Why choose us to be your independent financial adviser?

With the demise of state and employer benefits, there’s now a greater onus on you than ever to generate and protect personal wealth to secure your, and your family’s future financial independence.

Meanwhile, you may have bought products in the past to satisfy a need, be it tax planning, protection or investment, and now find you have a hotch-potch of financial arrangements, and you can’t see how they all come together.

What you want, therefore, is independent financial advice to help you create a robust but straightforward plan for your financial future.

Of course we can focus on specific areas of your personal financial planning needs. However, we’re best at sorting out your financial arrangements in the context of the bigger picture. This means we work with you to bring clarity and structure to your finances, taking away the stress, and leaving you feeling in control of your money and your future.

Because we want to help you secure your desired future, we take time to understand you fully – your history, values and attitudes to money. We establish what’s important to you and then help you achieve your particular goals. For example, one woman said, ‘I want a soft retirement when I’m 55. I don’t want to give up work, but I don’t want to work at the frenetic pace that I am now. Will I be able to afford to do this?’

Once we understand your needs and goals, we set about helping to future-proof them. Illness happens, economies slump, property and investment values can fall. We consider all these ‘What if’ scenarios and plan for their possibility, so you don’t take on more risk than is necessary.

At the end of this process, you’ll have a clear understanding of your financial future. Together, we then set about creating the ideal blend of security, protection, tax efficiency, liquidity and flexibility. You’ll know:

• How much to set aside now and where best to put it
• Which investments would most suit you
• How much insurance you actually need
• What your retirement options are
• How to reduce your exposure to personal tax, including inheritance tax

After that, we sit down together annually, review everything, and ask: ‘Are you still on track? What’s changed? What’s new in your life? What external factors, such as economic or tax changes, do we need to account for?’ Then we make adjustments as necessary.

• I felt reassured that Stephen was not just "out to make money" from me. The opposite. He was looking at the long-term picture
• He delivers everything I ask for. He's approachable, easy to get hold of, and above all, not pushy!
• He's very supportive; if he even senses that you have a question, he won't let it pass. He'll stop and talk it through until you understand
• Stephen helped me get control of my financial affairs. I had eight pension pots. Just to have Stephen sort them out was wonderful.
• Stephen is very professional, honest and honourable. I think those are very important qualities when someone else is handling your money
• I see my professional relationship with Stephen as long-term: there's been continuity through all the changes I've been through.
• Now, thanks to Stephen, I have a nice income and all my investments are sorted. I haven't ever had to worry about my finances
• When my husband died, things changed rapidly. "Put all your faith in Stephen," he said. "He'll do fine for you." And he does