Financial advice – is it worth it?

Mark Butterworth, Head of Financial Advice – Planning & Research here at Skipton, gave us the lowdown on how some expert financial planning could change your financial future for the better.

Would you buy a house without the help of a solicitor?

Just as it’s wise to use a solicitor when buying a house, asking an adviser to help you make long-term financial plans could make a big difference. Mark explains, “You could manage your own financial planning if you wanted to. But that could mean you may miss out on important knowledge that a financial adviser could provide you with – things like making your finances as tax efficient as possible.

“You’ll still make all the choices on what you do with your money, but with a financial adviser by your side you’ll have the added bonus of expert knowledge – making things simpler, and decisions a little easier”.

Plus, flying solo could be time consuming. Taking away from the things you'd rather be doing.

With work, family and whatever other commitments you have going on right now, it’s understandable if you find it challenging to put time aside to plan for future matters that don’t seem like a priority at this very moment.

But one day, your retirement, your legacy, or whatever future financial goals you have in mind, will be at the forefront of your life. And some forward planning now could make all the difference then.

Mark continues, “Trusting an expert to do the hard work for you could give you peace of mind that your financial plans are as efficient as possible. And it could also leave you with more time to focus on the things that matter to you now.”

Putting a price on a stronger financial future

You don’t need to be really wealthy – or need to invest a large amount – for financial advice to be worth it.

Mark reveals, “It’s not about having hundreds of thousands of pounds to invest into stock markets. It’s about you, your future goals and how you’re going to reach them. “It’s also important you don’t assume financial advice is too expensive, without even knowing how much it costs. It’s like looking for a new car – you wouldn’t commit to buying a new one without knowing the price first.

At Skipton, our advisers are transparent about any charges. They’ll make sure you’re clear on them before you commit to anything. And you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions about charges either.

You’ll have the time you need to decide if financial advice is worth it for you. It’s all about weighing up the costs against the potential benefits – getting more from your money and reaching those all-important long-term goals, in a way that suits your feelings to risk and reward.

It really is all about you

Here at Skipton we really do want to get to know you.

Mark explains, “An adviser will take time to find out about you – from your current circumstances to what it is you’d like to achieve with your money later down the line. “This is all so they can build a financial roadmap that’s tailored to your needs. Anything they recommend will be in your best interests. So if you’ve been dreaming of a brilliant retirement or a future where you go on holiday more often, tell your adviser about it.”

We like to explain everything in a clear and simple way to make sure you fully understand the recommendations we have for you.

You will need to have £20,000 to invest or reinvest, or be happy to invest £500 a month. There’s no upfront fees for you to meet with a Skipton adviser or to hear our recommendations. And any charges will only be applied if you decide to go ahead with our advice. Find out more about our advice charges.

If after hearing our recommendations you don’t want to go ahead with the plan, you can walk away there and then. It’s all part of our No Pressure Promise.

A little expert advice could go a long way

Planning for your future requires proper consideration, skill and knowledge. And to get off to a good start it’s important the next steps you take are in the right direction. With over 30 years’ experience in offering a financial advice service, we’d like to think we could help you with those next steps.

Our aim at Skipton is simple – to offer you personalised financial advice you can understand, value and trust.

It costs nothing to find out if you could benefit from our financial advice through a free initial consultation. This friendly chat will help to decide if our advice is right for you.