Research has shown investors who take financial advice before investing their money made substantially better choices than those who invest on their own.

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Of course, returns vary greatly based on the performance of underlying funds and are never guaranteed, whichever way you choose to invest.

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But don’t be put off taking financial advice by the fees – the value of the advice can quickly outweigh the upfront and ongoing costs involved. Examples of charging methods include hourly rates, a fixed fee, percentage charges or a combination of these. We always agree and disclose charges with clients before the advice process starts.

 

Five benefits of consulting with Cambridge Financial Advisers

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As well as growing your money, having a tailored financial plan in place brings a number of other important advantages.

 

Clear goals

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Sitting down with an adviser will make you think hard about what it is you want to achieve with your money beyond your ISA investment returns. A financial planner will look at your overall goals and help you devise a realistic, achievable plan to turn them into a reality.

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Regular reviews 

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Whether you are the type to keep a close eye on your investments or you would rather simply invest and forget, taking advice from a professional means you will have annual reviews to keep track of your finances and progress towards your goals.

The benefits are twofold; first it allows you to adapt your plan as your situation and needs change, and it refocuses your mind on what it is you are trying to achieve and allows you to make changes if you don’t feel you are on the right course.

 

Tax efficiency

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A good financial planner will make sure your money is working as hard for you as possible. This includes minimising your current and future tax liability. The UK’s tax system is complex and difficult to navigate. A small oversight could cost you hundreds of thousands of pounds in unnecessary tax. A financial adviser will be aware of the traps and will be able to make your finances as tax-efficient as possible.

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Product knowledge

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There are seemingly endless investment and pension solutions available and each comes with their own rules, regulations and nuanced complexities. Our experts will do the time-consuming research for you and narrow down the range of investment options that are most suitable for you.

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Protection

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While you don’t have any guarantees that an investment we recommend will perform as well as you hope, you are protected from misleading or poor advice.

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Investor Protection - How safe is your investment?

 

Cambridge Financial Advisers is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is bound by their rules and regulations in the conduct of our investment business.

 

The FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme

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The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the compensation fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms. If a firm is in default or ceases trading the FSCS may be able to pay compensation to its customers.

The FSCS is independent of the government and the financial industry and was set up under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). The costs of the scheme are covered by the financial services industry - there is no charge to individual consumers for using the service.

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Compensation levels and eligibility to claim

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The compensation limits generally applied are for:

• Deposits - covers deposits up to £85,000 for each eligible claim per banking group

• Contracts of insurance - covers long-term policies such as life assurance and pension policies 100% without limit

• Compulsory insurance - for example, car insurance, 100% without limit

• Investment business (such as mutual funds) - covers up to £85,000

• Mortgage advice - covers up to £50,000

 

For more information on the FSCS please visit http://www.fscs.org.uk