Financial Planning with integrity and purpose
How we improve your chances of investment success.
Follow the evidence
SMCG have been passive and evidence based investing since 2009. Our approach to investing is backed with years of empirical evidence.
Define your financial goal
Having a goal in mind can help when it comes to picking the right investments. This could be anything from paying off your mortgage early, to ensuring a comfortable retirement.
We help you understand how much growth on your investment you need to reach your goal; or how much is a safe withdrawal rate from your pension fund.
This will allow you to make adjustments to stay on track financially and bring your unique goals and plans to life.
Asset allocation
Having the right mix of shares and bonds is proven to have the biggest impact on your returns than anything else.
It’s all about finding the right level of risk and reward and ensuring the mix is suitable to your objectives, your values and your risk tolerance. Before investing we show you what your portfolio looks like; how it has performed, where it is invested and how much it costs.
The value of investments can fall as well as rise. We aim to optimise performance through all market cycles by recommending a portfolio that is diversified and matches your attitude to investment risk.
Stay the course
A good Financial Planner is also a good Financial Coach. We’ll help you avoid simple mistakes when investing.
We all have behavioural bias that can stray into investing. So we will draw attention to possible blindspots and explain each step of the way why we do certain things, or in most instances, why we don’t do anything.
The most successful investors are often those who take advice and have discipline.
Keep costs low
The future is unpredictable, so you should focus on the one thing you can control in the present – costs. Compounded over time, costs can significantly erode any gains made.
By keeping your investment and financial planning costs low, you keep more of your returns. The consequences of poor advice can cost far more than paying for good advice.
Intelligent and impartial financial planning for your stage of life.
Serious Savers
Relationships, marriage, buying a house, starting a family come to the fore for many, as do the ever-increasing financial demands.
Now is the time to become more considered and involved in how you build your future and create a financial plan that will inevitably reap rewards further down the line.
Insurances and rainy day money aren’t exciting but they are vital. So let’s start on that pension in an affordable way!
Wealth Accumulators
As we all know life often brings the unexpected and unwanted.
You’ve worked hard to build some financial security and probably have some form of ‘pension pot’. But will that give you independence when you want? Let’s set goals and make sure they remain on track to retire when you want, to do what you want. We will also assess your insurances, advise on emergency funding levels and whether it would be in your interests to consolidate your previous works' pensions.
Let’s get retirement firmly in the crosshairs!
Approaching retirement
As people are more active, healthier and living longer than ever, retirement planning is just as much about lifestyle planning. There is complexity around retirement; longevity will vary, financial markets, inflation and living costs can enable or erode success.
NHS provision and State Pension sometimes depend on the whims of legislative change.
We work with you to be prepared to address the uncertainty and deliver peace of mind of goal based planning. Now is the time to be sure your later life plan is in good shape.
Later Life
The retirement landscape has evolved dramatically, and your financial strategy should evolve with it. Longevity risk, inflation's impact on fixed incomes, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, and legacy planning require specialised expertise that goes far beyond traditional investment advice.
We help you navigate these complex decisions with confidence, creating strategies that protect your lifestyle while preserving your family's inheritance. Whether you're concerned about long-term care costs, optimising Social Security and Medicare benefits, or ensuring your estate plan reflects your current wishes, we're here to transform worry into actionable solutions. Remember, worry won't help - strategic action will.
Wealth management built on two decades of experience and unwavering principles.
I started advising independently in 2009 driven by the belief that wealth management could be approached with greater integrity and purpose. After nearly two decades in private banking and investment advisory roles with the UK's most established financial institutions, I recognised the need for a more thoughtful, evidence-based approach to managing wealth.
Rather than chasing market predictions or following investment trends, I focus on understanding each of my clients’ unique aspirations and creating comprehensive strategies designed to preserve and grow wealth across generations.
This approach is grounded in rigorous evidence-based investing principles and the acknowledgment that markets are unpredictable. What matters most is creating robust, well-diversified strategies that can weather uncertainty while positioning you to achieve your most important objectives. You should however understand that past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns.
I believe that truly effective wealth management begins with listening - understanding not just financial goals, but the values, concerns, and dreams that drive them.
Four steps to your financial plan
Initial consultation
An introductory conversation to explore what's on your mind and determine if we're the right fit for each other. This meeting is complimentary and without obligation, allowing us both to assess whether our approach aligns with your needs and values.
Discovery & Understanding
We listen carefully to understand your priorities, aspirations, and what truly matters to you. During this comprehensive review, we assess your current arrangements and provide clear pricing for moving forward together.
Your tailored strategy
We present your personalised financial plan with clear rationale for each recommendation. We ensure the strategy aligns with your objectives and that you feel confident in every aspect of the approach.
Ongoing partnership
Life evolves, and so should your financial strategy. We maintain regular communication and meet at least annually to adapt your plan as circumstances, priorities, and needs change over time.
