A friend who had already been a client of Charters for some years, introduced us back in 2006.

We were in our early fifties, with two children and both professional people, but felt we lacked a certain level of organisation in our financial affairs. We’d not enjoyed a particularly good experience with previous financial advisers and wanted a full review to identify any gaps in our planning.

Having enjoyed a good level of income, we’d been able to build up our cash savings and investments. My wife, Janet, was a member of the NHS pension scheme and I was a director of my own company with some personal pensions.

At our review, Charter revealed a number of areas where some improvements could be made:

• We did not have wills and they explained the intestacy provisions would not meet our wishes. Charter worked with our solicitors to arrange wills which would do so and would save us at least £120,000 potential tax on death.
• Our mortgage was uncompetitive, costing more than it needed to. Charter reorganised our mortgage to improve the rate and to enable our savings on deposit to offset the mortgage interest. This reduced our outgoings and improved the returns on our savings.
• Charter recommended protection, using the savings in mortgage interest and in line with a set budget, to ensure that our family’s income would be maintained in the event of my death or Janet’s, or if we suffered ill-health.
• They co-ordinated our investment and pension portfolios in line with our approach to investment, creating a more balanced portfolio and therefore reducing our exposure to risk.

Since our initial review, Charter have continued to look at our financial arrangements as our objectives change and make appropriate recommendations.

Nick and Janet

Putting the house in order

We used to run a wholesale fruit and vegetable company and were first introduced to Charter by our accountant with regard to our pension funding. We’re married and have two grown-up children who no longer live in the family home.

Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to build up our assets and have used the tax relief available to us. Having funded our pensions to the maximum, and more recently our ISAs, we’re now, with guidance and advice from Charter, using those assets to fund our retirement as we have now up the business.

We would most probably have just drawn on our accumulated pension funds for our retirement income but Charter have helped us consider the alternatives, saving significant sums in income tax by withdrawing from other investments such as ISAs while at the same time leaving our pensions either for us to draw on later if we need to or for our children and grandchildren if we don’t.

Charter have:

• Given us guidance on how to build up our wealth in respect of both our personal and business finances.
• Encouraged us, with the help of our solicitor, to draw up our wills in line with our wishes and in a way that will minimise any inheritance tax liabilities.
• Provided ongoing advice on our investment and pension portfolios to create a coordinated and balanced approach so as to reduce risk.

Charter have met with us for regular reviews as our business expanded and they are now helping us in the next phase in our life allowing us the freedom to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Vin and Anne

Retirement planning

I was introduced to Charter by my accountant over twenty-five years ago. As a director of a company in the entertainment industry, I needed general financial planning advice in respect of pensions, life assurance and income replacement in the event of ill health.

I’m married to Leah with three children so we needed a life assurance portfolio to cover our family protection needs. Charter also made provision for trust funds for the children and to pay for what will inevitably be a substantial inheritance tax bill at some stage in the future. Over the years, they have helped us to:

• Maximise our pension planning opportunities while at the same time making the most of any tax-efficiency savings through our ISA portfolios
• Create a co-ordinated, reviewable pension and investment portfolio to reflect our age and attitude towards risk
• Work with our solicitors to create suitably worded wills to meet our wishes for our children’s wellbeing, whilst at the same time minimising any inheritance tax liabilities

Charter regularly review our financial arrangements to make sure our portfolios meet our changing circumstances and any new objectives.

Paul and Leah

Financial peace of mind

My solicitor recommended me to Charter Financial Planning. My husband had died and although I liked to think of myself as a financially astute person, I’d ‘inherited’ his pension fund and I also had a portfolio of investments which were uncoordinated. I was particularly concerned about the Inheritance Tax bill my children would face should I die and I wanted to help them start saving for their financial future.

Charter have been able to help me take control of my investments and plan my pension income to suit my requirements. They have arranged a portfolio of investments designed to produce the income I need and minimise any income tax. Charter have helped me arrange my affairs, initially in close association with my solicitor, in the most inheritance tax efficient way. I’ve happily since remarried and am enjoying my new life.

With ongoing support and regular review meetings with Charter, my financial arrangements have been, and continued to be arranged to meet my evolving needs.

Margaret

Taking financial control