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| When you first approach us as a potential new client we will meet with you to make an initial assessment of your financial objectives and priorities and to identify areas where we feel we can be of value to you. This initial meeting will generally take about an hour and will be free of charge. Thereafter, if you wish to engage our services you will incur fees for the work we do, either at an hourly rate, based on the complexity of the work involved, or on a fixed fee basis for a particular project. Where our recommendations lead to the purchase of a financial contract it may give rise to a commission payment. In cases where commission is received as a result of our recommendation we will offset this initial commission against our fees. Naturally, we will always confirm our charging structure in writing to you before any work is undertaken. Typically
our work will involve the following steps: |
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Goal
Setting |
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We
will ascertain your financial objectives and the order in which
you would like us to help you achieve them. This needs to be done
within a framework which allows for the management of investment
risk and sets realistic performance expectations. To assist with
this we will ask you to complete a risk assessment questionnaire
which will form the basis for the asset mix of any portfolio we
recommend to you. |
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Asset
Allocation |
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It
is our firm belief that successful long term investment management
is best achieved through a structured mix of different asset classes,
spread across a number of markets, where movements in one are not
directly related to the others. By blending these different asset
types together, we can construct portfolios which maximise the potential
to produce positive investment returns while minimising the possibility
of exceeding the level of risk you are comfortable with.
It is important to bear in mind, however, that all markets are inherently volatile, and there will be occasions when the actual risk exceeds your comfort level. The asset allocation structure is designed to minimise this volatility, but it cannot be eradicated completely. Furthermore, because of the inevitable short-term fluctuations in value and the establishment costs involved, investment portfolios need time to deliver their intended results and clients should allow at least five years for this to happen. We
believe that this approach to investment management is far preferable
to one which is based on ‘second-guessing’ the markets.
Experience tells us that actively trading investments and switching
funds only results in an increase in transaction costs - not performance.
Whatever your risk profile, be it very cautious or highly adventurous,
we can structure a portfolio that meets your needs in the most tax
efficient manner. |
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Data
Gathering |
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We
will need to build up a full picture of any financial planning you
may have undertaken in the past and any existing arrangements that
you have in place. Generally, we will ask you to authorise the providers
to appoint us as your agent in respect of your existing plans, so
that we can analyse them and where appropriate manage them for you
going forward. |
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Analysis |
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Once
we have received the data in respect of your existing plans we will
evaluate them in terms of their suitability for fulfilling your
objectives and meeting your risk and return expectations. |
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Reporting |
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We
will provide you with a written report encompassing our analysis
of your existing plans as well as our recommendations as to what
actions are required in order to create a structure which optimises
the chances of achieving your objectives. This will cover cashflow
requirements, tax structures and asset allocation. We will also
make recommendations in respect of the investment management options. |
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Implementation |
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Once
you are happy with your financial plan we will take you through
the steps necessary to put it in place. Sometimes this can be a
time consuming and slow process as it often involves making changes
to some of your existing arrangements. However, we will manage these
changes on your behalf to make the process as painless as possible
for you. |
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