A financial settlement can represent a significant change in a client's circumstances. They may suddenly have responsibility for assets they have not previously managed themselves, or need to consider their options for pensions, investments, property and future income.
Once the legal work is complete, the client may still be asking:
This is where we can add value.
We can use cash flow planning to project the client's financial position into the future, factoring in their income, expenditure, savings, investments and pensions. This can help them understand the lifestyle their settlement can support.
We can also review their investments and pensions, including tax allowances, investment structure and the level of risk being taken.
The aim is not simply to tell a client what to do with their settlement. It is to give them clarity and confidence about how their financial resources can support the life they want to lead.
An accountant may be helping a client with business tax, remuneration, succession planning or preparing the business for a future sale. We can build on the advice already given by assessing what those decisions mean for the client's personal finances.
For example, a business owner may have accumulated significant wealth within their company but want to understand how this can transfer into personal wealth outside of it. They may be thinking of a future sale without knowing what level of capital and assets they need to achieve financial independence. Or they may need to review how business assets, pensions, investments and personal expenditure fit together.
We can model different scenarios, look at future income requirements and help clients understand what they may need to do to achieve their longer-term objectives.
Where tax, legal or specialist business advice is required, we work alongside the client's existing professional advisers. This collaborative approach means the client benefits from holistic advice, with each specialist contributing their own area of expertise.
We build on your advice by helping clients understand what the outcome of a deal means for their wider financial circumstances.
Using cash flow planning, we can bring together the proceeds from a sale, existing wealth, income and future plans to show clients what this change could mean for their lifestyle and financial independence. This can help them make informed decisions around how much they can spend, invest or retain, and whether their goals remain achievable or should be expanded.
By bringing this perspective into the conversation, you can offer clients a more joined-up experience beyond the transaction itself. We work alongside you to help clients make the most of what they have achieved, giving them greater clarity and confidence about the next stage.
A mortgage is often one of the biggest financial commitments a client will make, but it rarely sits in isolation from the rest of their finances.
You may be helping a client purchase a new home, remortgage, release equity or plan for a future property purchase. We can add another perspective by looking at how the mortgage fits with everything else they are trying to achieve financially.
For example, a client may be deciding how much to borrow while bearing in mind their pension contributions, investments, savings and longer-term plans. They may also be approaching retirement and need to understand how their mortgage will affect their future income needs.
We can use cash flow planning to illustrate different scenarios and help clients understand how borrowing affects future affordability. This can give them greater confidence that their mortgage is sustainable not just today, but as their circumstances change.
Where appropriate, we can work in partnership so that the mortgage advice and the client's wider financial goals are discussed together, while keeping each professional's role clearly defined.
Putting a will and powers of attorney in place is an important opportunity to consider more than just the legal documents themselves.
For many clients, it can be the point at which they start thinking seriously about what they want to happen to their wealth — both during their lifetime and after they die.
A financial planning review can help explore questions such as:
Estate planning is not simply about passing on as much as possible. It is about finding the right balance between enjoying life today, maintaining financial security and passing on wealth in a way that reflects the client's wishes.
This can help connect the financial arrangements behind the documents with the client’s longer-term plans.
An informal discussion to understand your financial goals and objectives.
Discuss any questions you may have such as 'when can I retire?' or 'Are my arrangements tax-efficient?'.
Gather & analyse information/existing advice on current policies, investments, pensions, protection plans.
Devise a financial plan including an investment strategy, cash flow plan and protection.
Setting up investments with providers.
Completing documentation.
Processing applications.
Ongoing access to your financial planner and dedicated support team.
Regular review meetings to assess the financial plan.
'Check-ins' and financial guidance for family members.
