Independent Financial Advisers

In summary, the difference between a Financial Advisor and a Financial Planner is that a Financial Planner focuses on developing a plan to help you meet your financial goals, whilst a Financial Advisor has wider responsibilities and helps manage your money including investments and pensions, whilst often also creating financial plans.

It’s important to know the difference so that you can find the right professional to help you with your finances.  Please read our article on What’s the difference between a financial planner and a financial advisor.

With an Ethical Pension, the investments inside your pension pot are carefully chosen to meet certain ethical criteria, which align with your ethical beliefs.  This can be simply avoiding those companies that harm society or the environment or actively selecting ones that make a positive contribution.

Pension pots can grow to a significant size, and switching to an ethical style pension can be relatively straightforward and low cost if done in the right way.

If you have a pension pot currently it is likely invested in a range of companies, including many oil, gas, tobacco, and arms companies.  Please get in touch or read our article on Can I have an Ethical Pension? to find out more.

When you withdraw funds from your private pension you are usually charged income tax on the amount.  however, you are entitled to withdraw 25% of your pension savings tax free, this is know as the tax free lump sum, 25% tax free lump sum or the Pension Commencement Lump Sum” (PCLS).

There is a lot of flexibility as and when you take it; it doesn’t have to be all at once, or at the start of your retirement.  Many make the mistake of thinking it must be drawn at the start, and take it without considering the impact it can have on their later retirement plans.

Please get in touch to find out more about the 25~% tax free lump sum, or pensions in general or read our article on Tax Free Pension Lump Sum Explained to find out more.

It is possible to take your pension at 55 and continue to work, or return to work.  There is no set retirement date and so you are able to continue to work for as long as you like, whether you have drawn a pension or not.  You are currently able to access your private pension in the UK from age 55 (which is rising to 57 in 2028).  Workplace pensions and some older type pensions may have different ages at which you can access the pensions.

Although there are many reasons to take out your pension and keep working (such as to allow you to work part-time (semi-retire), paying off debts or to make a significant purchase) and you can even keep contributing into pensions having already begun to take money from your pension pot, there are some pitfalls and risks.  Risks such as running out of money before you’re ready, potentially incurring large tax bills, or unwittingly losing other benefits of your pension.  Accessing your pension in the wrong way can have significant consequences on your later pension plans.  It’s a good idea to talk to an independent pension adviser if you are planning on accessing your 25% lump sum.  Please read our article on Can I take my pension at 55 and still work? and feel free to get in touch with us if you’d like a no-obligation chat about pensions or anything else.

Bristol IFA, UK

We are a firm of Bristol based IFAs (Independent Financial Advisers).  We aim to provide you with the best advice, best service and best information on pensions, investments, wealth management, mortgages, protection and a range of related services.

An IFA can be many things; a source of financial advice, a life-long financial coach, a provider of advice for a single financial transaction, an ear to bounce ideas off of, a facilitator in realising your life’s goals. 

As Independent advisers we aren’t tied to financial products from a particular provider.  We think it’s important to be give truly Independent Financial Advice as this allows us to access the entire market to help us provide the best solutions for our clients.

In the UK, IFAs are strictly regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  This means that an IFA is a qualified professional who has to set a series of examinations, usually from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) or the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), then are required to keep their financial knowledge up to date and in line with the current best practice indefinitely, in a process called Continuing Professional Development (CPD).  IFAs must then abide by the strict rules and regulations set down by the FCA

Our company relies on the strength of the long-term relationships we form with our clients. If you would like to learn more about our financial advice services and speak with an IFA please contact our Bristol office on 01173 823 823.

The terms financial adviser and financial advisor are often used interchangeably, however there is no actual difference between the two.  It is simply a different way of spelling although if you are searching on the internet then using different terms will bring up different results, even if they are only subtly different.

In the UK, all financial advisers must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and must follow strict guidelines to ensure they act in the best interests of their clients. So, whether you are looking for a financial adviser or a financial advisor, you should always check that they are registered with the FCA before you hire them.  Leaf Financial Advisers can be found on the FCA Register under our firm reference number of 944216 here on the FCA Register.

Bristol Based Financial Planning

We are sometimes asked the difference between an IFA and a Financial Planner.  Basically a Financial Planner is a subset of an IFA; so an IFA is a Financial Planner but will also give other types of Financial Advice. 

A Financial Planner will focus on helping individuals and corporations meet their long-term financial objectives.  Whilst financial panning is a key area of an (Independent) Financial Adviser’s role they will also undertake other tasks such as helping manage your money including investments and other accounts.

So in short whilst Financial Planning is a key part of the service we offer we also cover a range of additional areas of Financial Advice.  We believe in the financial planning process; identifying goals, reviewing financial data and designing and implementing a plan to help you achieve your objectives.

Please get in touch for a Free Consultation to find out more about how we can help you, or click here to find out more about our Financial Planning Service.

Bristol Pension Advice

You are now responsible for your future security. The days of the guaranteed pension and lifetime health benefits are past. Whether nearing retirement or already relying on the fruits of your working years, planning ahead for retirement is crucial.

Your pension is one of the most important assets that you will build over your life.  The right guidance can help that asset grow and ensure you have enough in retirement to lead the lifestyle you want.

Please get in touch for a Free Consultation to find out more about how we can help you, or click here to find out more about our Pension Advice Service.

Bristol Investment Advice

Offering investment advice is one of the key services we offer as managing assets effectively is fundamental to securing your financial future and growing your wealth. As investment managers, we utilise a disciplined and consistent approach, based on decades of academically sound and tested research.

The right investments can offer real opportunities to grow your wealth and protect it against inflation.  Whether looking to invest a lump sum, review your current investment arrangement or starting your savings journey, professional advice can help you maximise your returns and protect your investments.

Please get in touch for a Free Consultation to find out more about how we can help you, or click here to find out more about our Investment Advice Service.

Bristol Mortgage Advice

Taking out a mortgage is one of the biggest commitments in most peoples lives, and unfortunately it can be difficult to make sure you’re getting the best deal for you.

Advice from a professional mortgage adviser can not only make the process easier and reduce stress but also save considerable money.

We offer a Fixed Fee service for all mortgage types, including First Time Buyer, Remortgages, Home Mover and Buy to Let.  Please get in touch for a Free Consultation to find out more about how we can help you, or click here to find out more about our Mortgage Advice Service.

We are based in Bristol but serve the entire UK.  Home visits are restricted to the local Bristol area, but cover areas such as Clifton, Redland, Thornbury, Bath, and Bradley Stoke.

Please get in touch to find out more about what we can offer.