the 6-step process
What to expect, at every stage
From your first conversation through every annual review that follows. Step by step, in plain English.
What happens after you click "book a call"
What happens right after I book?
You'll get a calendar invite with everything you need: date, time, and the link or address. Nothing else happens until we speak. No forms, no questionnaire, no welcome sequence.
Who will I be speaking to?
Eugen or Alex directly, depending on who you booked with. You won't be screened by an assistant or handed off to a junior. The person you speak to is the person who will be advising you.
More about Eugen and Alex
What will we actually talk about?
Whatever's on your mind. Most people come to us with a specific question (a pension decision, a move abroad, a business sale on the horizon) or a general sense that things need to be more organised. We'll ask about your situation, listen, and answer what we can on the call.
Do I need to prepare anything?
Not much. You don't need to arrive with spreadsheets, valuations or every document to hand. A rough understanding of your finances, assets, income and any questions you'd like answered is enough for a productive first conversation. If we decide to work together, we'll gather the detailed information later.
How long will it take?
Typically between 15 minutes and an hour. The length depends on your circumstances and what you'd like to discuss. Some people simply want to establish whether we're the right fit, while others use the opportunity to explore their situation in more detail.
What happens next?
If we think we can add value, we'll explain how we can help and what the next steps would look like. Once we've established the scope of work required, we'll provide a detailed proposal and fee quote. You can then decide whether you'd like to proceed.
What if it's not a fit?
Then we shake hands and part ways. No charge, no follow-up, no awkward chasing emails. If we think someone else could help you better, we'll tell you who.
The six steps, in detail
Six steps in all, from your first conversation through to your annual reviews. For each one, we've laid out what happens, what's asked of you, and what you walk away with.
The full process
Step 1
Getting to know each other
This first meeting is for both sides to work out whether there's a fit. We'll ask about your situation, what's on your mind, and what you're hoping to get clear on. You'll get a sense of how we work and whether we feel like the right people for the job. There's no fee, no obligation, and no follow-up if either side decides it isn't a fit. Most people leave knowing more than when they came in, even if that's where the relationship ends.
what you'll walk away with
A clearer picture of where you stand and whether financial planning is the right next step.
time and format
Around 30 minutes. In person at our Cobham office, by phone, or by video call.
Step 2
Understanding your situation
This is where we build the full picture: your finances, and the life they're meant to support. We'll ask about your income, assets, pensions, investments, debts, and what's already in place. We'll also talk about your priorities, what you want your money to do, and what's on the horizon. We'll send a clear list of what we need beforehand so you can pull it together at your own pace.
what you'll walk away with
A sense of having your full picture in one place, often for the first time.
time and format
One or two meetings of around 60-90 minutes each, depending on complexity.
Step 3
Making sense of where you stand
We take everything from the previous step and work through it. What's working in your current setup. What isn't. Where things could be doing more for you. How well your existing arrangements line up with what you actually want. This stage is mostly desk work on our side. You don't need to do anything during it. We'll come back to you with what we've found.
what you'll walk away with
A clear, honest read on where you stand today.
time and format
Two to three weeks of analysis. No meetings required from you.
Step 4
Building your plan
This is where your written financial plan comes together. We consider a range of strategies, weigh them up, and recommend the ones most likely to get you the outcomes you've told us you're after. The plan covers whatever applies to your situation: pension decisions, investments, tax structure, protection, estate considerations. When it's ready, we sit down together and walk through it in detail. You'll see what we're recommending and why. This is your chance to ask anything, push back, or have us rethink the parts that don't sit right.
what you'll walk away with
A complete written plan, built around your life and priorities, with every recommendation explained.
time and format
Plan preparation takes two to three weeks. The presentation meeting is around 90 minutes.
Step 5
Putting the plan into action
This is where the plan stops being a document and starts being something that works in the background. We handle the paperwork, the applications, the transfers, and the coordination with providers. You sign what needs signing. The heavy lifting sits with us.
what you'll walk away with
A plan that's not just written, but actually implemented.
time and format
Two to six weeks, depending on what's being put in place.
Step 6
Reviewing life as it moves on
A financial plan isn't a one-off exercise. Life moves. Jobs change, families change, priorities change, markets move, tax rules shift. The plan needs to keep up, which is what the annual review is for. Every twelve months we sit down and look at what's shifted: your goals, your situation, your progress, your attitude to risk, and anything else that's relevant. We adjust the plan where it needs adjusting and confirm what's still on track. Some clients want more frequent check-ins; we set the rhythm to what makes sense for you.
what you'll walk away with
A plan that stays useful, not one that gathers dust.
time and format
Annual reviews of around 60-90 minutes. More frequent contact if your situation calls for it.
What our clients say
"Helped feel confident about where to put my money. Good advice on not saving it all but having a healthy balance of quality of life versus saving for the future. Always extremely efficient and responsive."
— Verified client, Essex
VouchedFor
"Alex has been excellent as a financial advisor with very clear expectation setting regarding investments and personal lifetime financial goals."
— Verified client, Kent
VouchedFor
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