Clarity and care
with your money

An independent financial adviser can recommend products from the whole market, while a restricted adviser is limited to a specific range of products or providers. I'm independent, so my recommendations aren't tied to any provider.

Chartered Financial Planner is the industry's gold-standard qualification, awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute to advisers who meet rigorous exam and experience requirements. Martin is also a member of the Fellowship of Personal Financial Advisers, which is the highest level of professional achievement for Financial Advisers in the UK.

Yes, Martin and Method Financial Planning are both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, reference number 1054051, meaning your advice is protected under UK financial regulation.

Your information is handled securely and confidentially, in line with UK data protection law. Financial details are stored and shared through secure systems, and your information is never passed on to third parties without your consent.

It depends on your circumstances, confidence, and how much time you want to spend on it. A financial adviser adds most value when your situation is complex: business ownership, retirement planning, or inheritance tax mitigation, or when you simply want to work with an expert.

The whole process is friendly, calm and with no pressure. There's no jargon and no judgement. Taking the step to get advice already puts you ahead of most people. I explain everything in plain English, we take things at your pace, and keep the conversation focused on your life and goals, not just numbers on a page.

Your two key taxes are corporation tax (on the business) and income tax (as an individual). Are you having conversations with your accountant about how you can reduce your tax bill? If not, then you need advice.

I'll review your existing pension, check the charges, performance, and whether it still suits your circumstances, and explain clearly whether it's worth keeping, consolidating, or moving elsewhere. There's no obligation, and I'll only recommend a change if it's genuinely in your interest.

Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates above the nil-rate band (currently £325,000), but various reliefs, gifting and investment strategies, and trusts can significantly reduce this.

Based in Saffron Walden, I work with clients across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and London. I visit them in their homes or offer them the opportunity to come to my office, whichever is most convenient.

The earlier the better, but it's never too late to benefit from a clear plan. Many clients start seriously planning 10-15 years before retirement, though the planning doesn't stop there. If you don't yet have a plan, the next best time to start is today.

We follow a simple four-step process. First, a short discovery call (15-20 minutes) to understand your situation and see if we're a good fit. If so, we arrange an initial meeting (1-2 hours) to go through your finances in detail. From there, I build your personalised plan, and once you're happy to proceed, we begin an ongoing partnership with regular reviews to keep everything on track.

Yes, and it is encouraged. Financial planning tends to work best when both partners are involved and aligned on the same goals. So please bring your partner, spouse, or another trusted person to the meetings.

That's just the start. A financial plan only works if it's followed and kept up to date. I'll check in regularly to make sure it's still on track, and adjust it as life changes, whether that's a new job, a house move, starting a business, or anything else that affects your finances.

We will have scheduled reviews annually or bi-annually. With the understanding that if you need to meet in addition to this due to changes in your circumstances, you can have as many meetings and contact (within reason!) as you require.

There's no strict minimum, but because the initial fee is a minimum of £5,000, this service tends to work best for those with at least around £500,000 in investable assets. If you're below this, we can still have a conversation, and I'll always tell you honestly whether I think I can add enough value to justify the cost.

Financial advice fees vary by adviser and complexity, typically ranging from a fixed fee to a percentage of assets managed. Method Financial Planning offers a no obligation, no cost initial meeting to see if you would benefit from financial advice. If we agree that there is benefit, the initial fee for the work is 1% of your invested assets (minimum of £5,000, maximum of £15,000). For the ongoing service, the charge is 1% of your invested assets (minimum of £3,000) up to £1.5m, and then 0.25% for the remainder. For advice without a natural amount to base a percentage on, such as a new pension with no transfer involved, we'll instead agree an hourly rate of £250, with an estimated total cost given before any chargeable work begins.