FAQs

Yes, we provide independent financial advice. This means we are not tied to a single provider, so we can consider options across the market when we make recommendations.

Yes, we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check our details on the FCA’s Financial Services Register.

Yes, you can meet us in person or by video call. We will agree the format that works best for you and your location.

Face-to-face meetings are held at our Belfast office at 157 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3HX. If you cannot attend in person, we can meet by video call instead.

Yes, we have on-site parking for clients visiting our Belfast office. If you have any accessibility needs, please tell us in advance so we can plan accordingly.

We have been providing financial advice for more than 20 years. Over that time, we have supported clients through different life stages and financial decisions.

We are based in Belfast and we also have an office in London. We mainly work with clients across Northern Ireland, though we also advise clients in England and Scotland.

Yes, all of our advisers are certified, and two also hold Chartered status. We will match you with an adviser whose experience fits the type of planning you need.

Yes, you can read our wide array of client reviews on platforms such as Google and VouchedFor. Additionally, you can watch video testimonials on our website.

We are independent financial planners, which means we focus on you and the planning, not on products.

Whether it is retirement, selling a business, structuring investments or passing on wealth, these are significant life moments that require careful thought and clear judgement. Our role is to ensure you are in an informed position before making those decisions, providing the
insight you need to move forward with clarity.

With over 20 years of experience, and recognised as a VouchedFor Top Rated Firm in 2024, 2025 and 2026 based entirely on client feedback, our aim is simple: to empower you to make confident decisions that improve your life.

Our FCA firm reference number is 1006718. You can use this number to check our authorisation on the FCA’s Financial Services Register.

Whilst we are based in Belfast, and many of our clients are in Northern Ireland, we have an office in London and work with clients across the UK.

Initial meetings can be arranged by giving us a call on 028 9065 5305, or through our website. We will confirm a time and whether you would prefer to meet in person or by video call.

No, the initial meeting is free of charge. If you decide to go ahead, we will explain any fees for subsequent meetings or services before you commit.

It helps to bring recent documents such as pension statements, investment summaries, and details of any existing plans. If you do not have everything to hand, we can still start the conversation and agree what to gather next.

The first meeting is all about making sure we’re the right fit for you. It provides you with an opportunity to get to know our team, and understand how we work. Typically, we also discuss what you want to achieve and get an overview of your current financial situation, and what the next steps would look like if you choose to continue.

Please allow up to 90 minutes for an initial meeting. The exact time depends on how complex your situation is and how many topics you want to cover.

No, there is no obligation to proceed after the initial meeting. You can take time to consider whether our approach and fees feel right for you.

Yes. If you would prefer to work with a female financial adviser, you can meet with Johanna Rooney, who was nominated for the Women in Financial Advice Award last year in recognition of her work.

We understand that the adviser client relationship is important, and personal preference can play a part in that. When arranging meetings, we consider your preference, adviser availability, and the type of support you require to ensure the right fit.

If your usual financial planner is away, one of our team of experienced advisers can help with time-sensitive issues. For routine queries, our support team can often assist until your adviser is available again.

This depends on the service you choose, but many clients have a formal review at least once a year. We also keep in touch when there are planned actions to complete, and you can ask for support between reviews.

Yes, cashflow forecasting can form part of our financial planning service. It helps you explore different scenarios and understand how decisions today may affect your long-term plans.

If your circumstances change, we can update your financial plan to reflect your new situation and goals. We will review what has changed and adjust recommendations where needed.

Yes, we can work alongside your accountant, solicitor, or other professional advisers. With your permission, we share relevant information so your planning stays coordinated.

Yes, we can coordinate with your mortgage adviser and provide relevant information with your permission. This helps keep your mortgage arrangements and wider financial plan aligned.

If your adviser leaves the firm, we will let you know and introduce another experienced adviser. We keep your records and plan so your ongoing service and support continues unimpeded.

Financial plans contain personal and confidential information, so we do not share real client examples. We can explain what a plan typically includes and how it is tailored to your circumstances.

Yes, we offer an online portal so you can view the value of your investments. Investment values can go down as well as up, and we will help you interpret what you see as part of your reviews.

