John Donaldson APFS

Many people who are introduced to us for the first time, have never used a financial adviser before, or have used one just once or twice and may be unsure what to expect.

So.... we thought it may be useful if we explained here a little about the type of work we do, so you can decide if we offer financial advice in the way that suits you.

We believe in putting our clients in control of their finances.  Money will never be able to buy you happiness, but it can often buy opportunity and choice, when structured correctly.  We aim to make a difference by using our skills and resources for the benefit of our clients.

We have two main specialist areas in which we work to deliver a friendly and comprehensive service:

• Our first specialist area is in helping people plan their Retirement Income.  With the changes in working practices and longevity, there are now many new models of retirement emerging, often giving a balance between work, leisure, and caring for parents or grandchildren.  the strategies of previous generations are no longer as effective, as many companies no longer offer a job for life, and state provision is coming under increasing pressure.  We help our clients develop a workable game plan, helping them understand their current position, and giving direction on the way forward, advising on saving, income generation and mortgage strategies, both prior to and during retirement.

• Our second specialist area is in planning for and funding Care Fees.  Often at the point where our clients are entering a care facility.  This is a complex area because of the interplay between government support, pension income and other assets, such as property and savings and investments, or annuities.  We can provide confidence to our clients, by working out how long funds are expected to last, and putting together a feasibility assessment, tailored to take account of taxation, state benefits and the assets and income available. 

In both of these areas, there is now more choice and information available than ever before, with the internet, newspapers and other media bombarding us with huge amounts of information and guidance.  This leads to the difficulty of how to make sense of it and how to apply generalised information to individual situations - particularly if it is an area where we are unfamiliar or we do not have the time to assess all the options.

This is where our experience, and expertise can be useful to our clients in helping them fully understand their position and their options, and save them time and money.

We are continually updating or knowledge and research tools in our specialist areas, by regularly attending national and international conferences and reading specialist publications.  We spend time poring over legal, technical and taxation information, and money on specialist software and publications, so our clients do not have to do either.

Having taken various professional qualifications over the years, since I joined the profession in 1990, I was awarded the status of Chartered Financial Planner in 2006, by the Chartered Insurance Institute. This means completing a suite of qualifications equivalent to the level of batchelor degree (BA, BSc)

We prefer to work solely with people who have been referred to us by our existing clients - but will also accept referrals from professional connections such as solictors and accountants or other professional organisations.  We do not advertise, as we do not want to waste time and resource which we feel would be better used working for our existing clients, or developing further our technical expertise.

We are remunerated by a combination of fees and commissions, which is discussed on an individual basis, and we will explain this to you before starting any work on your behalf.  An initial 'Discovery' meeting at our office is usually available as an introductory meeting at our expense.  This meeting places you under no obligation, and is often a useful step in finding out if we are the right advisers for you.

If you would like any further information - or to arrange a meeting - please call us on 023 8090 5825, or get in touch by e-mail johndonaldson@thinkpositive.co.uk - and let us know how you found out about us.

Positive Solutions are not responsible for nor do the FSA regulate advice on taxation, some forms of long term care, nursing home fees, will writing, deposit accounts.

Mortgages - your home may be repossessed if you cannot keep up the repayments on any mortgage or other loan secured on it.

The value of asset based investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested.

Terms of Business