rcn financial planning

The initial advice process

This is conducted in a three stage process:

 

• Free initial consultation. This is an exploratory meeting at my expense and can be conducted in one or two meetings. I always recommend a face-to-face meeting although it can be conducted on the phone or over the internet. In this meeting I will explain the contents and leave with you a copy of my Service Charter, which explains some very important information such as your rights and how I charge and operate. The meeting will also allow me to gather the necessary information from you to determine whether I can add value to your financial planning requirements. 

 

The most significant part of this meeting is helping you understand what your goals are. Once this is in place I believe the rest will naturally follow. The outcome of this stage is an overview of what help and advice I can give you, the form this will take and the related costs. If you are comfortable that I am right for you and you wish to proceed only then will you be asked to commit to the advice and sign a fee agreement. An open and honest approach from both parties is key to the relationship and allows me to offer the most appropriate, holistic advice.

 

I would be grateful if you could bring two forms of proof of identification to the meeting: address (e.g. bank statement or utility bill from last 3 months) and identity (e.g. passport or photo driving licence). 

 

• Research and reporting. Once I fully understand what you are trying to achieve and what you have available to you, I will research the market to offer fully accountable, independent financial advice.

 

Within a suitability report I will outline as I understand it: what you are trying to achieve, what you have at your disposal, what your options are and finally I will make a recommendation of what I believe to be the most appropriate course of action to best meet your needs.This report is your proof of the advice you received and I am fully accountable for it for the remainder of my career and beyond.

 

• Presentation and implementation. Once you have read and digested the information within the report I would strongly recommend a face-to-face meeting in which I can explain the report and any implications of the recommendations. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions that you will invariably have and allows me to help you complete any paperwork.

 

You will only ever be asked to proceed with my advice once I am comfortable that you understand the advice being given and the implications of this, including the charges. I strongly believe that advice that is not understood is not appropriate.

 

Ongoing advice

 

Setting up a financial plan is a good starting point, however it is only the start to a successful financial planning strategy. I believe it is imperative to take stock regularly to review whether you are still on course to achieve your aims and objectives.

 

I offer two services:

 

• Ad Hoc. You can be a transactional client where you receive advice on an ad hoc basis and are charged on an hourly rate as and when work is requested.

• Perpetual Management Service. To receive the Perpetual Management Service you would be charged as a percentage of your funds under management. Under this service you will automatically qualify for regular ongoing service.

 

If required I will spend time with you explaining the pros and cons of each service to enable you to make an informed decision on which charging structure best suits you.  

 

Areas of advice

 

• Protection Planning. This is the bedrock of any financial planning and lays the foundations of a secure financial future for you and your family.

• Savings Planning. It is essential that all clients have a suitable level of funds for the ‘rainy day’. Once the correct level of protection is in place I believe it is then important to get the correct level of savings in easily accessible non-volatile accounts.

• Retirement Planning. It’s likely that most of us will have to save for retirement and it’s unlikely that the state pension will provide sufficient income for the lifestyle you desire. Through careful planning I can help you build a portfolio of investments and pensions designed to best help you achieve your retirement planning goals and target income. I believe a pension should be a part of your retirement planning rather than the only tool and I can incorporate other assets such as your business, property and investments into the planning. Please note that investments can go down as well as up and investment returns are not guaranteed. You may get back less than you invest.

• Investment Planning. This can run in line with your retirement planning or to meet other stand-alone objectives. I will help you build a portfolio of investments to help you reach your goals in a tax efficient manner. I believe in risk adjusted returns. In essence, this means that I will try to squeeze as much return as possible from every unit of risk that I expose you to. I will spend the necessary time with you to help determine the appropriate level of investment risk for you and your goals. Please note that investments can go down as well as up and investment returns are not guaranteed. You may get back less than you invest.

• Estate Preservation Planning. Building your wealth is only one part of the process. You should also consider how best to withdraw capital and income from your portfolio and to preserve the portfolio for you and your family’s future. With regular dialogue circumnavigating any unnecessary taxes need not be over complicated or arduous.

• Business Planning. I will build a strategy to help protect your company from the risks of the everyday business world​.