Nothing – there is no charge for our initial meeting. We need to get together initially and chat to see if I can help. During that meeting we will discuss your personal circumstances and goals and I will ensure you are fully aware of the costs involved.
There are no obligations to proceed after our initial meeting. If you are wishing to move forward with a working relationship, I would go through what costs are involved prior to any work taking place.
We have lots of options. At my office, at your home, a coffee shop or online in a virtual meeting. I always prefer to have an initial chat in your home if possible. It’s where you are most likely to feel comfortable. Please don’t feel the need to tidy up on my account!
We need to discuss what you are looking to achieve. Then, if it’s something I can help with, we’ll dig into the details. It’s really that simple.
In order to look properly at your goals and needs, we’ll need to chat about your current situation too.
It varies so much depending on the complexity of your situation and what you are looking to achieve.
I never charge for an initial meeting though and I will make it clear during that meeting what the charges will be, with no obligation to proceed.
Each client is different, so there will be differences on how you interact with your adviser. As a guide, the link above to the fees section shows what is involved in the initial advice period and the ongoing service with regards to an investment plan. Should you decide to become a client, there will be lots of additional details in the client agreement which you are free to request and read through before committing to anything.
All fees will be discussed and agreed with you personally before any chargeable work commences, included in typed reports, and in a formal signed client agreement. These will be shown in percentages and monetary values so you can make a fully informed decision. Transparency around fees is an important part of our industry and my fees can be seen if you click the link at the top of the page.
Some financial advisers are independent (that’s what the ‘I’ stands for in ‘IFA’). This means they are not restricted to a specific set of investment solutions and/or providers. I think the FCA has a good way of describing the difference.
The FCA (financial conduct authority, our regulator) definition of independent advice is the assessment of a sufficient range of relevant products available on the market which must be sufficiently diverse with regard to their type and issuers or product providers to ensure that the client’s investment objectives can be suitably met; and not be limited to relevant products issued or provided by the firm itself, or by entities having close links with the firm, or other entities with which the firm has close legal or economic relationships, including contractual relationships, as to present a risk or impairing the independent basis of the advice provided.
The FCA definition of restricted advice is a recommendation that is not independent advice, or basic advice.
The Equity Release Loan won’t, if we use a lender that is part of the Equity Release Council. There may be no equity left in the property, but you wouldn’t leave your beneficiaries owing any money as a result of the equity release loan.
It is important to note that the surviving spouse can stay in the property until they die or move into care. Following that it’s usually 12 months. There may be scope for a longer agreement, subject to the lender’s discretion.
Like all mortgages, a lifetime mortgage is usually ‘portable’ which means you can transfer the mortgage to a different property, subject to the lender agreeing to it.
The new property will need to be valued and checked it is suitable security for the loan, but if that’s all satisfactory, you can move house.
In the past, before regulation, there were some less than desirable products available that resulted in families being in negative equity following the death of a family member. This does not happen anymore. Equity release can be a very effective solution for some clients, particularly those who need a lump sum or an additional income to supplement their pension income.
Consideration needs to be given to the depletion of value that passes to the next generation; there may be little to no inheritance. It isn’t a decision to undertake lightly, and it is encouraged that you discuss the decision with your family, as there may be impact to what they receive.
There are various options on how to structure the set-up to suit different needs and circumstances. An equity release qualified adviser will be able to help with this.
As with all mortgages, you have the right to pay back your mortgage at any time. There may be fees involved in this, known as early repayment charges. In addition to this, you can pay the interest only on lots of these mortgages, meaning the physical debt will never get any bigger.
With some mortgages, you can actually pay back up to 10% of the outstanding loan per year without incurring any charges too. Your adviser will talk you through the features of your individual mortgage.
When you die or if you move to a residential care home, the mortgage will need to be repaid. If the house is worth more than the mortgage, then any remaining balance following the sale of the house will be yours or distributed according to your Will.
The house doesn’t have to be sold, if your beneficiaries want to retain it, they can raise the money another way and redeem the outstanding loan.
An individual savings account (ISA) is basically a tax wrapper. This means that whatever is within it is tax free. Any growth is tax free, and you will not be liable to any form of tax on any withdrawals. The only tax that could possibly be levied on an ISA is inheritance tax (but that’s another conversation). If it is a bank account then it is known as a cash ISA, if it is an investment, then it is an investment ISA or also sometimes referred to as a Stocks and Shares ISA. Each adult has an annual limit of £20,000 that can be invested this way.
With such investments, your capital is at risk and the value can fall as well as rise. You may receive less than you originally invested.
Yes. This is a fundamental part of investing. Over the long term (at least 5 years) we have seen the values of investments generally grow. This is because they are invested in assets and the value of these assets has grown above the rate of inflation over time. There are no guarantees though and sometimes we see the value drop. It’s important that anyone who is investing understands that your values can go up as well as down and you may get back less than you invested.
