Watch the video
Please take a few minutes to watch this welcome video before we meet, as it contains some essential information about our advice service.
After you’ve watched the video you’ll find some more information below about what to expect. If you have any questions please ask your adviser, who’ll be more than happy to help.
A personal financial review – understanding you and your needs
We start by reviewing your finances, understanding you and your needs and discussing where you want to be in the future. This will help us provide answers to important questions such as:
- How much money will you need during retirement?
- Are you on track to achieve it?
- Are your current savings and investments doing what they should?
- Are your family or loved ones protected if anything happens to you?
- Are you looking to invest for good or more sustainably, without compromising on growth?
- Are you taking advantage of the tax benefits available to you as an investor?
It’s really important to look at your whole financial situation so that we can see the full picture and uncover needs you perhaps didn’t realise you had.
Concentrating on only one area can leave a significant gap in others. For example, if your adviser looked solely at the best way to access your pension, it might leave your family exposed to large inheritance tax bills.
The advice recommendations we make are from a carefully selected range of products and funds. Using a focused and controlled approach allows us to develop an in-depth knowledge of the products, so we can safely and confidently recommend a solution that’s right for you. This is known as restricted advice.
Getting ready for your meeting
- Preparing
- Details you'll need to know
- The recommendations
You can choose to have your full financial review via video meeting, a simple phone call or a meeting in the comfort of your home. If you have a partner, we strongly recommend they also attend. And you’re welcome to invite a friend or relative to join the meeting or video call from different locations, if you think it would help.
So that we can spend more of our time during the meeting focusing on your needs, it’s helpful if you could gather some information before we meet. You’ll find this information in your most recent:
- Pension Statements
- Life Insurance Policies
- ISA Statements
- Statements for any other savings or investments
We’ll also ask you for some details about your main income and expenses such as these:
Income
- Salary
- Private Pension
- State Pension
- Savings or Investment Income
Expenditure
- Mortgage or rent
- Personal loan
- Credit card
- Regular savings
- Pension contributions
- Insurance (home/car/life)
- Council tax bill
- Gas, electricity and water bill
- TV Licence/subscriptions
- Petrol/travel
- Food shopping bills
- Other spending for example going out, hobbies etc
Having this information helps us make recommendations to ensure:
- your retirement plans are going to achieve what you want them to;
- your savings are working as hard as they can be;
- your family and loved ones are protected financially if anything happens to you;
- and they aren’t left paying unnecessary Inheritance Tax.
Presenting your plan
After your review, your adviser will formulate your plan and organise a time that suits you to take you through it. You will receive a detailed financial report based on the information you gave us.
The report will explain your current financial circumstances, provide a full analysis of your needs and objectives and a recommendation on how best to meet them. This report is at no cost to you and is yours to keep, no matter what you decide to do.
If you’re happy to proceed with our recommendations, your adviser will discuss the charges and timescales for putting your plan in place and they will arrange everything for you.
Ongoing support
Every financial plan, no matter how carefully structured, is vulnerable to the impact of change.
There are a number of things that can impact your financial plan, as you can see here.
If it’s appropriate, your adviser will recommend our Ongoing Advice Service to you. It offers regular financial checks to help keep your plan on track and helps you take advantage of any opportunities that may arise. There is a charge for the service that your adviser will discuss with you.
Drivers of change
Your circumstances
- Family additions
- Changes in work
- House moves
- Marital status
External influences
- Government legislation
- Economy
- Stock market
- Tax
Investment options
- Your attitude to risk
- Risk profile of the funds
- Fund performance
- New products, funds or sustainable investments
‘M&G Wealth Advice’ is a trading name of M&G Wealth Advice Limited which is registered in England and Wales. Registered office at 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London EC3M 5AG. Registered number 5739054. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.