Yes, we offer an online portal that allows you to view your investments in one place. Your adviser will also keep you informed and answer questions about performance, charges, and any changes made.

Meeting frequency depends on the service level you agree at the outset. Typically, clients have at least an annual review, with additional meetings or calls when needed.

No, we do not advise on equity release. If equity release is a priority for you, we can signpost you to a specialist who may be able to help.

Yes, we can advise on personal pensions, including setting them up and reviewing contributions. We will look at how your pension fits with your wider retirement goals and attitude to risk.

Yes, we can advise on occupational (workplace) pensions and help you understand your options. We can review benefits, investment choices, and how the pension supports your retirement plan.

Yes, we can review your pensions and advise whether consolidation may be suitable. We compare benefits, charges, guarantees, and any valuable features before making a recommendation. Transferring pensions can involve giving up benefits, so it needs careful assessment.

Yes, we can help you understand the different ways to take pension benefits and the likely tax implications. We will consider your income needs and how withdrawals could affect your overall plan.

Yes, we can help you explore ethical or sustainable investment options that align with your preferences. We discuss how different approaches work and what trade-offs may exist in terms of holdings and risk.

Yes, we can help you plan how to invest an inheritance in line with your goals and risk tolerance. We will consider timeframes, cash needs, and how this fits with any existing pensions or investments.

Yes, we can advise on SIPPs and whether they are appropriate for your retirement planning. We explain the investment options, costs, and responsibilities involved with a SIPP.

No, we do not advise on transfers from Final Salary or Defined Benefit pensions. If you need advice in this area, you will need to speak to a specialist firm with the relevant permissions.

Yes, we can provide advice on later-life planning, including how to prepare for long-term care costs. We look at your income, assets, and options so you can make informed decisions over time.

Yes, we provide guidance on inheritance tax and estate planning as part of wider financial planning. Tax rules can change and the right approach depends on your circumstances, so we focus on principles rather than one-size-fits-all answers.

Yes, we can advise on ISAs and other investments as part of your overall plan. We discuss suitable timeframes, risk, and how ISA allowances and tax treatment may apply.

Yes, we can advise on protection, including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection. We help you understand what each policy covers, typical exclusions, and how premiums and underwriting work.

Yes, we offer a free initial consultation. It is a chance to discuss your goals, understand your current position, and decide whether our service is right for you.

We charge fees for financial advice, and the structure depends on the service you need. Fees may be a fixed amount, an hourly rate, or a percentage-based charge. We always outline any costs upfront, to maintain as much transparency as possible.

We offer two routes depending on the level of support you need.

For clients seeking guidance on specific matters, we provide a time based service. For those engaging in full financial planning, there is an initial planning fee reflecting the depth of analysis and structured advice involved.

We explain our fees clearly at the outset, during the initial consultation, once we understand your objectives and the scope of work required. This ensures our charges are transparent, fair, and aligned to the value you receive.

Our financial planning fees reflect the scope and complexity of the work involved.

We charge an initial financial planning fee, agreed in advance once we understand your objectives and the level of analysis required. If you accept our recommendations, we clearly explain any associated implementation costs before you proceed.

We believe fees should be transparent, proportionate, and aligned to the value delivered.

It depends on the type of service you require.

For specific pieces of financial planning work, we charge a clearly agreed fixed planning fee reflecting the scope and complexity of the advice. For clients who engage us on an ongoing basis, our fee may be structured as a percentage, reflecting the continued financial planning, oversight and support we provide.

We explain all fees in advance, including what is covered and how they are calculated, so you can make an informed decision about the overall cost and value of the service.

Our financial planning service is entirely fee-based, but we may receive commission on protection policies we arrange. If commission applies, we disclose it in advance and show how it affects the overall cost. Where available, we can also discuss a fee-based alternative for protection advice.

No, we do not charge VAT on our advice fees. If the VAT position ever changes, we would make this clear before you proceed.

Fees vary across the profession depending on independence, experience and the depth of planning provided.

Our initial fees are linked to the scope and complexity of the work involved. For clients who engage us on an ongoing basis, we review total charges, including our advice fee and underlying product and platform costs. As part of our Consumer Duty responsibilities, we formally benchmark these against the wider market to ensure they represent fair value.

