DipPFS
Independent Financial Adviser
Cheltenham
I have been advising for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in all areas of personal financial advice and planning. My approach is to build long term relationships and understanding of your situation and needs in a relaxed and patient manner. A combination of a traditional personal face to face approach complimented with the use of modern technology helps to bring clarity and understanding to the planning. It is enjoyable to be able to help people and provide solutions for them. One of the most rewarding parts of the role is to see the successful outcomes and the happiness, sometimes relief! that it provides people. This can be as simple as arranging a mortgage for a first home or several years of planning to achieve an early retirement aim.
No two people are the same or have the same needs or desires. Every plan created is unique to the individual. That variety is an interesting and challenging part of my role and there is never a ‘one size’ fits all approach. In financial services the conversation is all too often focussed on the wrong thing, ‘financial products. The discussion starts around pensions, ISAs, life assurance, investments and savings accounts, when in fact these should be the last thing we focus on.
These ‘products’ are just the tools to be used to meet your needs and aims. Of course, having the ‘right tools’ is important but until we know what those aims and needs are, we can’t decide what ‘tools’ are needed.
The conversation needs to start with the things that are important to you. What do you want to achieve? What are your concerns? How do you feel about your situation currently? Why are these things important to you? Why do things concern you?
A meaningful discussion about your story so far and what you want for the future, will help us work out how close you are to achieving those things and create a plan for the future to work toward those aims and tackle any fears. Only then can we move on to looking at what products are needed.
I specialise in the following advice services:
Lifetime Financial Planning
Through the use of sophisticated cash flow modelling techniques and by applying various inflation, interest rate and growth assumption we can plan how to get you where you want to be. The use of cashflow modelling is becoming the cornerstone of effective lifetime planning.
Later Life & Estate Planning
We spend a lifetime building our wealth, so it’s important to find the most effective way to protect your assets, in order for you to pass them on to those you love as efficiently as possible.
Pension & Retirement Planning
When you think about the future, what does your retirement look like to you? An important question which we can help you answer.
Investment & Wealth Management
Creating, growing, and then maintaining wealth is key to successful financial planning and should be part of a longer-term investment strategy.
Wills & Power of Attorney
Making a Will is essential to ensuring that your wealth benefits those whom you choose and is not taken by taxation, unnecessary legal costs and beneficiaries chosen by the law.
Equity Release
Equity release is a way for homeowners over the age of 55 to release value from their home in the form of cash without having to sell or move.
Mortgage Planning
Securing the right mortgage can make the difference between a property that becomes a happy and secure family home and one that ends up as a financial burden.
Defined Benefit Transfer Specialist
If you have a Defined Benefit or Final Salary pension scheme, there may be individual circumstances where a pension transfer could be advantageous.
Contact Andy Benson, your local adviser
We'll work with you to build a personal financial plan that's designed to help you achieve your individual ambitions.