About Us

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Introduction

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This document is aimed at providing you with a brief overview of our firm and to introduce our services.

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In this document, we intend to illustrate how we assess value and whether there is fair value between the total price of the service and the benefits and their quality that our clients receive.

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Octagon Consultancy Ltd is a firm of independent financial planners and an Appointed Representative of Best Practice IFA Group Limited, which is a network that promotes a high level of market standards through the provision of back-up resource, technology, training, and support. Best Practice IFA Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The registration number is 223112, and a full list of Appointed Representatives can be found on the FCA register.

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We are a Chartered Firm of financial planners. This means we have satisfied rigorous criteria relating to professional qualifications and good ethical practice. It means you can be confident that you are dealing with one of the UK's leading firms that are wholly committed to providing you with the best possible advice, service, and support.

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Octagon Consultancy is based in Clifton, Bristol. We have over 150 years of experience in dealing with clients.

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We have four Advisers:

Richard Adams          Practice Director                                                                                     

Luke Brown               Chartered Financial Planner

Rod Albright              Chartered Financial Planner

Andy Stephens          Financial Planner

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The other team members are:

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Mark Adams              Trainee Adviser & Paraplanner

Andy Marshall           Trainee Adviser & Paraplanner

Louise Morgan           Paraplanner

Jess Wood                 Client Relationship Manager

Nicola Jones              Practice Administrator

Paula Richings           Practice Administrator

David Rogers             Practice Administrator

Rebecca McPeake      Practice Administrator

Emma Evans             Practice Administrator

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Our service proposition has been designed to meet the needs and objectives of our clients and to ensure fair value is received by engaging with our service.

We have categorised clients by their life stage and will deliver advice based on their needs at that life stage which corresponds with the services we offer. Typically, clients have more complexity as they approach retirement as they need to plan for retirement income and possibly sell their business.

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Our average client is 60 years old and has an average investment portfolio of £424,937.65. The average client has 2.54 wrappers, with pensions being the most common wrapper, which reflects the demographic of client we typically advise.

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Our client segments are:

• Accumulator

• Midlife Thinking About Retirement

• Retiring Drawing an Income

• Later Life

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Initially clients will be offered a Financial Planning report to address the following:

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Financial Planning:  To identify what you might want to achieve and how you can do this. We can help you to identify your goals and create a plan for your finances to help you achieve them.

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Retirement planning:  To know whether the money you are saving towards retirement will provide you with sufficient funds to meet your retirement objectives. We can work with you to proactively plan for your retirement and help you decide on the options available once at retirement.

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Protection planning:  Protection planning can help to provide peace of mind in the event of your income changes due to unexpected events. We can help you plan for the best way to protect you, your family, or your business.

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We then provide an ongoing advice for all financial planning clients.

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All clients then receive the following:

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• a structured review of your financial plan to check you are on course and give you peace of mind

• a review of your attitude to risk, identifying any changes in your profile and confirming the ongoing appropriateness of your portfolio against your stated attitude to risk

• annual assessment of your circumstances and suitability review of existing investments

• access to secure online Wealth Portal

• access to your advice team throughout the year

• one forward planning meeting a year, either face to face, via the web or by telephone, which we will contact you to arrange.

• annual valuation

• confirmation of advice costs and charges.

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In addition to this ongoing planning will include:

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• behavioural coaching

• portfolio rebalancing

• optimised withdrawal order for client spending

• peace of mind that client remain on track to meet their objectives.

 

The Value of our Service

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• Being recognised as a Chartered Financial Planning firm means we are committed to the highest standards of professional competency, ethical standards, and integrity. We represent the gold standard in financial planning.  We know this gives our clients a great deal of comfort.

• The requirement to become a Chartered Financial Planner with the Chartered Insurance Institute, is the culmination of years of learning and professional practice. 

• Best Practice provide an institutional regulatory supervision and compliance framework service which provides us with a high level of regulatory assurance and leading-edge client management systems. 

• By leveraging the quality and services of an organisation like Benchmark, a Schroders plc group company, we have comfort that we will remain at the leading edge of our profession, ensuring we maintain a “Best Practice” approach to serving our clients.  Many of the benefits we derive, we see as having direct value add relevance for our clients, including:

 

• the provision of an independent complaints handling process for all our clients

• enhanced professional indemnity insurance

• integrated client technology systems, including the Wealth Platform

• independent compliance supervision of our advisers and the suitability of our client advice.

 

• Cash flow planning helps us to show you visually how your plan has been set up to meet your objectives.

• The cash flow forecasting provides a visual illustration of how a client’s investments and wealth will move over time in relation to the financial plans that we formulate to meet their goals.  This gives clients considerable comfort knowing that there is some mathematical rigour to our advice and how it will help them to meet their goals. 

• Cash flow planning allows us to scenario test your plans against historical market events and simulate how our clients’ goals could be impacted by these types of events.  It allows us to show how risk events might impact portfolios.  It’s a really great way to help you understand more about investment risks and how it translates to the plans you have in place.  It helps you to feel more informed and comfortable about your plans.

• It is not just about monetary goals; this is about life and family and a consultative approach. This enables us to help clients to think about things they may not have considered and how plans can work together to create a cohesive timeline of advice.

• We can help to understand the value of future liabilities and design and implement strategies to reduce this burden, often saving clients thousands of pounds in potential tax charges.  This provides real value and peace of mind that your loved ones will be looked after when they are gone.

• Business advice, e.g. key man insurance/shareholder protection planning, highlight the value which can be added through these products.

• Relevant life cover for directors and the value which can be added, i.e. tax efficiency, business deductible expense, savings can be illustrated in pounds and pence and can be significant.

• Financial coaching can add value at various times throughout the financial planning journey and help you to make considered financial decisions.

• Amounts to invest to meet your goals.

• How and when to release capital or take income.

• Reassurance in volatile market conditions.

• Understand how markets work and the journey you can expect.

• Understanding legislation and tax changes.

• Financial coaching/professional sense check/behavioural guidance - we help to take the emotion out of financial decision making and helping clients avoid falling into common mistakes.

 

Summary

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The key value adds for Octagon are:

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• Behavioural Coaching: one of the key benefits of working with us is our ability to provide behavioural coaching. We can help you navigate emotional biases, such as fear or greed, which often lead to poor financial decisions. We act as a source of support, helping you stay disciplined and focused on your long-term goals.

• Withdrawal Strategy: make sure assets are withdrawn in the most tax efficient manner.

• Objective Perspective: we can provide an objective viewpoint on your financial situation. We are not emotionally attached to your money or personal circumstances, which allows us to offer unbiased advice and guidance.

• Time and Stress Management: managing finances can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if you have a complex financial situation. By delegating these tasks to us, you can free up your time and reduce stress. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your life or business.

• Peace of Mind: knowing that you have a qualified professional overseeing your financial matters can provide peace of mind. It allows you to delegate the responsibility of managing your finances, knowing that you have a trusted advisor helping you navigate through various financial challenges.

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Considering all areas included in the assessment of value, we believe the service provided is demonstrating value overall and our service proposition along with this value statement has been approved by our network, Best Practice IFA Group Limited. 

 

 

Important information: Octagon Consultancy Ltd is a member of Best Practice IFA Group Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office Holmwood House, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP. Registration in England No 07572431.