Frequently asked questions

Yes, we offer independent financial advice. That means we can consider a wide range of options across the market and recommend what we believe is suitable for your circumstances and objectives.

Yes, we are directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The FCA sets the standards we must meet when we provide regulated financial advice and related services.

Yes, we are happy to meet you in person or by video call. We can work in the way that suits you best and fits the type of discussion you want to have.

Face-to-face meetings are usually held at our office in Worcester. If there is a specific reason for it, we can also meet you at your home or place of business.

Yes, we have a dedicated parking space at the back of our Worcester office. We can give you the details before your meeting.

Britannic Place has been providing financial advice since 2006. We have built our service around long-term planning and ongoing relationships with clients.

We are based in a listed building in the centre of Worcester. While many of our clients are local, we also work with clients across the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall.

Yes, both of our advisers are Chartered financial planners. This reflects a high level of professional qualification and a commitment to ongoing standards.

Yes, Britannic Place holds Chartered status awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute. This status reflects our commitment to professionalism, ethics, and high standards of advice.

Yes, we have video testimonials on our website, and we also collect client reviews through VouchedFor and Google. This gives you a good sense of how clients describe their experience of working with us.

We focus on what matters most to you and aim to explain complex decisions in a straightforward way. Our service combines personal financial planning, cashflow modelling, and ongoing support, so you can make informed decisions with greater confidence.

Our FCA registration number is 588420. You can use this number to check our authorisation on the FCA Register.

We can work with clients across the UK. Many of our clients are based in and around Worcester, Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Hereford, and Solihull, but we also work with people further afield.

We always communicate in plain English and check your understanding wherever possible.

Yes, we are Chartered Financial Planners and are publicly committed to a customer-first approach with values that align to a professional Code of Ethics.

We are directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can find our details on the FCA Register here: Home (fca.org.uk)

Yes. We strongly believe being independent helps us deliver the best outcomes for our clients.

Mortgages are not highlighted as part of our core service on our website. Where relevant, we can discuss your situation and let you know whether we can help directly or whether a referral would be more appropriate.

Equity release is not a core service we highlight online. We can discuss whether it is something we can support with or whether it would be better handled by a trusted specialist.

Yes, personal pensions are a key part of our work. We help you review and plan around your pensions, so they fit your wider long-term objectives, but pension values and future income are not guaranteed.

Yes, workplace and occupational pensions form part of the retirement planning we do. We help you understand your options in the context of your wider financial plan, while recognising that benefits and outcomes depend on the scheme rules and your circumstances.

Yes, we can help you review whether bringing pensions together makes sense. Any recommendation would depend on your existing benefits, charges, features, and objectives, and consolidating is not always the right option.

Yes, we can help you think through the options for taking money from your pension in a tax-efficient way. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change, so we look at this as part of your wider long-term plan.

Yes, we can take your personal values into account when building your investment plan. The range of suitable options will depend on your goals, risk profile, and the investment choices available, and investments can fall as well as rise.

Yes, we work with clients who receive lump sums such as inheritances. We help you decide how that money could fit into your wider financial plan, and any investments chosen can go down as well as up.

Yes, SIPPs are an area we can advise on as part of your wider pension planning. We help you understand how a SIPP works and whether it fits your objectives, while keeping in mind that pension and investment values can fall as well as rise.

We no longer advise on defined benefit transfers. If this is something you need, we can refer you to a trusted specialist in that area.

Yes, later-life planning can form part of our retirement planning and ongoing service. We help you think ahead financially, including how future care needs could affect your plan.

Yes, estate planning and Inheritance Tax planning are important parts of our ongoing service. We keep the advice general and tailored to your circumstances, because tax rules depend on individual circumstances and may change.

Yes, investment planning is a core part of what we do, including advice around tax-efficient options such as ISAs. We recommend investments in the context of your wider plan, and the value of investments can fall as well as rise.

Yes, protection planning forms part of our wider advice. We help you consider whether cover such as life insurance, critical illness cover, or income protection could support your financial security if something unexpected happens.

Yes, the initial meeting is free of charge. It gives us a chance to understand your situation and gives you a chance to understand how we work.

We charge fees based on the work involved and the level of planning and advice required. We explain the costs clearly before any work begins, so you understand what you are paying for.

Our minimum initial fee is £2,500. We will explain and agree the exact basis of the fee with you before any work starts.

The cost of a financial plan depends on your circumstances and the complexity of the work. Our website currently shows a fixed financial planning fee of £2,500, and we will confirm the exact fees once we understand what is involved.

Depending on the service, our charges may include a fixed fee, a fee linked to the value of assets, or a combination of both. We agree the charging basis with you upfront and explain it clearly before any work begins.

Our main focus is on transparent, client-agreed fees. If commission applies in a particular area, we will explain it clearly so you understand how we are paid.

We are currently VAT-exempt. If that changes in future, we will make it clear when discussing fees.

We believe value comes from clear planning, professional standards, and ongoing support, not just from comparing one headline fee with another. Our aim is to be transparent about what you pay and the service you receive in return.

Fee structures vary across the profession, so like-for-like comparisons are not always straightforward. Our aim is to offer clear, transparent pricing and, depending on the solution, our overall cost can be lower than the market average shown on our website.

