Adviser Checklist
Question Notes:
1. Known as the "nastiest, hardest problem in finance", we believe retirement planning is best undertaken by a specialist. A quick way to check what the adviser specialises in is to visit the adviser's website. It should clearly state whom they work with.
Ours is very clear!
Retirement planning for those aged 50+
2. We believe it's very difficult to support a meaningful financial planning relationship with more than 100-150 clients per adviser.
3. The CFP™ is considered the global gold standard of financial planning. Only around 3% of UK advisers are qualified to this level.
4. You should ask the adviser to discuss their retirement planning approach in detail.
Noel Watson's book "Planning For Retirement: Your Guide to Financial Freedom", gives a detailed overview of our process.
5. Without undertaking a comprehensive financial planning exercise, it's difficult to build an investment portfolio at the level of risk:
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You are comfortable taking.
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You need to take to ensure you don't run out of money in retirement.
6. Some (traditional) advisers like to see their clients once a year to discuss investments. Often described as the"postman delivery service", we think you should demand so much more. We offer unlimited access throughout the year.
Firm Checklist
Question Notes:
1. We consider Directly Authorised Independent Financial Advisers (IFA) to be the least conflicted model. We answer only to the regulator and our clients.
2. We feel this is a fairer and less conflicted approach than the traditional percentage-based approach.
3. A single adviser firm is more likely to be exposed to key-man risk.
4. Pyrford Financial Planning is a Chartered Firm, which shows our commitment to
the highest ethical and professional standards. We are also an accredited firm.
5. Investment management is commoditised. Your financial adviser is extraordinarily unlikely to have access to market-beating opportunities. We therefore believe that it makes sense for most clients to keep investing costs low (you get what you don't pay for!).
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Registered Address: No 5, The Heights, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY
Pyrford Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Reference no: 985418
Pyrford Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company registration no: 14319486
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