At Astute, we firmly believe that our clients’ existing finances can always be improved, even before we start planning for the future. That is why we offer a review of existing savings and investments. We scrutinise to gauge whether, for example, tax allowances are being used efficiently in ISAs and pensions.

Then, we offer solutions, such as a consolidation of investments to render dividends more consistently fruitful and give clients a clearer view of exactly what their holdings are.

Protection refers to the insurance cover we expertly tailor to our clients’ needs. Such cover is vital to financial wellbeing, security and future prosperity. It underpins everything.

Astute will never lazily apply one-size-fits-all cover – for every client, there are bespoke solutions. By spending time researching your circumstances and needs, we are able to identify the type of protection that works best for you. Protection is not legally mandatory. It is, however, an essential of sound financial planning.

The type of Protection required varies according to those circumstances and needs. It could surround assets such as a house or car, or concern the provision of regular income in the event of illness or death. This latter example is known as Income Protection.

Income Protection is central to much of our work. It is a critically-neglected area of insurance, which is understandable; earning a living during a major illness, or replacing the income provided by a loved one should they pass away, is not something we wish to contemplate. That is where Astute step in, tailoring the features and benefits of Income Protection to formulate a plan that meets your needs.

The idea of retirement can be daunting and exciting. It is sometimes both within the space of a minute. Though the work we put in is sophisticated, our approach to helping plan your retirement is simple: we ask where you would like to be, and work out how to get you there.

First, Astute study your current financial situation with a health check on savings and pensions. We then provide a calculation of what you need to do and save in order to achieve the retirement you desire. The measures we recommend will help ensure that you have the capital to fund the future lifestyle you would like.

Or, you may be a little further down the line, with your retirement revenues already in place. If so, we will recommend changes that can help fund the lifestyle you aspire to, not least through a pensions and savings review.
In both cases, Astute will also examine which forms of Protection (seeProtection in menu) may be beneficial.

If you have become aware that your estate is liable to Inheritance Tax, it may seem that there is little you can do to lessen its effects. Astute can show you otherwise.

We are able to advise on any mitigating moves you could make. For example, solutions may include Will-writing, regular gifting or Trust planning.