We specialise in working with a select number of families who typically fall into one of two brackets: business owners, or senior executives who are close to or at retirement. That being said, we have professional relationships across the industry, so if you are unsure whether you fit into those brackets, please get in touch and we should be able to help you.

We find we add the most value to business owners or those thinking about retirement with pensions and investments over £1 million, typically over the age of 50. With wealth comes complexity, and thoughtful financial planning can make all of the difference.

That being said, even if we don’t believe we can add value to you, we can always point you in the right direction so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a conversation.

Yes. We currently work with families from London to Shetland and everywhere in between. Part of being so selective with the families we work with means we have the flexibility to work with people all across the country.

Yes, we work with many company directors and self-employed clients. We can help with planning around remuneration, pension contributions, investing surplus profits and preparing for a business exit.

Yes, we work with families who are selling, or have sold, a business and want to plan what comes next. We can help consider tax efficiency and the investment of proceeds, and future tax planning based on your circumstances.

Yes, sadly this is an area we have experience in and we can support you with practical financial steps after a bereavement in a sensitive and structured way. We help our families plan for this inevitability as well to make the process slightly easier when the time comes.

Yes, we often work with business owners, professionals and people approaching or in retirement. Our advice often covers using allowances effectively, planning retirement income and moving money out of a business.

The core areas we advise on include:

• Retirement planning
• Pensions and investment advice
• Tax planning
• Pension consolidation
• Retirement planning
• Personal insurance, including life cover, income protection, and family protection

No, this is not an area we advise on. If this is a burning issue for you, please get in touch and we will be happy to point you in the right direction.

We do not advise on mortgages or equity release. Anything we cannot advise on, we will have somebody we would be happy to pass you on to.

Yes, you can view the value of your investments online through our secure client portal. It also gives you access to key documents and messages in one place.

We charge on a percentage basis. Our ongoing advice fee is 1% per annum on assets up to £2,000,000, and 0.25% per annum on assets above that level. Where we provide advice, we also charge an initial fee of 1%.

We work with families, not individuals, so the tiering is across all the assets that we advise on for your family.

For members of the family who do not require full financial planning, we also have an alternative service where a reduced fee is available.

No.

Commission can be paid to us by some protection providers. We explain this fully in our Terms of Business and will always disclose any commission before you proceed.

We use secure systems and encrypted communications, follow GDPR regulations, and provide a secure client portal for communications and document sharing. Our Privacy Notice explains in full how we handle your data.

There is no single figure that guarantees a comfortable retirement. It depends on the lifestyle you want, when you plan to retire, and the income you will need to support it. We can help you answer these questions and build you a financial plan to demonstrate what this looks like. Finding your ‘enough’ is a crucial part of what we do at Begley Brown.

This is dependent on many factors such as the lifestyle you want in retirement, your current level of assets and any sources of income you may have. We can help you answer this question through the building of a financial plan to demonstrate what retirement could look like at various ages.

Retirement can involve income from several different sources, each with its own tax treatment. The way you draw income from pensions, investments and other assets can therefore make a significant difference to the tax you pay.

Good retirement planning considers your income as a whole and looks at how different sources might work together in a tax-efficient way. The aim is not simply to minimise tax, but to make sure your money is working alongside your wider financial plan.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Taking a lump sum, keeping your pension invested, or using a combination of both can each have a role to play.

The right approach depends on factors such as the income you need, your other assets and income, your plans for the future and how long your money may need to last. Good retirement planning is about understanding your options and making sure your pension fits into the bigger picture.

The amount you can contribute to a pension and receive tax relief on depends on your circumstances, including your earnings and previous pension contributions.

There are limits to how much you can contribute each year while benefiting from tax relief, and some people may be able to use unused allowances from previous years. Pension tax rules can be complex, so it is important to understand how the rules apply to you before making significant contributions. This is an area we are experienced in helping our families with.

In many cases, a pension can be passed on to your family when you die, but the tax treatment depends on factors such as your age at death, the type of pension you have and how benefits are taken.

Your pension can therefore be an important part of your wider estate planning. It is worth understanding the options available and making sure your beneficiaries and wishes are properly recorded. Pension assets do not fall under typical Will provisions, so it is important to make your pension provider aware of your wishes. The rules can be complex and are subject to change, so the position should be reviewed as part of your wider financial plan.

Not necessarily. Taking your tax-free cash can be an attractive option, but there is no requirement to take it simply because it is available.

Whether you take it, when you take it and what you do with it can all affect your future retirement income and the tax you pay. It therefore needs to be considered alongside your wider financial position and plans for retirement.

One key point to review this is approaching age 75. If you still have tax-free cash available and you are approaching age 75, we would recommend speaking with a professional.

Making your money last in retirement is about balancing the income you need today with the needs of your future self.

It involves considering how much you can sustainably spend, where your income will come from, how your investments are structured and how your plans may need to change over time. A good financial plan helps you understand how long your money could last and gives you a framework for making decisions as your circumstances change.

