What is financial planning?

“The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms”

Chris Brogan

We are increasingly impatient. We want fast answers.

As financial planners, we always endeavour to address the financial problems and challenges you’re facing right now, as well as planning for your long-term future.

Financial planning is the creation of a thorough, step-by-step plan that takes you from where you are to where you want to be. It deals with short-term issues and challenges while preparing for the long-term. It helps you look at your aspirations and objectives, then addresses some fundamental questions of life: what do you want and how are you going to get there?

You might not have the answers to the latter part of that question, but a proper financial plan will.

Here’s how we work when it comes to putting together a financial plan for you:

Our first meetings are spent getting to know you, your goals and aspirations; that’s in life, not just in relation to your finances. We build long-term relationships with our clients to put you on the right track and ensure you remain there.

We also need to gather as much as much information as we can so that we can begin building a financial plan.

We’ll analyse what you have and get in touch with the people involved in your investments, savings and pension arrangements. We’ll analyse your cash flow and assets, establishing where there is room for progress towards your goals.

Essentially, we want to establish how far you are from your personal objectives, so that we can calculate what needs to be done to propel you towards them.

Using financial planning software, we’ll map out a plan that will solve your current financial problems and get you on the right path to achieving your objectives.

We’ll then meet again to present the plan and our recommendations. Of course, you’re bound to have to questions and queries here; we’ll make sure those are addressed and, if necessary, amend the plan before moving to the next stage.

A plan is only as good as its implementation.

Leave the rest to us.

Our team will work to implement the recommendations we have set out for you. Where necessary, we’ll collaborate with any other professional advisers, including solicitors, lawyers and accountants.

Our experience proves time and time again that financial planning is an ongoing process: your objectives may change and there may well be bumps in the road. Over time, elements will need reassessing. We will be there to make sure you stay on-track.

We build long-lasting relationships with our clients and offer an ongoing service to ensure you and your family remain on track, whatever life throws at you.

Read more about our annual review process and ongoing service here.

What do our clients have to say?

I was recommended to Simon when I moved from London to Hampshire around 10 years ago. I wanted top quality financial advice across both my highly intertwined business and personal/family lives, able to be delivered often face to face without too much travel effort. My needs started with tax management advice but quickly spread to how to fund a house purchase and renovation, and then my children’s education. As I reach my mid-50s, the questions have been more to do with pension, London property and my family investment portfolio. Simon has been beside me all that way. Why? Well, professionally, because he knows his subject, is always well prepared, can explain things quickly and clearly, and is sensible and sincere in his advice. When occasionally I have questioned him toughly, he has proved his advice can withstand that. So, I have learned to trust his recommendations, which always save me time, stress and help me to be financially well prepared. On a personal level, it is always nice to see him as he is friendly, tries really hard to help and makes all his clients, however unimportant in terms of fees, feel looked after and valued. Trust him, it’ll be worth it.

James, from St Marybourne

We have used Simon for around 10 years. We started from a point where retirement was a scary thought which we could never afford. Working with Simon we put a plan together and now we feel that financially the future is much clearer. Simon is not one for fancy high risk instant results; he has always made this clear and in the process has steered us away from several ‘get rich quick’ schemes that have tempted us.

Mike, from Whitchurch

We were looking to invest a windfall for the long term in a tax-efficient way so that it could provide additional support to our disabled child in the future. Simon arranged a plan that provides for this and also combined our various pension schemes onto a consolidated platform. This enables accurate cash flow modelling that would not be possible with a variety of scattered funds. Our regular reviews have been invaluable in reducing any financial uncertainty and concern. Simon has arranged life cover offering greater value for money and with premiums paid directly from my company, effectively reducing the cost.

John, from Godalming

I have been working with Simon for a number of years now and have come to really value his financial planning advice. He first helped me to invest the money I made from selling my business and since then he has continued to advise my husband and I on all aspects of our financial and retirement planning. Simon brings a well-informed, balanced perspective to our financial decision-making that is always reassuring.

Rachel, from Richmond-Upon-Thames

We originally contacted Simon shortly after we married, as we had a diverse portfolio which was proving difficult to manage. Simon helped us to clarify our investment aims for growth and income over our working lives and into retirement, providing the information we needed to select the appropriate risk strategy for our investments. Our portfolio is now well structured and easy to manage, together with regular updates on the value. Simon meets with us at least once a year to discuss our portfolio, is always well informed, providing us with appropriate advice and information to make any decisions.

William, from Southampton