Our Services
Advice on the things that matter most.
As financial advisers we provide individuals and businesses with practical, relevant solutions to help meet their financial objectives. Below are the key areas we advise on — and of course, we are always happy to discuss your own situation and goals with you.
Investment and Pension
01 · Savings and Investments
Make your money work harder.
From childhood, most of us are encouraged to put money away for the future. When planning your finances, it is important to distinguish between savings — funds you can access relatively quickly — and investments, which are designed to be held for the longer term, usually at least five years.
Returns, risk and volatility are the factors that determine the right home for your money. We take time to understand your goals, timescale and attitude to risk, then recommend a suitable, diversified approach.
Whether you are looking at a pension, an investment bond or an ISA, you might consider using investment funds. A fund pools money from many investors to buy a diversified spread of securities, run by a professional manager whose job is to make the day-to-day decisions.
Diversification and risk. All investments carry some element of risk — the value of a fund can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invested. To manage this, managers diversify: holding a spread of different assets so that when one falls, another may hold firm or offset the loss.
The value of investments may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you originally invested.
There are many different mediums in which to invest. A few of the key areas:
- Bank and savings accounts — flexible access, though often lower interest.
- National Savings and Investments — government-backed and generally low risk; many products are tax-free.
- Bonds and gilts — generally lower risk than equities, based on loans to companies or government.
- Property — commercial property funds can offer attractive income and diversification, though values can fall and access may be restricted.
- Equities (shares) — historically stronger long-term returns, in exchange for greater risk.
- Investment funds — professionally managed, diversified pools spanning any of the above.
The FCA does not regulate National Savings and Investment products. The value of investments may fall as well as rise.
02 · Pensions and Retirement
Retire the way you have always pictured.
Pensions are designed to help you save enough during your working life to provide an income stream once you have retired. There are many ‘tools’ used to save for retirement, and the taxation and investment elements can appear baffling — we specialise in explaining, recommending and monitoring pensions for you.
From the State Pension and workplace schemes to personal pensions and SIPPs, we will help you understand your options and plan for a secure, enjoyable retirement.
Pension simplification introduced two key controls — the Annual Allowance and the framework governing how much you can save tax-efficiently. Most individuals can fund up to these limits, with the possibility of carrying forward unused allowance from the previous three years.
Other benefits include early access from age 55 (rising to 57 in April 2028), wide investment flexibility, up to 25% tax-free cash, and flexible options at retirement such as Flexi-access Drawdown.
Allowances and tax rules are subject to change. Figures should be confirmed for the current tax year.
From age 55 (changing to 57 from April 2028) a number of options are available, including:
- Drawing benefits from your existing provider
- Purchasing an annuity on the open market, potentially increasing your income
- Transferring to Flexi-access Drawdown (FAD)
- Using Uncrystallised Fund Pension Lump Sum (UFPLS) rules
- Phased retirement, or a combination of the above
Most arrangements can provide an immediate tax-free lump sum (commonly 25%), with the remaining fund generating an income subject to Income Tax.
Personal Pensions are a popular and attractive way of saving for retirement. Monies invested grow free of Capital Gains Tax, and contributions are enhanced by tax relief at source — for example, invest £80 and basic-rate relief tops it up to £100. Higher-rate taxpayers may claim additional relief.
A personal pension is an arrangement in your own name, over which you have personal control — you can alter, suspend or stop contributions. You can usually take 25% of your fund tax-free from age 55 (rising to 57 in April 2028), with a range of options at retirement.
Pensions are a long-term investment. You may get back less than you put in. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is a tax-efficient wrapper within which a wide range of investments can be held. SIPPs share the same tax benefits and rules as conventional personal pensions, but give you control over the investment choice.
The complexity of a SIPP means it is not suitable for everyone — the benefits of ‘self-investment’ tend to suit those with larger funds or more sophisticated investment needs. We will provide more detail and make a recommendation based on your circumstances.
Mortgages, Protection and Equity Release
03 · Mortgages
The right finance for your next move.
A mortgage is one of the largest single transactions in most people’s lives. Buying a property can be stressful and time-consuming; today, financing is a case of finding and selecting the most suitable mortgage rather than simply accepting a lender’s offer.
Banks, building societies and niche lenders all compete for your business with different rates, fees and features. We help you navigate the market and choose the right deal and repayment method for your circumstances.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
The two main methods of repaying a mortgage are repayment (capital and interest) and interest-only — and sometimes a combination of the two.
Repayment method. Your monthly payments cover both interest and capital, so over time the amount you owe decreases and the mortgage is repaid in full by the end of the term.