There is not one answer that works for everyone. The most tax-efficient approach depends on the size and nature of your wealth, your circumstances, when you want to pass it on and how much control you want to retain.

There are a range of options to consider, including gifting during your lifetime, using trusts and making the most of available allowances and exemptions. Good estate planning is about finding the right balance between tax efficiency, control and flexibility, while making sure your wealth is passed on in the way you intend.

It depends on the value of your estate, what you own, who you leave it to and the gifts you may have made during your lifetime.

Inheritance Tax is not simply a case of applying a single rate to everything you own. Allowances, exemptions and reliefs can all affect the amount ultimately payable. Understanding the potential liability is an important part of estate planning – and can help you consider whether there are steps you could take during your lifetime to reduce it.

There is no single answer. The most tax-efficient approach depends on your personal circumstances, the structure of your business and what you want the money to achieve.

Salary, dividends, pension contributions and retaining profits within the business can all have different tax implications. The decision should also consider your personal spending needs, your plans for the business and your longer-term financial goals. The key is to look at your business and personal finances together, rather than making decisions in isolation.

Selling a business can create a significant change in your financial position – and often raises more questions than it answers. This is where working with a good financial planner before you sell your business can add significant value.

The proceeds may need to fund your lifestyle, provide for your family, support future plans or simply give you greater financial freedom. There may also be tax considerations around the sale and how the proceeds are subsequently held.

By having a plan already in place, nothing needs to feel rushed and there is no need for the time following a sale to feel stressful. At the end of the day, you have possibly just realised a full life’s work – now should be the time to relax and enjoy yourself, not worry about what to do next.

We will tell you. We build our plans based on conservative investment assumptions and, by regularly reviewing the plan, we can determine whether your investments are performing well enough to meet your objectives.

Investment performance should not be judged simply by whether your portfolio has gone up or down. A good investment strategy should have a clear purpose – not simply aim to generate the highest possible return.

For many people, their ability to earn an income is one of their most valuable financial assets. If illness or injury meant you could not work, the impact could extend well beyond your monthly income.

There are different ways to protect against this, including income protection and other forms of personal protection. The right approach depends on your circumstances, existing benefits and how much financial resilience you have. Good financial planning means considering what would happen if your income suddenly stopped – before you need to find out.

Having several old pensions can make it difficult to see the bigger picture. Different schemes may have different charges, investment options, benefits and rules, so they should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.

Consolidating pensions can sometimes make things simpler, but there can also be good reasons to leave a pension where it is. The first step is to understand what you already have and how each pension fits into your overall retirement plan before deciding whether to make any changes. This is an area we have plenty of experience in.

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there can be a difference in approach.

A financial adviser may focus on specific financial decisions, such as pensions, investments or protection. A financial planner typically starts with the bigger picture – understanding what you want your money to achieve, then building a plan around your goals, circumstances and priorities.

Neither is automatically better. The important thing is finding the right professional for what you are trying to achieve and making sure they are appropriately qualified and regulated for the services they provide. We believe there is significant value in financial planning as it provides a purpose for all other advice.

Trust is important when choosing someone to help with your finances. Start by checking that they are appropriately qualified and authorised by the FCA, and understand how they are paid and the services they provide. Beyond that, certifications such as being Chartered or Accredited tend to provide a good indication of the level of professionalism within a firm.

Beyond the credentials, look for someone who takes the time to understand you, your goals and what matters to you, rather than simply focusing on financial products. A good relationship should feel like a partnership – you should feel comfortable asking questions, understand why recommendations are being made and know that your interests are at the heart of the relationship.

Market falls can be unsettling, particularly when you are seeing the value of your investments move significantly. But reacting to short-term market movements can sometimes mean losing sight of your longer-term objectives.

The right level of investment risk depends on your circumstances, goals, timescale and how much volatility you can reasonably tolerate. Rather than asking ‘Should I move my money?’, it can be more useful to ask ‘Has anything changed in my financial plan that means my investment strategy should change?’

Protecting your family starts with understanding what financial impact your death or serious illness could have on them.

This might include considering life insurance, existing pension and employer benefits, your savings and investments, and how your wider estate is structured. It is also important to make sure your wishes are properly documented and that the right people know where to find the relevant information. Good financial planning is about making sure the people who matter to you are financially protected, whatever happens in the future.

You do not necessarily need a financial planner. If your finances are straightforward and you are comfortable managing them yourself, there is nothing wrong with taking that approach.
Where a financial planner can add value is when your financial life becomes more complex – perhaps through business ownership, multiple pensions and investments, retirement planning or estate planning.

Working with a financial planner is not about having someone to answer all of your questions. Working with a financial planner is about having someone to ask you all the questions you might have failed to consider.

Ultimately, it is about whether you have the time, knowledge and confidence to make the right decisions yourself. A good financial planner should add value beyond simply managing your money.