If you want the confidence that your financial future is secure and your money is working as hard as possible, seeking comprehensive investment advice from a qualified Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) is a vital step.
Many people accumulate a diverse range of savings and investment products over time - from ISAs and company share schemes to old bonds - but lack a cohesive strategy. An independent financial planner can help you bring clarity to this mix, review performance, align risk, and ensure your investment strategy perfectly matches your long-term life goals.
Here, we'll cover what a holistic investment review involves, why you might need one, and precisely how our IFAs can help you structure and manage a high-performing, tax-efficient portfolio.
What is Comprehensive Investment Advice?
Comprehensive investment advice goes beyond simply selecting a few funds. It is a full, in-depth evaluation of your existing capital, cash flow, short-term needs, and long-term financial ambitions (such as saving for a mortgage deposit, funding children's education, or achieving early retirement).
It assesses your current investment products - be they ISAs, bonds, or unit trusts - examines their performance and associated fees, and determines if they are structured in the most tax-efficient manner for your individual circumstances. Essentially, it ensures your current assets are on track to meet your future goals.
Why You Need an Investment Review
An investment review isn't just for seasoned investors; it is critical for anyone looking to build wealth securely. Regular professional review gives you time to make adjustments and compound better returns over the long run.
A review by an IFA can help you:
-
Understand your true risk profile and ensure your current holdings match your comfort level.
-
Determine if you are saving and investing enough to meet defined milestones (e.g., retirement age).
-
Minimise unnecessary fees that can silently erode returns over time.
-
Optimise tax efficiency by fully utilising available allowances like ISAs and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowances.
-
Ensure adequate diversification, reducing exposure to any single market or sector risk.
-
Receive personalised insight to develop a robust, long-term financial plan.
Get 100% independent advice about your investments
Types of Investments Our IFAs Can Help With
Our expert IFAs are fully qualified and regulated to advise on a broad spectrum of retail investment products. Crucially, as they are independent, they are not tied to any single provider, ensuring you get unbiased recommendations from the entire market.
We can help arrange, review, and manage investments across all major asset classes and wrappers, including:
|
Investment Type |
IFA Focus & Expertise |
|
ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) |
Maximising your annual tax-free allowance across Stocks & Shares, Cash, and Lifetime ISAs. Our advisers focus on appropriate underlying fund selection to achieve growth or income goals within the tax wrapper. |
|
Unit Trusts and OEICs (Open-Ended Investment Companies) |
Advice on building a globally diversified portfolio using collective investment schemes. We select funds based on manager performance, long-term outlook, and fee structure to ensure diversification. |
|
Bonds and Fixed Income |
Utilising Corporate Bonds, Government Gilts, and Strategic Bond Funds for capital preservation and stable income generation, particularly when balancing a portfolio for lower risk. |
|
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Tracker Funds |
Implementing low-cost, passively managed solutions to gain exposure to specific markets or indices where appropriate, ensuring minimal running costs. |
|
Investment Trusts |
Employing closed-ended funds with unique structures (like the ability to hold cash reserves) that can offer different risk/reward profiles and potential for enhanced long-term returns. |
|
Specialist Tax-Advantaged Schemes |
Advising on high-risk, specialist investments such as Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) for clients with advanced financial planning needs and appropriate risk tolerance. |
|
General Investment Accounts (GIAs) |
Managing non-tax-wrapped investments, including guidance on Capital Gains Tax (CGT) planning and managing disposal of assets to minimise your tax liability. |
How Our IFAs Can Help You Invest
The advice process is methodical, transparent, and built entirely around your personal circumstances, ensuring every recommendation is tailored to your unique situation.
1. Initial Consultation and Goal Setting (The "Discovery" Phase)
This is a free, no-obligation chat where your IFA seeks to understand your complete financial landscape. This includes:
-
Defining Your Goals: Are you saving for retirement, a house, or passive income?
-
Understanding Your Resources: What assets, debts, income, and cash flow do you have?
-
Establishing Your Time Horizon: When do you need the money?
2. Risk Profiling and Capacity Assessment
Your IFA will conduct a formal risk assessment to determine your attitude to risk (how comfortable you are with volatility) and your capacity for loss (how much you can actually afford to lose without impacting your life). This crucial step ensures that we build a portfolio you can stick with during market downturns.
3. Deep-Dive Portfolio Analysis
We thoroughly examine your existing holdings (ISAs, bonds, unit trusts, pensions, etc.) and evaluate them against industry benchmarks for performance, ongoing charges, and suitability. We identify potential duplication, hidden fees, and areas where your money is underperforming.
4. Personalised Recommendations and Strategy
Based on the analysis, your IFA will provide a detailed, easy-to-understand written report. This report will outline:
-
Optimal Asset Allocation: The ideal mix of equities, bonds, property, and cash for your risk profile.
-
Specific Product Recommendations: Naming the precise funds, bonds, or trusts to buy or hold.
-
Tax Strategy: Clear guidance on how to make the most of your ISA allowance, use pensions (SIPPs), and manage CGT.
-
Consolidation Strategy: Recommendations on whether to combine disparate accounts to reduce fees and simplify management.
5. Implementation and Ongoing Service
Once you approve the strategy, your IFA can manage the entire implementation process, including switching funds, setting up new accounts, and executing trades.
Furthermore, we offer ongoing servicing, which is key to long-term success. This includes:
-
Annual or Bi-annual Review Meetings: To check performance and ensure you are still on track.
-
Portfolio Rebalancing: Strategically buying or selling assets to maintain the target risk level as market performance shifts.
-
Adapting to Life Changes: Adjusting the strategy following major life events, such as marriage, inheritance, or a change in employment.
Ready for a free, no-obligation initial consultation to review your investment portfolio? You can get started here.
FAQs
It depends on the complexity of your situation and the depth of the service you require. Our independent financial advisers can conduct an initial review for free, providing a basic overview of your current position. For ongoing management, advisers typically charge a small yearly percentage fee based on the size of the portfolio (often in the region of 0.5% to 1.5%). For one-off advice or specific projects, a flat fee may be charged. All costs will be fully disclosed and agreed upon before any work is carried out.