What to Expect?

Every client journey is unique, and we are here to make the process as simple as possible.

Most client contact starts with a phone call, usually with our Practice Manager. This gives you the opportunity to explain what you need and any concerns you may have, while giving us the opportunity to be sure we can add value to your situation.

The next step would be to meet with our adviser – this meeting is at no cost to you.

1. Discovery Meeting

An informal meeting with our adviser, at the Ashlea offices, allows us to find out a little more about each other and ensure that our services are a good fit for the advice you need. This is your opportunity to discuss your needs and objectives and to ask any questions you might have. Our advisers will do their best to help you feel at ease and to understand the way we work, how we can add value and what it might cost. 

After the meeting you will receive detailed meeting notes, highlighting what was discussed and the services we can offer. This includes a personalised, detailed breakdown of fees and charges for you to consider.

2. A Review of Your Finances

Once we have committed to working together, our first piece of work for most new clients is a full Financial Review. We will generate secure and straightforward ways for you to provide the compliance and financial information we need to complete your review. This part can take a little time as we gather all the necessary information to build of picture of you and your financial situation. 

The Financial Review tends to involve an additional meeting to take you through our findings. The resulting report provides a complete picture of your current financial position, develops the discussion on your objectives and recommends next steps. If needed, it will include analysis on your insurance needs, tax solutions, retirement and estate planning.

3. Implementation

Depending on individual circumstances the review may be a standalone piece of work, however most clients continue working with us to implement and manage any recommendations.  This could include, transfer existing investments and/or pensions.

4. Your Ongoing Review

Our ongoing service is designed to give you peace of mind that we are working on your behalf in the background, monitoring your investments and ensuring they are still suitable to meet your goals and objectives. Communication is key and keeping us to up date on any changes allows us to keep things on track.  Your adviser is there for you should you have any questions or concerns throughout the year.

Our Ongoing Service Incorporates a Comprehensive Annual Review.

    • This starts with a Fact Find Questionnaire which allows you to review the information we hold about you, while updating your circumstances and current financial situation.

    • Next you will receive an update on your portfolio, including its performance and fees charged over the past year. 

    • An annual meeting with your adviser, allows for the continuing review of your plan. It also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any changes to your circumstances, or objectives. Detailed meeting notes will highlight any potential adjustments needed to keep things on track.

    • The Annual Review culminates in a comprehensive Report which highlights everything discussed during your review and any adjustments or recommendations made.

Our Fees

Fees are unique to each client’s individual circumstances and are calculated based on various things including the services we have agreed to provide, the complexity involved and the value we feel we can add. 

All fees will be clearly defined by email after the Initial Discovery Meeting, and no work commenced until you feel comfortable to proceed, and have agreed to the pricing structure.

Below are some examples of how our fees maybe applied and adjusted throughout our client’s investment journeys.

  • Mr & Mrs. Smith (George and Jennifer) both in their mid-50s started working with Ashlea a few years ago after realising that they needed help as they approached retirement and wanted more comfort that they could achieve their desired lifestyle after finishing work.

    Discovery Meeting – At our initial meeting we determined that the Smith’s had around £350,000 of invested savings, including a total of six defined contribution pensions and several stocks & shares ISAs.  They also had current workplace pensions, valued at a combined £175,000.  The meeting was followed with detailed meeting notes summarising how we may be able to help.   This meeting was at no cost to the Smiths and with no obligation to continue further should they choose not to.

    Investment Review – On deciding to work with us, our first step for the Smiths was to complete a Comprehensive Financial Review which laid out a potential plan for their retirement, with a recommendation to consolidate their investments under our management for which they agreed to a one-off fixed fee of £1,750.

    Implementation – The Smith’s initial report also included all the forms needed to implement the recommendations with a one-off fee of £1,750 to be charged for the implementation of this work.

    Please note: The total fee of £3,500, for the Investment Review & Implementation was deducted directly from her investments on completion of the consolidation.

    Ongoing – We reassess their plan annually at their Annual Review, which includes a meeting and reporting to making sure that everything is on track and adjusting as needed and receive periodic updates from us on the markets and topical hints and articles.  Our ongoing fee, which is automatically applied to the investments each month, was set initially set as 1%. This equates to £291.67 per month, or £3,500 for a full year, based on the £350,000 of savings.

    Ad-Hoc – Sadly, a few months after joining Ashlea Jennifer lost her aunt, and ended up receiving a £100,000 inheritance that she wanted to invest towards hers and Geroge’s longer-term retirement objectives.  On receipt of the funds, we helped to incorporate the cash into their investments, utilising tax efficient allowances.  There was no upfront fee charged for this and in addition, we adjusted our ongoing fee to 0.90%, which equates to £337.50 per month, or £4,050 for a full year, on the now £450,000 of savings being managed.

    In addition, when Jennier turned 60, we agreed that they were both in a financial position to retire, and after they had left work and the final employer contribution was made, we arranged for their workplace pensions, to be moved alongside their existing investments with Ashlea.   A total one-off charge of £500 for the pension switch advice was applied to the pensions on their receipt and after arranging for the available tax-free cash to be paid, to help fund a Camper Van.  At this point their total investments were worth £700,000 and we adjusted our ongoing fee to 0.65%, which equates to £379.17 per month, or £4,550 for a full year.

  • Mrs. Jones (Alice) approached Ashlea after sadly and unexpectedly losing her husband at age 53.   Mr. Jones had managed all the family finances and as such Alice was feeling overwhelmed and a bit unsure where to start, she was keen to understand how best to manage the savings she had been left with. 

    Discovery Meeting – At our initial meeting in our office in Cheltenham, we determined that Alice had been left with around £500,000 of invested savings, including a defined contribution pension and various stocks & shares ISAs.  She had a current workplace pension, valued at £175,000.  The meeting was followed with detailed meeting notes summarising how we may be able to help.   This meeting was at no cost to Alice and with no obligation to continue further should she choose not to.

    Investment Review – After a detailed review of Alice’s current situation, including a further meeting to discuss her objectives for her investments and any income needs, we recommended consolidating all but her current workplace pension investments under our management, putting a provisional plan in place to invest the savings towards her longer-term objectives for which she agreed to a one-off fixed fee of £1,500.

    Implementation – Alice’s initial report included all the forms needed to implement the recommendations with a one-off fee of £1,500 to be charged for the implementation of this work.

    Please note: The total fee of £3,000, for the Investment Review & Implementation was deducted directly from her investments on completion of the consolidation.

    Ongoing – Alice receives a monthly amount from her investments to help top-up her income, as well as periodic updates from us on the markets and topical hints and articles. We reassess her plan annually at her Annual Review, which includes a meeting and reporting to making sure that everything is on track and adjusting as needed.  Our ongoing fee, which is automatically applied to the investments each month, was set initially as 0.85%. This equates to £354.17 per month, or £4,250 for a full year, based on the £500,000 of savings.

    Ad-Hoc – On turning 55 and after leaving work, we arranged for Alice’s workplace pension, now worth £200,000, to be moved alongside her existing investments with Ashlea. A total one-off charge of £250 for the pension switch advice was applied on its receipt.  At this point, her total investments were worth £700,000 and we adjusted our ongoing fee to 0.65%, which equates to £379.17 per month, or £4,550 for a full year.