FAQs

Yes, we offer independent financial advice. Our focus is on helping you make the right decisions for your circumstances.

Yes, we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our FCA registration number is: 841309.

Yes, you can choose whether to meet in person or on a video call. We want the process to feel straightforward and convenient for you.

Face-to-face meetings are usually held at our office in Newport: 218 Stow Hill, Newport NP20 4HA. That way, we have our team and resources available when you meet with us.

Yes, we have a free private car park at our office in Newport. If you visit us in person, you’ll be able to park on site at this address: 218 Stow Hill, Newport NP20 4HA.

Vital Financial Planning has been established for six years. The individuals in the business each have more than 10 years of experience in financial advice.

We are based in Newport, and yes, we do work with clients outside our local area, including Cardiff, Caerphilly, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Chepstow, and Abergavenny. That said, the vast majority of our clients are within 20 miles of the office.

Lewys is Chartered. Charlotte isn’t, and we’ll always be clear about who you’ll be working with.

No, the firm does not hold Chartered status awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute. We’ll always be clear with you about our qualifications and status.

No, the firm does not hold Accredited status awarded by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. We’ll always be clear with you about our qualifications and status.

Yes, we have a strong presence on VouchedFor. That’s the best place to see what our clients have said about working with us.

Our FCA registration number is 841309. You can use this number to check our details on the FCA register.

We work with clients in Newport, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Chepstow, and Abergavenny. We also work with clients in the surrounding areas.

No, we don’t advise on mortgages. If this is something you need, we’ll be clear about that from the outset.

No, we don’t advise on equity release. If this is your main requirement, we’ll be clear about that early on.

Yes, we can advise on personal pensions. This is one of the areas we regularly help clients with.

Yes, we can advise on occupational pensions. We can help you understand how they fit into your wider plans.

Yes, we can help you look at consolidating multiple pensions. We’ll consider how your existing arrangements fit together as part of the wider picture.

Yes, we can help you take your pension tax-efficiently. That advice will be based on your circumstances and wider plans.

Yes, we can help with ethical or sustainable investing. If this matters to you, it can form part of the advice conversation.

Yes, we can help if you’ve received an inheritance and want to invest it. We’ll look at how it fits with your wider financial plans.

Yes, we can advise on self-invested personal pensions. We can talk you through whether this type of arrangement is right for you.

No, we don’t advise on final salary or defined benefit transfers. If this is what you need, we’ll be clear about that from the start.

Yes, we can help with long-term care or later-life planning. However, this isn’t a main specialism for us, so if that is all you require, we may refer you to another financial planner.

Yes, we can help with Inheritance Tax planning and estate planning. We can look at how these fit into your wider financial plans.

Yes, we can advise on investments such as ISAs. We can help you understand how they fit into your wider planning.

Yes, we can advise on protection, including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income replacement. We can help you understand what role this could play in your overall plan.

Yes, the first meeting is free. That gives us a chance to get to know each other before any agreement is signed.

Where possible, we take our fees from your pensions and investments. Otherwise, we can charge by invoice.

We don’t disclose minimum fees online. We’ll explain our charges clearly in your first meeting and before any agreement is signed.

We’ll explain our charges clearly in your first meeting and before any agreement is signed. Our fees are always disclosed and agreed upfront, with no hidden or unexpected costs.

We’ll explain exactly how we charge in your first meeting and before any agreement is signed. Where possible, we take our fees from your pensions and investments, otherwise we can charge by invoice.

No, we do not receive commission on pensions or investments, as commission on these is banned. Our fees are disclosed and agreed upfront, with no hidden or unexpected charges.

No, we do not charge VAT. We’ll always be clear with you about the costs involved.

We explain all of our fees during the first meeting. You’ll also know the costs before any agreement is signed.

Yes. We can explain how the Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection applies to your arrangements.

If something goes wrong, please tell us and we’ll take it seriously. As we provide regulated advice, you may be able to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service if it isn’t resolved.

Yes, we are insured to give financial advice. This forms part of operating as a professional, regulated firm.

You can check our registration and authorisation on the FCA website. Our FCA registration number is 841309.

No, we don’t currently have client stories or case studies you can read. You can, however, see client feedback on VouchedFor.

We look at client satisfaction through our VouchedFor reviews. These give you a good sense of what clients think about working with us.

Yes, we have been recognised as a VouchedFor Top Rated Adviser/Firm. This is based on the reviews we have received.

Yes, we are featured on VouchedFor. It’s a good place to see independent client reviews.

Yes, we can help you plan for early retirement. We’ll look at how that fits with your wider goals.

Yes, we can help you plan your retirement. Retirement planning is a key area of our work.

We typically work with hardworking people who have always saved into pensions. They may not necessarily know how those pensions work or what they’re really worth.

Yes, we do work with younger clients who are still building wealth. We can help you make sense of the decisions that support your future plans.

Yes, we work with company directors and self-employed clients. We understand that their planning needs can be different.

Yes, we work with clients who are approaching retirement and those who are already retired. This is a key part of who we help.

Yes, we can help clients who have inherited money. We can then look at how that money fits into your wider plans.

Yes, we can help clients who have sold, or are in the process of selling, a business. We can support you as you make decisions about what comes next.

Yes, we can help clients manage their finances after a bereavement. We understand this can be a difficult time and will deal with things clearly.

Our main focus is on professionals who are approaching retirement. That’s the group we most commonly work with.

No, we don’t offer financial advice for expats or non-UK residents. If this is what you need, we’ll be clear about that from the outset.

Yes, we can help if you already have investments or pensions elsewhere. We can look at those existing arrangements as part of your wider planning.

Yes, there is usually a minimum level to become a client. As a guide, this is around £100,000.

You can book an initial call by clicking here. During or after that call, we can arrange a meeting.

No, the initial meeting is free. There are no fees until a Client Agreement is signed.

You don’t need to bring anything to an initial meeting. If you have statements for any investments or policies, though, they can help guide the conversation.

The first meeting is about getting to know each other. We’ll talk through your objectives and explain our service and costs.

You should usually allow 60 to 90 minutes for an initial meeting. If you have lots of questions, it may take a little longer.

No, there’s no obligation to sign up at the initial meeting. It’s a chance for both of us to see whether we’re the right fit.

Yes, Charlotte is part of the team. If working with a female financial planner is important to you, that can be part of the conversation.

If your financial planner is away on holiday, someone else on the team will be suitably qualified to help. They can deal with your queries and handle any urgent actions.

We’ll invite you in at least once a year, or more often if we agree that at the outset. We also send a monthly newsletter, along with occasional updates such as Budget newsletters.

Yes, cashflow forecasting is part of our service. It can form part of the wider planning work we do with you.

If your circumstances change, we’ll invite you in for a review meeting. We can then update your financial plan and recommend any actions needed to keep it achievable and sustainable.

Yes, we can work alongside your accountant or solicitor. Where it’s helpful, we’re happy to be part of that wider professional conversation.

Yes, we can coordinate with your mortgage adviser if they need information from us. We’re happy to work with the other professionals supporting you.

We look after our clients as a team, so you’ll usually have more than one point of contact within the firm. If your planner leaves, someone else will continue to look after you.

Yes, in most cases you’ll be able to see the value of your investments online, via an online portal. We’ll explain what’s available to you as part of the arrangements in place.

Yes, we do provide an online portal for clients in most cases. This gives you a way to view your investments online.

You’ll meet with your planner at least once a year. If you’re going through a period of frequent change, such as in the run-up to retirement, we may meet more often.