Wealth & finance International - Finance Awards 2016

www.wealthandfinance-intl.com 21 Financial Planner of the Year - UK & Recognised Leader in Pension Planning - UK Beckford James are independent chartered financial planners that operate across the whole market to find the best solutions for their clients’ individual needs. We invited Joe Maguire to talk us through how the firm’s client focused approach has helped it to achieve its current success. Company: Beckford James Name: Joe Maguire Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.beckfordjames.com Address: Queen Square House, Queens Square Place, Bath BA1 2LL Telephone: 01225 437600 Beckford James are proud to be chartered financial planners, as the firm’s chartered status is a reflection of its commitment to professionalism, ethics and learning, all of which translate into high quality financial planning, as this offers the firm the chance to make a real difference to their clients’ lives, as Joe describes. “Genuine professionalism has never been so valued or so necessary. The Chartered titles awarded by the CII are steeped in history, but they remain today’s “gold standard” of excellence and integrity. Granted by the Privy Council, the high standard required is currently met by only a few hundred firms across the country. When you use a Chartered Firm you know that you are dealing with proven professionals, committed to developing and maintaining knowledge and capability to deliver the highest quality advice. At Beckford James, we have made a commitment to technical and professional development of staff, and to continuous professional development throughout the firm, including attaining the highest qualifications. Chartered firms must also follow a demanding ethical code of practice, placing the clients’ interests at the heart of the advice they give. A Chartered title is a commitment to an overall standard of customer excellence and professionalism. “As such at Beckford James, we believe in developing long-term working relationships with our clients. We work with both private and corporate clients to help achieve their goals. We are experienced in dealing with professional partners such as lawyers and accountants. We have a detailed understanding of the very specific financial challenges faced by them and offer expert planning, investment, and pensions advice on an individual basis. Additionally, we have several specialist advisers within the firm who can support with personal injury and clinical negligence, matrimonial planning, trustee investments and charities and occupational pensions.” Key to this approach is the fact that solutions are tailored to the individual needs of each client to ensure that they make the most of their assets. Financial Planning revolves around exploring what is important in the clients’ life. Whether this is helping their children to buy a house or go to university, moving house, planning early retirement or setting up a business, every vast financial decision takes time and commitment to ensure that the financial implications are understood and worked around. By working out what the costs will be and when clients will need the money they will be able to plan their finances to work out how to achieve their dreams. Joe outlines how this approach ensures that clients receive the solutions they need. “Our financial planning service is based on gaining a thorough understanding of your financial situation, goals and attitude to investment risk. Our services cover a wide range of financial planning needs such as pension planning, savings and investment management, trust and estate planning and long term care planning. But the initial planning is only the start of the relationship and the key to successful planning is on-going service to ensure that your attitude to risk and your financial needs and goals stay on track. “In terms of financial planning for businesses we advise micro, small and medium sized businesses on employee benefit areas such as staff pensions, death in service and flexible benefit arrangements. We understand that it is important to reward staff with a level of added or flexible benefits that encourages loyalty and engagement, whilst remaining cost-effective for you as an employer. As a small company or partnership, it is also important that you are protected against the loss of key individuals or fellow directors and we can look at a range of solutions to cover for the loss or critical illness of key personnel or director/shareholders.” Looking ahead, Beckford James will continue to provide dedicated support and advice to clients, working with them to create bespoke solutions designed to meet their individual needs and help them achieve their financial aims. Through the continuation of this client focused approach the firm will be able to build upon its current success, as Joe concludes. “Moving forward, the emphasis will remain on good quality advice and ongoing service. With clients continuing to explore the new options available to them with their pensions since the reforms of 2015 it is key we protect them to ensure they have enough money now and in the future to meet their needs. This can only be achieved by fully understanding the client’s objectives and personal situation and carrying out thorough research to find a solution to meet their needs. Regular reviews with these clients will ensure the advice remains suitable in the future.” FI160050 Beckford James