Why we charge fixed fees, not a percentage
If you have worked with a financial planner or adviser before, you’ll know that they usually charge a percentage of your investments.
We don’t work in that way.
We don’t think it’s right that someone with £1,000,000 invested should pay ten times as much as someone with £100,000 invested if they have a broadly similar service. We also don’t think it’s right that clients’ service should be determined by how much money they have. It’s a dated and opaque way of charging for valuable professional support, but yet nearly all financial advisers still operate in this way. We are part of the movement for change.
Everyone’s circumstances and needs are different, so the fees you pay should reflect that.
We believe that fixed, all-inclusive fees are more transparent and fair on you. Our clients know exactly what they are paying for when it comes to the financial planning advice and investment management from us. Nothing is hidden and there are no extras.
Does everyone pay the same amount?
No. We tailor our service to suit you. As a result, we can offer an attentive service to clients with complex circumstances and requirements, or a ‘light touch’ service if that suits you better.
How are the fees calculated?
First, we listen to what you need. Then, we form a high-level picture of the planning you’re likely to need, how complex it is, and the time that will take to attend to everything for you. Based on the expected time spend from various people within our team, we calculate an initial fee. That initial fee provides you with everything you need – from the exploratory discussions, going through our advice and implementing whatever we have recommended. It is totally inclusive and there are no extras.
For clients having an ongoing service, it’s much the same. We find out how often you would like to meet and review your plan during the year (most people review their plans yearly) and what sort of planning support you’ll need during the year. From that, we can give you a monthly fixed fee. This monthly fee is also totally inclusive of anything you could need in the year. Whether that’s making an adjustment to your pension contributions, setting up Junior ISAs for your children or grandchildren, or helping you invest money from a long lost aunt.
How are fees paid?
Our fees can be paid from your bank account, and you will usually also have the option to pay them from your investment or pension pots.
How much does financial planning cost?
It can really range from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds depending on what you need and how complicated it is. But you do get what you pay for. With our holistic financial planning we will usually make such substantial improvements to your financial situation that you will be much better off as a result. So our fees are usually paid for many times over.
The best way to find out how much it would cost to give you the financial planning advice that’s right for you, would be to contact us and tell us about your situation. That can be at one of our offices, by phone or Skype. Once we know more about you, we will send you a considered personal proposal, setting out the key planning we think you would benefit from and what our fee will be. Naturally, we will also adjust our fee if the service you need changes over time.
Am I tied in?
Of course not. We don’t like those sorts of contracts either. If, after a while, you feel we’re not right for you, just let us know. No questions asked. And if you want to adapt the service to make it a little more, or less, comprehensive, that’s fine too.