A good adviser will help you understand this and also help you to understand why this happens sometimes. If you are happy with the long-term approach, the past has shown us that riding out the short-term storms can result in overcoming these drops in value. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
Yes, depending on where you invest. It can take a couple of weeks to arrange a sell down of your investment and then a transfer to your bank account, but you can get it out if necessary. This need comes into the discussion you have with your adviser. You should retain a cash reserve to cover emergencies since the whole concept of investing is built around long term.
When investing, your capital is at risk and the value can fall as well as rise. You may receive less than you originally invested.
Your personal circumstances, goals and objectives will help with this question again! Everyone is different and there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Advisers can help you consider these differences and make a recommendation as to which is the best for you or a combination of both.
The final amount in your investment ISA and pension will depend on contributions,investment performance and charges. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, so you could get back less that you invested. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.
Credit problems such as arrears, defaults, CCJs etc are known as adverse credit. Every situation is different and there will be times when a combination of circumstances means that you cannot get the mortgage you want. Many lenders specialise in providing mortgages to people with past problems so don’t assume you won’t be able to secure a mortgage. Be honest and open with your adviser and they will be able to find out your options.
Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.
There are many factors influencing your borrowing capacity. Income, overtime/bonus, joint or sole applicants, number of dependants, term of mortgage, other committed spending all have a big impact on the amount you can borrow.
A good adviser will have access to lots of lenders’ affordability calculators. You should be open and honest in order to get a realistic result. Affordability calculators are not offers to lend though. They are only indicators, and you will still have to pass more detailed affordability assessments.
Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it.
This all depends on your personal circumstances and priorities. A good financial adviser can help to forecast the impact of choosing to overpay your mortgage vs pension contributions or a combination of both. That way you can work with your adviser to decide the best strategy for you. Please note there could be charges associated with overpaying your mortgage and you should check with your lender.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
That is a personal choice. With a personal pension, arranged by an adviser, your investment is diversified across many asset classes and many countries throughout the world. With property, the money is often in one location and in one asset class (property). Therefore, it is usually considered to be a higher risk approach.
Like all things in the financial world, you must understand the costs and risks associated with your strategy. Talk to your adviser about what is best for you.
It all depends on your expected expenditure in retirement. My cashflow forecasting software can help to determine how much you are likely to need and how much you are likely to need to put away to achieve that goal. None of us can predict the future precisely so these things are always best done on an ongoing basis where we can update it as we go along.
When investing, your capital is at risk and the value can fall as well as rise. You may receive less than you originally invested.
A personal pension plan does not die with you. Anything left in there will be passed to your beneficiaries and, if the pot isn’t emptied by them, on and on though the generations. If you die before the age of 75, the pension will be available to them free of income tax, and they do not have to reach minimum pension age before accessing it.
Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.
Currently, you can access your pension at age 55. In April 2028, that increases to age 57. You can access it earlier on grounds of ill health. The circumstances when this is possible will be detailed in the literature you receive from your provider.
No. You can arrange your own personal pension. There are some products out there that are only accessible via an adviser though.
If you meet the conditions for auto enrolment, then yes, it is the law that you are enrolled into a pension scheme. You can opt out if you want to.
All circumstances are different. A good adviser will discuss this with you to see if it’s the right thing. There may be some guarantees held with older pensions that are valuable and would be lost on transfer so in this situation an adviser would be able to help.
A very common question. It is easy to say ‘as much as you can afford’ but in reality, it’s not that simple. A good adviser can help you look at your current circumstances including income, expenditure, assets, liabilities and help to prioritise your finances.
Good financial planning adapts over time and can benefit from regular updates. How much you need to contribute to your pension depends on your goals and objectives, when you want to retire and how much income you need.
The value of your investment can go down as well as up, so you could get back less that you invested.
A defined benefit pension, sometimes referred to as a final salary pension or average salary pension, has a guaranteed income for life. The level of this income is usually dependent on your earnings while you were part of the scheme, how long you were a member and when you commence the pension payments. The treatment of that pension on your death will be detailed in the terms and conditions of the pension plan.
The tax treatment of both defined benefit and defined contribution pensions depends on your personal circumstances and legislation at the time which can change.
A defined contribution pension is a type of investment plan. The contributions are made by you and / or your employer and are invested often within investment funds (there are alternative investments that can be held in a pension). Once you are ready to access it, you will have numerous options, and an adviser can help you decide which is the best for you. The final amount in your pension at retirement will depend on contributions, investment performance and charges.
Currently, the earliest you can access your pension is at age 55. In April 2028, that increases to age 57. You can access it earlier on grounds of ill health. The circumstances when this is possible will be detailed in the literature you receive from your provider.