Our analysis shows that overall ongoing costs for our clients are typically lower than the market average for a comparable level of independent advice and service. All fees are agreed in advance, so you can make a clear and informed comparison.

We can provide our fee schedule in writing upon request, in addition to being included as part of the initial discussions and documentation. It sets out charges for initial advice and any ongoing service, where applicable.

Yes, we can help you plan towards early retirement by reviewing your finances and building a realistic strategy. We can model income needs and explore how different options might support your goals.

Yes, we provide comprehensive retirement planning to help you understand your options and build a sustainable income plan. This can include pension reviews, cashflow forecasting, and considering the tax implications of different withdrawal strategies.

We work with a wide range of clients, including professionals, business owners, retirees, and people building or protecting wealth. We are also recognized experts in helping individuals employed in the public sector, where pension benefits can be complex.

Yes, we work with younger clients who are building wealth over time. We focus on creating a solid foundation, setting priorities, and choosing suitable ways to save and invest for long-term goals.

Yes, we regularly work with company directors, self-employed clients, and entrepreneurs. We can help coordinate pensions, investments, and protection in a way that reflects variable income and business goals. Tax planning depends on individual circumstances and tax rules can change.

Yes, we support clients at all stages of retirement planning, including those who are approaching retirement and those who are already retired. We can help with pre-retirement strategies, pension decisions, income planning, and ongoing reviews to keep plans on track.

Yes, we can help you plan how to manage inherited money in line with your goals. This can include considering tax implications, investment options, and how the inheritance fits with your wider plan.

Yes, we can support business owners who are selling, or planning to sell, a business. We help you think through how to protect and invest proceeds and how the sale affects your wider financial plan.

Yes, we support clients after a bereavement with clear, practical financial planning. We can assist with estate settlement, inheritance planning, and financial management. We also coordinate with other professionals where needed, and help you plan for what happens next at a pace that feels manageable.

Yes, we can support clients through divorce by helping them understand the financial implications of different settlement options. We can help restructure assets, update plans, and build a strategy for the next stage.

Yes, we can help after redundancy by reviewing your financial position and supporting short-term cashflow planning. We can also help you plan how to use redundancy payments and update your longer-term goals to ensure financial stability moving forward.

Yes, we have expertise in advising business owners, retirees, and professionals. We tailor planning to the issues and goals that often matter most in these situations, with the aim of planning for each client’s unique situation.

No, we can only advise clients who are based in the UK. If you are an expat or non-UK resident, you may need a specialist firm that advises across jurisdictions.

Yes, we can review existing investments and pensions you hold elsewhere. We look at how they fit with your objectives, charges, and risk, and we only recommend changes where they are appropriate.

We do not have a strict minimum, but some services are more cost-effective above certain levels. We will be upfront if we think the likely benefit may not justify the fees.

Some investments and cash deposits may be eligible for Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection, depending on the product and provider. We will explain whether FSCS protection applies to any recommendation and what that means for you.

We have a formal complaints procedure which is available upon request. If you raise a concern, we will explain the process, timeframes, and the options available if the issue is not resolved.

We use secure systems and follow strict data protection policies to safeguard your personal and financial information. We handle data in line with UK GDPR and only share information with your consent or where legally required.

Yes, we hold professional indemnity insurance and our advisers maintain the required qualifications and up-to-date Statements of Professional Standing. This is part of the regulatory protections in place for clients in the unlikely event of any advice-related issues arise.

You can check our authorisation on the FCA’s Financial Services Register using our firm name, adviser name, or FCA number 1006718.

Yes, you can watch video testimonials on displayed across our website that illustrate how we have helped clients achieve their financial goals. Additionally, you can read about the experiences of our clients on platforms such as Google and VouchedFor.

We regularly gather feedback through follow-ups, surveys, and client reviews. This helps us understand what is working well and where we can continue to improve.

Yes, we are proud to have been recognised as a VouchedFor Top Rated Firm in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Additionally, we were shortlisted for Professional Services Firm of the Year by Business Eye magazine in 2025. These achievements reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, client-focused financial advice.

Yes, we are featured on VouchedFor and have verified client reviews and ratings there. It is one way to see feedback about the service people have received.