Learn more about How we've helped clients

Rupert Lovesy:

"Following the sale of their business, my client wanted to invest sustainably and ensure their children were provided for over the long-term."

We analysed their spending and made some reasoned predictions about future costs, then used cash flow modelling to show how various changes could affect the value of their assets over their lifetime. The modelling showed some of their assets were unlikely to be needed, however they weren’t keen on these gaining value only to be taxed on their death. Similarly, they weren’t ready to give them away in case circumstances changed."

We addressed their short-term needs and wishes, maximised their pension contributions (outside of the estate for inheritance tax purposes) and set up a ‘Loan Trust’ for their children - to which they loaned nearly £1m. The trust would benefit from any growth, and should circumstances change, loan repayments could be started, or part of the loan called in. The loan could be waived in future and would then leave their estate fully after 7 years."

My client felt reassured that they had a flexible long-term plan and could use their capital to support their family over their lifetime."

Within a year, my client was made redundant, affecting their short-term income and retirement planning. Despite this, no change to the plan was needed. We demonstrated the impact by re-running the cash flow planning, reassuring my client they had access to income from loan repayments if needed."

Olivia Bowen:

"During her annual review, my client told me about her work pressure and how the travel commitments of her job had taken their toll on her home life. While she enjoyed her career and found it fulfilling, she wondered if she could achieve a better work/life balance."

"Using our cash-flow modelling software, I was able to demonstrate the impact that working fewer hours - or in a role with fewer demands - would have on her future income, based on her current asset levels."

"We went through a few different scenarios and agreed that by reducing ongoing payments into her existing ISAs and pension, she would still have enough to support the family and their future financial aims - without this having a significant impact on the overall financial plan."

"Alongside that, given that she would have more time available, she could make a difference to the charitable causes she supported by becoming an unpaid volunteer."

Thomas McCoy:

"My client in his 40s held an investment portfolio under our advice, which was planned to be used for his benefit in retirement. He was a higher-rate taxpayer and his employment earnings, were the main source of income for his family, which includes 2 young daughters. They had recently moved property and needed to re-mortgage."

"At his annual review of his financial situation, we highlighted that there was a shortfall in his financial planning, that he was insufficiently covered, in the event of a serious accident, illness or death."

"Although he had taken out protection policies in the past to cover his mortgage liability, his circumstances had changed where he now had a family to consider and the remortgage had changed the original terms and therefore no longer matched the cover he had in place. He had assets that could theoretically be put towards covering this liability on death, however this would leave little support to his partner or children beyond this."

"We agreed to review this area of need and on analysis, the life cover in place was insufficient to meet his present liabilities and his family’s living costs on death. In addition, the existing provision provided no benefits if he were to suffer an accident or illness, and this would seriously impact the family’s ability to meet their standard of living."

"My client's work only contractually offered Statutory Sick Pay. As at 2023/24, this pays £109.40 per week for 28 weeks if you’re too ill to work."

"Upon assessing the gaps in his protection needs, we discussed the financial implications in further detail, such as the amount needed to support his family in the event of his death, how long his savings would last if he suffered an accident or illness and his budget that could be used to meet these needs."

"We then provided recommended protection policies to fulfil these criteria. These included:

• A term protection policy. This would be able to repay the mortgage in the event of his death before retirement, as well as provide financial support to his children for University. This policy would provide a tax-free lump sum to his beneficiaries.
• A Family Income Benefit Policy (also known as a decreasing term assurance policy). This would provide tax-free monthly payments to his family in the event of his death or suffering a critical illness before his children turned 18. This would help meet his family’s standard of living, and ensure his partner had peace of mind and not be relied to work as well as support their family in this event.
• An Income Protection policy. This provides a proportion of his income if he suffered an accident or long-term sickness before retirement. Similarly, this could be used to continue to repay the mortgage as well as maintain his family’s standard of living.

"These recommendations allowed my client and his family to focus on building their savings for the long-term, without the concern that an untoward event would leave them financially exposed."

"P.S. Years later, my client collapsed whilst partaking in a run. He was diagnosed with a cardiac arrest, and required surgery to implant a pacemaker as a contingency."

"Thankfully he was able to return to work, and had minimal implications to his overall health following the event. Despite this, the acute illness he suffered fell within the category of a defined critical illness, which provided a lump sum."

Thomas Mc-Coy:

"My client was a higher rate taxpayer and had accrued a number of pensions over his career working as a city lawyer. 

"He was a decade or so from retirement age, but had started to plan for his retirement and wanted to simplify his finances. He also wanted his pensions to be managed ethically, but was happy to arrange his own funding and contributions."

"I provided some initial advice, on a one-off basis, to assess and consolidate his pensions where appropriate. He was happy with the solution we came to and said he may return in future for further retirement planning advice."