How an Openwork adviser delivered tailored reports for business owners

Client Context

Daniel* was part of an Openwork practice with a strong niche — advising successful business owners on pensions, remuneration structures, and exit planning. His clients often had layered needs, from drawing dividends efficiently to planning for retirement while balancing corporate and personal tax positions.

The technical nature of these cases meant Daniel spent hours trying to tailor every report to reflect both business and personal angles. Openwork’s paraplanning pool provided some support, but the reports often came back too generic to meet the expectations of his clients.

The Challenge

Daniel’s main challenges were:

• Reports lacking the tailored detail needed for SME clients
• Cases taking too long to prepare, delaying client recommendations
• Risk of non-compliance when trying to adapt network templates for complex scenarios

He knew his clients expected more than a one-size-fits-all approach, but he didn’t have the bandwidth to keep customising reports himself.

The Turning Point

After losing a potential client who wanted a quick turnaround on a remuneration strategy, Daniel realised generic reports were holding him back. He needed paraplanning support that could reflect the depth of his client work while meeting Openwork’s compliance requirements.

The Solution

Daniel engaged Plus Group to provide dedicated paraplanning support. We:

• Produced tailored reports that balanced corporate and personal planning considerations
• Applied Openwork’s compliance requirements while adapting reports to client needs
• Used Fluid to manage cases and ensure visibility across the practice

Implementation Insight

The partnership began with a remuneration strategy case for a business owner client. By working closely with Daniel, we created a report that clearly laid out dividend vs salary options, tax implications, and retirement funding outcomes. The client signed off immediately, impressed by the clarity and professionalism.

Results

• Reports tailored to business owner clients, not generic templates
• Faster turnaround times, improving client satisfaction
• Compliance maintained while delivering bespoke advice

Emotional Impact

For Daniel, the biggest change was confidence. Instead of worrying about whether reports would reflect the complexity of his advice, he knew they were accurate, professional, and Openwork-compliant. It allowed him to focus fully on client relationships and winning new business.

Before vs After

Barriers Addressed

Daniel initially worried that outsourcing paraplanning beyond the network might conflict with Openwork’s requirements. In practice, Plus Group worked within the network framework while adding the tailored depth his clients needed.

If you specialise in complex client niches and need reports that go beyond generic templates, Plus Group’s paraplanning support ensures you can deliver bespoke advice with confidence.