Financial Planning

Most people probably know what independent financial advice is. But how many know what financial planning is, and how it differs from financial advice?

We’ve no doubt there are many differing definitions and opinions. However, we like to think of financial advice as solving an individual problem, at a specific point in time. While financial planning identifies your objectives, goals and ambitions, in the short, medium and long term, and then puts a plan in place to make them a reality.

Our financial planning process follows five key stages:

1. Discovery

We will work together to understand what you want from life, while defining your financial goals and understanding the time frame for achieving your goals.

We will then start to gather all the information about your current financial situation that we need to put together your financial plan.

2. Reality

We will analyse the information we have gathered to assess your current situation and determine what changes you must make to meet your goals.

This could include analysing assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments and tax strategies. It will certainly involve putting together a plan to achieve your future objectives.

3. Create

Using state-of-the-art planning software, we will build a financial plan that address your current financial problems and challenges while meeting your future goals.

We will present the plan and our recommendations to you at a face-to-face meeting, ensuring you understand the proposed plan so you can make informed decisions. As you would expect, we will also listen to your concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.

4. Implement

Our financial plans usually, although not always, mean changes need to be made to your current arrangements.

After we have presented our plan, we will agree which elements are to be implemented. You can then leave the heavy lifting to us. Where necessary we will also coordinate with your other professional advisers such as lawyers and accountants.

5. Review

Every financial plan gets knocked off course by headwinds, events and changes to your circumstances. It therefore needs regular reviews.

We will agree a schedule for periodic reviews to ensure that you stay on course to meet your financial goals and objectives.

Financial planning is a very personal matter. Our experience shows us that no two people have identical circumstances, goals, aspirations and needs. Furthermore, aspirations and needs evolve over time. The financial plan that we put in place for you is tailored and unique to match your individual requirements.

There are no ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions. But as your life changes over time, so may your financial plan, requiring it to be adapted. That’s why it is important to consider what could happen to throw your plans off track and make provision for all eventualities.

We follow a tried and tested financial advice and planning process, which has been carefully designed, and proven to deliver tangible results over time.

Please note

The value of your investment (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate taxation advice.

Financial Planning

Please note

Learn more about how financial planning can benefit you