Frequently asked questions

No. It's for anyone who wants to feel more in control of their money - whatever they earn. Whether that's making the most of ISAs and pensions or simply feeling calmer about the future, you don't need to be wealthy to benefit. You just need to want to stop carrying it alone.

Yes. We can help you get a clear picture of what's coming in and going out, find sensible room to breathe, and build a cushion for the unexpected. Not magic - just a calmer, clearer handle on things.

The real one is rarely technical. It's having someone who knows your situation, takes the worry off your shoulders, and helps you think clearly when life - or the markets - get noisy. We'll handle the UK-specific detail (ISAs, pensions, tax) so you don't have to, but the point is that you feel less alone with it.

Not at all. Investing is one part of it. Just as important are the everyday things - budgeting, debt, planning for retirement, and making sure you and your family are protected if life takes a turn. The plan comes first; the investments serve it, not the other way around.

A conversation, not a sales pitch. You talk, we listen - about what's on your mind, what you're hoping for, and where you are now. We'll explain how we work and what we charge. There's no obligation, and the first conversations are free and unhurried.

As often as suits you. Usually there's an initial meeting, then regular reviews - often once or twice a year - to keep your plan in step with your life. If markets get noisy or something changes for you, we're a phone call away in between.

Yes. We're real people based around the UK, and we're happy to meet by video call or phone as well as in person. Whatever fits around your life.

Nothing, if you'd rather just talk. If you want to get into detail, it helps to have payslips, recent bank or pension statements, and any existing investment or protection policies to hand. But don't let paperwork put you off - we can sort that as we go.

A good test: do you feel on top of your money, or are you carrying a quiet unease about it? If there's no clear plan, if the information out there feels overwhelming, or if something big is coming - retirement, a family change, a windfall - that's usually the moment talking to someone helps. If it turns out you don't need us, we'll tell you.

A fixed fee, in pounds - not a percentage of your money. It reflects your situation, not how much you have, so a straightforward case pays less than a complex one. We don't quote on the spot, and that's deliberate: it's like building an extension - until we've agreed what's actually involved, any number would be a guess. We meet at least twice, free, before any fee is agreed.

There's no single template, because no two lives are the same. But most plans touch on retirement and pensions (including your State Pension), making good use of ISAs, day-to-day budgeting, any debt, and thinking ahead about what you'll leave behind. We build it around you, not the other way round.

This is one of the moments we're built for. We'll help you see what income you'll have and where it comes from - pensions, State Pension, savings - and think through how to turn it into a retirement that feels comfortable and secure. As much about how it feels as how it adds up.

There are tax-efficient ways to put money aside for the next generation - Junior ISAs among them - and we'll help you think through what fits your family and your circumstances. The right answer depends on you, so we'll talk it through rather than hand you a product.

Yes. Whether it's a mortgage, credit cards, or other borrowing, we'll help you see the whole picture and work out a sensible order to tackle things - so debt feels managed rather than menacing. No judgement, just a clear plan.

Yes. Inheritance tax is one of the things people worry about most and understand least. We'll help you understand where you stand and think through sensible, tax-efficient ways to look after the people you care about - gifts, allowances, and how your estate is arranged. It's a careful, personal conversation, not an off-the-shelf fix.

In some ways, yes. Irregular income, your own pension provision, National Insurance, making sure you're protected if you can't work - these need a bit more thought when there's no employer in the background. We're used to it, and we'll build the plan around how you actually earn.

Active means trying to pick winners and time the market; passive means quietly tracking the market as a whole, at lower cost. We lean firmly towards the passive, low-cost end - not because it's fashionable, but because the evidence and our own experience say that behaviour and discipline matter far more than clever stock-picking. The plan does the heavy lifting; the investments just need to be sensible and cheap.

Honestly: all investing carries risk, and anyone who tells you otherwise isn't being straight with you. Markets rise and fall, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up - you may get back less than you put in. What we'd gently add is that short-term ups and downs aren't the same as real risk. The real risk is reacting to them. Our job is to help you stay calm and invested through the wobbles, so the long term can do its work. As an FCA-regulated firm, we're also held to strict standards on acting in your best interests.

No. There are sensible options for people starting out as well as for those with more behind them. The right starting point depends on your situation, which is exactly what the first conversation is for.

Yes. You'll have secure access through the Town Close app - your whole financial picture in one place, on your phone or desktop, whenever you want to look. It's there when you need it, not something you have to check constantly.

Tell us - plainly. We'd always rather hear it and put it right. If you're still not happy, you're free to walk away; there's no lock-in. As an FCA-regulated firm we also have a formal complaints process, and the Financial Ombudsman Service is there as an independent backstop if it ever comes to that.