside, how often do financial advisers contact clients? I have had mixed experiences with a notable silence for years from one, while another helpfully sent out regular newsletters.
I would rather have regular contact, not least because it increases my confidence that an adviser is keeping an eye on my financial plans and has my best interests at heart.
But I presume that some clients prefer to have advisers that keep their ‘meddling’ to a minimum.
One thing is certain, Johnson and his new cabinet will be meddling with the nation’s finances.
At least they will try to – although in our current age of political and economic uncertainty their ambitions may well be be thwarted.
The timing is obviously difficult for contacting clients when many of them will be already on the beach, or at least have their thoughts dominated by holidays rather than pensions or investments.
For that reason it may make more sense for advisers to hold fire until after the summer break to share their thoughts about the new government and how its plans may impact people’s finances.
The danger of waiting, however, is that the new government may have already collapsed in disarray around arguments over how to achieve the best outcome for Britain after the no-deal Brexit that he appears to have promised to deliver.
But that very uncertainty and turmoil is another reason to focus on finances, with the biggest question that clients are likely to ask being: how can I protect my finances against the ongoing problems?
I have absolutely no answers to that, but presume that you have a variety of suggestions to offer.
Simon Read is a freelance journalist