Interest-only method. You pay only the interest, so the capital remains outstanding at the end of the term. You will usually need a separate investment plan (such as ISAs or pensions) to repay the capital.
Several terms describe the interest rates you pay:
- Standard Variable Rate (SVR) — the lender’s standard rate; deals often revert to this once a set period ends.
- Fixed rate — repayments stay the same for an agreed period, regardless of rate movements.
- Tracker — tracks an index (such as the Bank of England Base Rate); you benefit from falls but pay more if rates rise.
- Discount — a discount from the lender’s SVR for a set period; the underlying rate can still fluctuate.
Fixed, tracker and discount deals often carry early repayment charges, so it is important the term suits you. Ask your adviser to explain the details or provide an illustration.
04 · Protection
Protecting the people you love.
Financial products are often at their most valuable when they are protecting our families, our income or our property. Whilst insuring against events such as illness or death is not always pleasant to think about, the peace of mind it brings at emotionally difficult times cannot be overlooked.
There are many ways a family can protect itself, and with such a large range of products available, there is usually an appropriate policy for most circumstances and budgets.
There are several ways to protect yourself and your family in the event of an untimely death:
- Level Term Assurance — pays a lump sum on death during the policy term; cost-effective, benefit paid tax-free.
- Decreasing Term Assurance — the benefit reduces over time, often used to cover a repayment mortgage; usually lower premiums.
- Family Income Benefit — pays a regular tax-free income to your dependants, rather than a lump sum.
- Critical Illness Insurance — pays out on diagnosis of specified critical illnesses; available standalone or with term assurance.
A business may wish to protect the key people within it — perhaps a key salesperson or IT manager — without whom the business would struggle to function.
Keyperson, shareholder and partnership protection can provide a fixed sum should an individual be unable to work, or die. The benefit is designed to cover emergency costs, recruit a replacement, or enable remaining shareholders or partners to purchase the deceased’s shares and maintain control of the business.
Income Protection provides an income (after a defined waiting period) if you are unable to work due to ill health or accident. Most policies pay the benefit until you can return to work, and are usually written to retirement age.
Accident, Sickness and Unemployment (ASU) traditionally accompanied mortgages, paying a regular income if you are unable to work — with unemployment cover usually an optional extra. Benefits are typically paid for a specified period. It is worth comparing the two closely, as one may suit you better — or they may work well in tandem.
05 · Equity Release
Releasing money from your home, carefully.
Equity release allows homeowners aged 55 and over to access some of the money tied up in their property, usually free of tax. It is most often used to top up retirement income, help family, fund home improvements, or clear an existing mortgage.
It is a significant, long-term decision that affects both your home and what you leave behind, so it is not right for everyone. We will always look at the alternatives with you first — such as downsizing, using savings, or a conventional mortgage — and only recommend equity release where it genuinely suits your circumstances.
Equity release is a regulated activity and can only be arranged with advice. We will give you a personalised illustration setting out the costs and features before you commit to anything.
A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home. Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.
Try the lifetime mortgage calculator →The most common form of equity release. You borrow money secured against your home while continuing to own it and live there.
Interest is usually added to the loan rather than paid monthly, which means the amount owed grows over time and compounds. The loan and the interest are normally repaid when you die or move into long-term care and the property is sold. Many plans allow optional payments so you can reduce or stop that roll-up if you wish.
Plans meeting Equity Release Council standards include a no-negative-equity guarantee, so you will never owe more than your home is worth.
With a home reversion plan you sell all or part of your home to a provider in return for a tax-free lump sum or a regular income, while keeping the right to live there rent-free for the rest of your life.
You will receive considerably less than the open market value of the share you sell, because the provider does not get its money back until the property is sold. Home reversion plans are far less common than lifetime mortgages, and they are not right for everyone.
Before releasing equity, it is important to consider:
- Your estate — equity release reduces the value of your estate and the amount you can leave to your family.
- Means-tested benefits — releasing money may affect your entitlement to benefits such as Pension Credit or Council Tax Support, now or in the future.
- The cost over time — because interest can roll up and compound, the total amount repayable can be much larger than the sum you release.
- Early repayment charges — repaying a plan early can be expensive, so the plan needs to suit your long-term plans.
- The alternatives — downsizing, using savings or investments, help from family, or conventional borrowing may work out better.
We would always encourage you to involve your family in the conversation, and you will need independent legal advice before any plan completes.
Not sure where to start?
Try our free calculators to get an instant, indicative picture before we talk.
Want to know more?
Call us for a friendly chat on 01953 718417 or email admin@espiene.com.