The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings

Chapter 20 Change of ­fortune

Jayne was nervous as she drove with her parents to Ben’s office. Her father could be bloody rude at times, and she knew he would grill Ben about his true intentions. He’d made it clear he didn’t trust ‘dodgy’ financial advisers, and would be there to look out for her as much as anything.

‘Remember, Dad, Ben is a friend. Please don’t embarrass me and ask lots of suspicious questions,’ Jayne warned her father, looking at him in the rear-view mirror as she parked the car.

Her mother adjusted her lipstick in the sun visor mirror, and also gave her father the evil eye. ‘Yes, don’t embarrass us, Bob.’

Jayne’s father looked innocent as he opened the car door — which Jayne knew didn’t mean much. When Jayne introduced him to Ben, however, he was perfectly behaved, and she started to relax. This was a mistake.

‘Our Jayne says good things about you,’ he told Ben, who smiled. He then went on. ‘But she’s not the best judge of character when it comes to men. So I’d like to know more about you myself.’

Jayne gasped and her mother kicked her husband under the table. Ben, of course, handled it perfectly. ‘Bob, I’m an open book,’ he replied. ‘Ask away.’

‘Alright, I will,’ replied Bob pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. ‘What qualification do you have to be giving advice?’ asked Bob.

Ben pointed to a framed certificate on the wall. ‘I’m a CFP qualified adviser, with a degree in economics.’ Bob nodded to hear this. He had read on the Financial Planning Association ...