Your Client Journey

Lifestyle Financial Planning is not about advising you which financial products to buy – it’s so much more than that. Whilst we are specialists in helping clients understand pensions, retirement funding options, investing and tax planning, these are merely the tools that we use to facilitate and implement a successful financial plan.

The financial plan we create for you serves as a personalised roadmap, outlining the steps to achieve your financial goals.

Journey of a lifetime

Our approach to financial planning is much like embarking on a journey. Imagine you’re in Brighton and aiming to reach Edinburgh. You have several travel options—by train, bus, plane, or even by car. But how do you choose the best route? Do you want to make stops along the way or go straight through?

Financial planning works similarly. You might already know your destination and just need assistance with the route. Alternatively, you might need help defining your ideal destination before we start charting the course. Regardless of where you are in the process, we’re here to support and guide you every step of the way.

Six steps to financial confidence

Getting to know you

Before taking any action, we take the time to get to know you. After an introductory call, we schedule an initial meeting to ensure we are a good fit, and that we are able to add value.

This is where we will start to get to know you and uncover your life goals, hopes and aspirations. How quickly you want to achieve everything, and what risks you’re prepared to take to get there.

Are you looking to plan for an early retirement? Free up funds to support your children? Start a new business, exit an existing business or spend your later years chasing adventure?

We only provide financial product and investment advice once we have a complete understanding of your life and circumstances. We then review everything regularly because we believe there’s no other way to work.

Our first meeting with you, where we begin answering these key questions, is at no cost to you. You don’t pay anything until you decide you’re ready to move forward on your financial planning journey with us.

Information Capture

If you choose to continue working with us, the next phase of our journey involves gathering details about your current financial situation and any plans you already have in place.

We will analyse them in the context of how your current financial path aligns with your goals so that we can determine how close you are to achieving them.

We’ll ask for information about your assets, income, expenses, policies and plans. If you have so many existing plans that you are not sure what you’ve got, don’t worry—we’ll help you sort through and understand it all, making the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Comprehensive Investigation & Analysis

The next step involves a period of analysis and research on our end. We’ll conduct a comprehensive review of your financial situation to determine what’s required to help you achieve your goals.

As your adviser, Giles will assess the types of assets that have historically been most likely to generate the returns needed to meet your objectives. He’ll also perform a detailed review of your current assets to ensure they align with your agreed strategy.

Being fully independent, with no affiliations to third parties, we’re able to recommend products from the entire market rather than being limited to a single provider.

Proposal - Your bespoke Masterplan

We have established your current financial position, researched the whole of the market, and with the aid of specialist financial planning tools we create a bespoke financial masterplan to deliver on your objectives.

We then present this proposal to you. Our recommendation will present a variety of scenarios for you to consider, including options you’ve requested us to explore, as well as others we've developed based on our understanding of your needs.

We’ll walk you through the plan and work together to decide the best course of action for you. You’ll have ample opportunity to ask questions before we agree on the steps and actions to move forward.

Implementation - Putting the plan into action

When you give us the green light to proceed we will then start the process of implementing your financial plan.

We take on the administrative tasks for you, enacting any changes we’ve agreed upon. This could include transferring funds, closing policies, or opening new accounts. Some adjustments might be minor, while others may require more significant changes to keep you on track. Regardless, we’ll be with you every step of the way, guiding you in the right direction.

Review - Keeping the plan on track

We are dedicated to supporting our clients through all of life’s ups and downs. By working with us on an ongoing basis you can fully benefit from our services. In the long term this will likely be the most valuable part of the service you receive from us.

This ongoing relationship allows us to truly understand you, your family, and your core values.

Whilst we will be available all year round our annual review meetings are an essential part of the planning process. They provide an opportunity to update you on your investments and the progress towards your goals. It’s also a time to reassess your risk tolerance and explore any new opportunities to grow or protect your wealth.

The world is ever changing and undertaking regular reviews means that you can notify us of any changes to your circumstances and we can support you through changing tax legislation and unsettling markets. We are on-hand to swiftly adjust your financial plans if required when circumstances change, helping you stay on track and one step ahead when life threatens to throw you off course.

Our ultimate goal is to help you and your family live the life you desire,
free from concerns about your financial future.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Cashflow Planning.