How we work
The information below describes our full financial planning service, Clearbox. Some of you will simply want independent advice on one or two things without any desire for ongoing financial planning. We are happy to help you make those tactical decisions about particular aspects of your finances and who knows, you might decide to take advantage of the full service later. In the meantime, for those of you who want to know how we work, please read on…
Discover: Most people’s experience of financial advice is that after gathering a few brief facts they are presented with a product that has nothing to do with their goals. We are nothing like that. We go through a process of discovery about you to find out what it is that really drives you. Many people have never thought about this deeply before, so your first meeting with us should be an enjoyable experience where you might gain as much insight about yourself as we do. By the end of the meeting we should know your goals in life and they will form the basis of your financial plan. 
Evaluate: The second part of the process you don’t actually have to turn up for. This is the number crunching and research we do behind the scenes. We’re evaluating exactly what you have in terms of its fitness for purpose and performance. We already know where we’re headed – your goals – so we need to find out where we are now.
Design: The third stage involves designing a financial plan to achieve your goals. Your second meeting takes place towards the end of this process. We will design a plan but it cannot be finalised without your input. We’ll go through the plan together in detail, including lifetime cash flow projections and then you decide whether or not to take action. That’s the first step in going on to achieve your goals.
Create: Now we begin to think about financial products and start making recommendations. When it comes to choosing products and implementing your plan we remain completely independent. Our income does not depend on commission and we work specifically on your behalf to make progress towards your goals.
Prosper: Once we have created your plan and set you on the right path, we need to review your plan regularly. Your goals in life may evolve, priorities and circumstances change and of course we’re here to help you deal with the unexpected too. One of our most important jobs is simply to stop you from making the usual financial mistakes most people make – human nature is the biggest impediment to successful financial planning. We will ensure that you fully understand your financial plan and know what is required to achieve the desired results. We are always available to help and advise whenever you might need us.