We set out our standard fee structure on our website. We also explain the likely costs clearly once we understand your goals, circumstances, and the work involved.

FSCS protection depends on the type of product, provider, and circumstances involved. Where it applies, we will explain what protection is available, so you understand the position clearly.

If something goes wrong, we want to know so we can try to put it right promptly. If a complaint cannot be resolved, you may be able to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for an independent review.

We handle personal data in line with UK data protection requirements. We use secure systems and processes to protect your information and make sure it is only used appropriately.

Yes, as an FCA regulated firm we hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance. This forms part of the regulatory requirements we must meet when providing advice.

You can check our details on the FCA Register under Britannic Place Financial Management Limited. Our FCA number is 588420.

Yes, we share client feedback and video case studies on our website. They can help you understand the kinds of situations we support and how clients describe their experience.

We look at client satisfaction through regular feedback, reviews, and testimonials. More broadly, we judge success by how well clients feel supported and whether their planning is helping them work towards their goals.

Yes, we hold Chartered Financial Planner status through the Chartered Insurance Institute, and we also highlight other awards and accreditations on our website. These recognitions reflect professional standards, although they are not a guarantee of future outcomes.

Yes, we are a VouchedFor Top Rated Firm. Our website says we have been included in the Top Rated Guide for five consecutive years, including 2026.

We can help you explore whether earlier retirement looks realistic using cashflow modelling and long-term planning. Any projection is based on assumptions and your investments, if used, can fall as well as rise.

Yes, retirement planning is a core part of our work. We help you understand your options and build a clear plan, while recognising that future outcomes depend on factors such as spending, inflation, tax, and investment performance.

We usually work with individuals and families who want more clarity and structure around their finances. Many are looking to plan ahead, make informed long-term decisions, and feel more confident about the future.

Yes, we work with clients at different stages of their financial journey, including those who are still building wealth. The focus is often on putting the right foundations in place early and making informed long-term decisions.

Yes, we work with a range of clients, including company directors and self-employed people. Their planning often needs to consider business income, personal finances, and longer-term goals together.

Yes, a significant part of our work is with clients approaching retirement or already retired. We help them plan and manage their finances so they can make decisions with more clarity and confidence.

Yes, we help clients make decisions about inheritances and other lump sums. The aim is to fit that money into a wider plan rather than treating it in isolation, and any investments chosen can fall as well as rise.

Yes, we can support clients through major financial events such as a business sale. We help you think through what comes next and how your finances could be structured around your wider objectives.

Yes, we can provide clear and supportive guidance after a bereavement. The focus is on helping you understand the financial position, make informed decisions, and move at a pace that feels manageable.

Our approach is based more on the planning process than on a narrow client niche. That said, we commonly work with people approaching retirement and others with more complex planning needs.

Yes, reviewing existing pensions and investments is a key part of our process. We look at whether your current arrangements still fit your objectives and whether there may be more suitable options for your circumstances.

In general, our minimum level of investable assets is £250,000. We can confirm whether our service is likely to be a good fit once we understand your circumstances in more detail.

Initial meetings are arranged through our office on 01905 419890. We use that first conversation to understand what you need and find a suitable time to meet.

There is no charge for an initial meeting. It is a chance for both sides to understand whether working together is likely to be a good fit.

It helps to bring details of any existing financial products, along with information about your assets and liabilities. Just as importantly, come ready to talk openly about your plans and what you want your money to do for you.

In the first meeting, we explain how our service works and how we charge. Most of the conversation is about you, your current situation, and what you want to achieve.

We suggest allowing up to an hour and a half for an initial meeting. The exact length can vary depending on your circumstances and the questions you want to cover.

There is no obligation to sign up at the initial meeting. We encourage you to take time afterwards to decide whether a long-term relationship with a financial adviser feels right for you.

We have two financial planners, and they do not take holiday at the same time. That means there should usually be another adviser available if you need help.

Our ongoing service includes an annual planning meeting with your adviser. You are also welcome to contact us during the year if something changes, and we send regular updates such as newsletters and occasional check-ins.

Yes, cashflow forecasting is a core part of our service. It helps us model different scenarios so you can see how decisions may affect your future plans, although actual outcomes will depend on future returns, inflation, and your personal circumstances.

If your circumstances change, we want to hear about it as soon as possible. We can then review your plan and discuss whether any changes are needed.

Yes, we often work closely with our clients’ other professional advisers, including accountants and solicitors. Joined-up advice can be helpful when wider financial, tax, or legal issues need to be considered.

Yes, we can coordinate with your mortgage adviser where that would be helpful. For example, we can provide relevant information about your financial position as part of the process.

Both advisers are directors of the firm, so this is unlikely. If it did happen, we would arrange cover and recruit a replacement as soon as possible so clients continued to receive support.

Yes, we can show you an example of the output from our cashflow forecasting tool. This helps you see the type of information and planning detail we use, without sharing another client’s confidential information.

In most cases, yes. You will generally be able to view your investments online through the provider’s website and through our client portal.

Yes, all clients have access to the Britannic Hub, our online portal. This allows you to view your investments in one place and keep track of their value.

Our ongoing service includes an annual planning meeting with your adviser. We can also speak during the year if something changes or you want to discuss a particular issue.