What it is

We’re both a CISI Accredited Financial Planning firm and a Chartered firm – a combination achieved by only a small number of firms in the UK. Accreditation is a step above Chartered, recognising firms that deliver truly client-focused, high-quality financial planning.

Why it matters to you

These accreditations reflect our commitment to excellence. They demonstrate that we meet the highest professional standards and are dedicated to delivering clear, personalised advice and consistently high-quality service – so you can feel confident in the support you receive.

Preparing for your discovery meeting

Let's start with the life you want to build.

Your discovery meeting is the start of a conversation about you, your family and what matters most. The financial details help us begin turning that picture into a plan.

See what may be useful

Your first planning conversation

Your story comes before the numbers.

We will talk about the people who matter to you, what life looks like today and what you would like the future to hold. That gives the financial information context and helps us start building a plan around your priorities.

Think about your future

What would you like life to look like in ten years, and what would you prefer to avoid?

Start with estimates

Approximate figures are useful. Recent statements can help fill in the detail.

Allow two hours

Discovery is a thoughtful conversation, so please allow around two hours for the meeting.

01You, your family and your objectivesWe begin with the people, experiences and ambitions that give your financial plan its purpose.

Your family tree: The people who are important to you, including anyone you support now or may want to help in the future.
Life today: What you enjoy, what matters most and any concerns or decisions that are already on your mind.
Your objectives: What you would like to achieve, change or protect. Objectives can be specific or simply a direction you would like to explore.
The future: What you would like life to look like in ten years. It can also help to think about what you do not want life to look like.
Important timescales: Any dates, ages or life events that may shape your plans, even if the timing is still uncertain.

02Income and expenditureWe look at what supports your life now and what the life you want may cost in the future.

Income

Employment or self-employment: Salary, bonuses, drawings, dividends or other income from your work or business.
Pensions and State benefits: Any pension income, State Pension or benefits already being received.
Property and investments: Rental income, interest, dividends or other regular returns.
Other income: Any other regular or expected income that may be relevant to your plan.

Expenditure

What you need now: Your essential household and day-to-day spending, including housing, bills, food, travel and family commitments.
What makes life enjoyable: Holidays, hobbies, meals out, memberships, gifts and the things you would prefer not to give up.
The future you would like: How spending might change if you work less, retire, move home, travel more or support family.
One-off plans: Large purchases or commitments you expect over the next few years.

03Assets and liabilitiesA broad picture is enough to begin. Statements can help us understand the detail.

Assets

Cash and savings: Current accounts, savings, Cash ISAs and other accessible money.
Investments: ISAs, investment accounts, direct shareholdings and any other investments.
Property: Your home, rental property, land or other property interests, with approximate current values.
Other valuable assets: Anything else that is financially significant or important to your wider plan.

Liabilities

Mortgages: Outstanding balance, monthly payment, remaining term and interest rate where known.
Loans and finance: Personal loans, car finance or other borrowing, including monthly payments.
Credit cards: Any balances that are not routinely cleared each month.
Other commitments: Guarantees, family loans or other obligations that may affect your choices.

04PensionsYour pension arrangements help us understand the resources you are building for later life.

Workplace pensions: A recent statement for each current or previous workplace pension, including plans still receiving contributions.
Personal pensions: A recent statement for each personal pension, stakeholder pension or self-invested personal pension.
Defined Benefit pensions: Scheme statements or benefit illustrations, including the age at which benefits become payable.
State Pension: Your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record, if available.

05ProtectionExisting cover helps us understand how you, your family and your plans are protected if life changes unexpectedly.

Life assurance: Provider, amount of cover, term, premium and who the policy is intended to protect.
Income protection: Provider, monthly benefit, deferred period, term and premium.
Critical illness cover: Provider, amount of cover, term, premium and whether it is held alongside life assurance.
Private medical insurance: Any personal or employer-provided cover that may be relevant.
Employer benefits: Death-in-service cover, sick pay and any other workplace protection benefits.

06Business interestsTell us about any business that is important to your income, wealth, family or future plans.

Ownership: Your shareholding, partnership interest or other ownership, including anyone else involved.
Income from the business: Salary, dividends, drawings or other benefits you receive.
Business value: Any recent valuation or a reasonable estimate, if one is available.
Future plans: Growth, sale, succession, retirement or how you would like the business to support your wider goals.
Business protection: Shareholder, key person, loan or other cover linked to the business.

07Anything else that may helpFinancial lives rarely fit neatly into a checklist, so please share anything you think could be relevant.

Wills and powers of attorney: Whether these are in place and when they were last reviewed.
Gifts or inheritances: Past gifts, expected inheritances or support you may want to give to others.
Tax matters: Tax returns, tax planning concerns or professional advice that may connect with your financial plan.
Health and care: Only where relevant, anything that may affect future work, income, spending or support needs.
Questions for us: Anything you would like us to explain or explore during the meeting.

What to bring

Documents can help us build the first picture.

Never send: passwords, login details, security answers or account-access information.

You do not need to bring everything, but the following can be useful where available:

Recent investment and current-account statements.
Recent statements for each pension.
Three months of bank statements.
Passport or driving licence.
Your National Insurance number.
Insurance and protection documents.
Any other information you would like to share.

Questions before your discovery meeting?

We're here to help.

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