An annuity is a guaranteed income, that you can exchange some or all of your pension savings for. The amount you receive (and how often) is determined by several variables including whether you opt for a level or increasing annuity, whether it is for life or a fixed period of time, how much you have to exchange for the income, annuity rates at the time, guarantee periods, whether you opt for a benefit to be paid to your spouse if you die first.
Drawdown is different in that you withdraw from your pension, while it remains invested within a pension environment. The income/withdrawals can be regular or ad hoc and can be flexible and changed according to your requirements. Your capital remains at risk and the value of your investment can go down as well as up, so you could get back less that you invested. It is possible that you can fully exhaust your pension pot.
The tax treatment of both options depends on your personal circumstances and legislation at the time which can change.
There are possibilities where the two options above can be combined, it is not always a case of one or the other. An annuity is designed to provide secure income whereas a drawdown arrangement does not. An adviser can help you to determine the best option for you.
Yes, but you cannot contribute yourself if you are under 18. Someone else would need to make those contributions for you. These contributions can benefit from tax relief, subject to certain rules including earnings and residency status, among others, which will be detailed in the terms and conditions of the pension scheme. There are also limits regarding the amount you can contribute and benefit from tax relief. This is called your annual allowance. It is possible to contribute up to £2,880 per annum net (which is increased to £3,600 after tax relief) even as a non-taxpayer.
Forecasts or projections are a way to look at what your investment or pension might be worth in the future. These are often based on lots of assumptions and, unless you have guarantees linked to your investment, not certain outcomes. Such projections are often provided with annual statements, and it may be possible to request them more often from your pension provider, depending on your circumstances. It is worth noting that some providers may not provide ad hoc projections if you are within a specified timescale of your nominated retirement age.
You can often keep track of the value of your pension with online access and/or apps provided by your pension provider. If you are unsure, contact your provider to ask about these options.
The final amount in a defined contribution pension at retirement will depend on contributions, investment performance and charges.
A state pension forecast can be accessed via the government website. Either by an online request or by completing a paper form and posting it. A defined benefit forecast is also slightly different. You can obtain them from your provider but you may be limited by the number of them you request within a specified timeframe.
The full new State Pension will provide a weekly income of £230.25 in 2025/26. How much you receive depends on your National Insurance contributions (NICs) throughout your working life. To qualify for the full amount, you typically need 35 years of NICs on your record.
This pension income changes each year depending on current legislation.
Your tax treatment depends on your circumstances and current legislation.
Updates regarding the state pension amount can be found on the government website.
The new State Pension: What you'll get - GOV.UK
Pension income is taxable, just like other kinds of income. You won’t pay national insurance (NI) on pension income because it is only paid on earned income. You have a personal allowance of £12,570 (this is frozen until April 2031) on which you pay no income tax.
Many types of pensions have access to a tax-free portion or lump sum. The details of these will be detailed in the terms and conditions of that pension scheme.
Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.
In the 2025/26 tax year, you can start claiming the State Pension from the age of 66. However, from 6 May 2026, the qualifying age will gradually increase to 67, with further rises expected in the future.
It’s important to note that you won’t automatically receive the State Pension once you reach the qualifying age, you’ll need to actively claim it. A few months before you become eligible, you should receive a letter with instructions on how to apply online.
You can check your national insurance record online or obtain a state pension forecast via a posted form. An adviser can help you find and complete this form needed.
Short answer is yes, if you want or need to. Your tax treatment will depend on your personal circumstances and legislation at the time. Many people choose to work past state pension age.
No, there is no obligation to cover the debt of a mortgage with a life insurance policy. Your adviser
will discuss your options to see whether it is right for you.
No. If you don’t claim throughout the term of a protection policy, you do not get any money back. They are like a car or home insurance policy, if you don’t claim then you don’t get a refund. Insurance is there for peace of mind and to help you and your family if you do need to claim.
Life insurance companies regularly publish their claims and pay out statistics. For example, LV paid 95% of all claims in 2022 (sourced from LV claims report 2022). The main reason for not paying a claim is misrepresentation at application stage. The same LV report states 70% of unpaid claims were due to this.
Smoking, alcohol, BMI, health history and undisclosed health problems are listed as areas where misrepresentation has occurred. This includes all protection policies like critical illness, income protection and life insurance.
A big question. All families are different in that they have different income, expenditure, assets, liabilities and priorities. All this depends on your individual circumstances and how much you can afford. A good adviser can help with this question.
There are so many choices out there and the market is changing all the time. I don’t advise on individual bank accounts, but I can help you determine how much you should have as a cash reserve for emergencies. We can also discuss whether it’s best to use your ISA allowance for investment purposes or for cash savings.
It is worth remembering that the financial services compensation scheme guarantees £85,000 per banking group, per individual (so £170,000 for a joint account).
Improving your tax efficiency can make a positive difference to your long-term wealth. Being aware of your allowances, limits and tax thresholds is an important part of financial planning. An adviser can help with that.
These limits can (and do) change so it is important to keep up with the current legislation.
Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.