Wealth & Finance April 2017

Wealth & Finance International 22 Give Your Dreams Direction AP Financial has been helping clients navigate complex financial markets since 2001 and from those very early days their business has evolved primarily through client recom- mendations. Based in Liphook and with offices in London, they provide impartial, unbiased and objective independent financial advice, with a view to protecting and enhancing their client’s wealth and sense of well-being. Their qualified independent advisers cover the whole financial services market. Whether clients are seeking to build an investment portfolio, creating a tax-efficient retirement strategy or simply looking for a better mortgage deal, the firm has the expertise to provide the answer. Andrew goes on to detail the role of technology, the importance of long-term client relationships and the firm’s undoubted expertise in their field. “At MAP, Financial our highly skilled adviser’s use state of the art technology, enabling us to help our clients meet their financial needs and objectives in the most cost effective way. This is important because there are literally thousands of different options available and our clients tell us that they want to be certain that any investment, pension, mortgage, healthcare, or insurance recommendations that we present for consideration are the most appropriate to their individual needs. In other words, recommendations that are totally in our client’s interests - not someone else’s. “The foundation of the service MAP Financial provides to our clients is built on developing a long-term, personal relationship that enables us over time, to recommend the appropriate adjustments required to our clients financial planning strategies as events inevitably change. Our ap- proach is simple, we aim to create strategies and structures that enable our clients to protect their wealth and attain financial independence, giving them the financial freedom to eventually work through choice and not necessity. “MAP Financial has a wealth of experience in the areas of financial planning and wealth management and provides clients with a com- prehensive service designed to create a bespoke financial planning strategy.” Finest in Finance 2017 – UK award On winning the Finest in Finance 2017 – UK award, having been in business for over 16 years, Andrew believes that to be regularly recognised by their peers as a leader in localised financial planning is a real boost to the firm’s morale. MAP Financial regularly receives client testimonial and commendation, but to be recognised by an indepen- dent organisation adds significant validation to their structured and personal service he believes. “We’ve been fortunate enough to win several awards over recent years. This latest award is certainly one of the most prestigious. We are so proud to be recognised and we hope that our clients feel as good as we do that they are part of our success” Andrew adds, before detailing the firm’s expertise and experience in the finance sector. “Whilst we are a relatively small firm, we have a combined ‘experience’ of over 200 years. As such, we’ve seen all manner of financial queries, investment peaks and troughs, interest rate anomalies etc. etc. We are a close-knit team and we all have our own ‘specialist’ areas. That means that there’s rarely a situation or problem that’s not been seen, inves- tigated and solved before. Our clients feel extremely safe and secure because of our overall experience and level of professionalism.” MAP Financial has been trading for over 16 years. During that time, they’ve never had an ‘investment’ complaint. Given the number of complaints that seem to surround the industry today, MAP Financial are proud of the fact that they consistently provide the type of service that not only keeps clients happy, but also keeps the firm’s personal recommendations flowing. Andrew says that they see too many firms that just want to make an initial ‘sale’. MAP Financials’ differentiator is in the on-going work they do with their clients he believes, before offering his thoughts on how the firm approaches their clients and ensures they receive nothing but excellence service. “We regularly ask for feedback on what we do and how we do it. Our clients are like family to us. We encourage two-way communication. If we do something that our clients don’t value, we change it. The testimo- nials we receive are evidence of our first-class service.” Andrew’s role is an important one because he is MD of the firm. He runs the firm on a day to day basis, as well as looking after his own val- ued clients. His days are usual a mixture between running the business, advising clients and concentrating on his own personal development. He has an impressive track record, having worked in the industry since 1984, originally starting as one of ‘The Men from the Pru’. Leaving Pru- dential in 1998, he moved to Allied Dunbar and when he left in 2001, he became a senior group manager. He went on to form MAP Financial Ltd in 2001. He concludes by offering his views on the role the staff play in the success of the firm he has headed up for 16 years. “We simply couldn’t function the way we do without our excellent support team. They provide us with the information we need to keep our advice process slick and professional. We’ve recently recruited 2 ‘apprentices’ and I fully believe these young people will be the future of our great industry. MAP Financial is a firm of independent financial advisers and mortgage brokers, specialising in the management of investment portfolios and pensions. We interviewed the firm’s Director Andrew Pople to discover more following their success in winning the Finest in Finance 2017 – UK award. M 1704WF22