How long do you leave essential tasks on your to-do list? If you’ve put off tasks because they feel overwhelming, you’re not alone, but delays could be harmful. Read on to find out how financial planning may help you overcome decision paralysis.
According to a January 2025 study from the Post Office, half of adults in the UK have delayed important tasks because they feel too overwhelmed. As well as potentially affecting your plans, procrastinating can harm your wellbeing. Indeed, 63% of survey participants said they feel “weighted down” by their to-do lists.
Commonly delayed tasks include writing a will (25%) and filling in tax returns (18%). For those under 35, managing a pension was also a common sticking point, with 87% feeling overwhelmed by the task.
For some, procrastination can be due to having too many options or worrying about making the “right” decision, leading to decision paralysis – where you know you should tackle a task but don’t know where to start or what to do next.
If it’s financial tasks you’ve been putting off, working with a financial planner could help you overcome decision paralysis.
We can help you prioritise your to-do list
If you have a long to-do list, one of the first challenges might be deciding where to start. Should you write your will first, or spend some time reviewing your pension options?
As your financial planner, we could help you prioritise the tasks depending on your circumstances and needs. Having a clear order could mean your list feels more manageable and give you the confidence to focus on one thing at a time, which could be more productive than trying to multitask.
We can explain the different options to you
Modern life often means you have a lot of options. While this can be a good thing, it may also feel overwhelming as well – how do you sift through all the different options and decide what’s right for you?
This can affect many aspects of your to-do list, including financial tasks. Perhaps you want to start investing but aren’t sure where to invest or how to create a balanced portfolio that reflects your goals. Or maybe you want to set up a trust to protect assets for your child, but you aren’t sure how to compare the different types of trust.
Working with a professional means you have someone to turn to when you have questions. It might mean your options are clearer and you feel empowered to make a decision.
With 30% of people telling the Post Office survey too much information was a barrier for them completing tasks, having someone who can simplify the details and highlight which parts might be important for you could be invaluable.
We can help you understand the long-term effect of your decisions
Financial decisions may be complex and could affect your long-term financial security. So, decision paralysis might occur if you’re worried about making the “right” choice.
Let’s say you’re ready to retire and access your pension. You may be concerned about withdrawing too much and running out later in life. Or you may be unsure if purchasing an annuity or taking a flexible income is right for your lifestyle.
A financial planner could help you understand the long-term effects of your decisions, so you can feel confident about the future.
This may include using cashflow modelling to visualise how your wealth might change depending on how much income you withdraw from your pension each year. You could even use it to model financial shocks to see how you might create a safety net, which may put your mind at ease and help you move forward with a decision.
We can handle tasks on your behalf
43% of UK adults told the Post Office survey that they would hire a personal assistant to help them with life admin if they could.
If you want to take a hands-off approach to managing your finances, building a long-term relationship with a financial planner could be right for you. We’d take the time to understand your aspirations and how your assets might be used to support them to create a tailored plan.
With regular reviews, we can work with you to ensure your plan continues to reflect changes to your circumstances and wishes and make adjustments if necessary.
Contact us to create a financial plan that works for you
If you’d like to review your finances and how they might support long-term goals, please get in touch. We could work with you to create a tailored plan that suits your needs, offers a clear direction, and provide ongoing support should you have any questions or concerns.
Please note: This blog is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice, which should be based on your individual circumstances. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate trusts or will writing.
