About Mike Barrett
My role as a financial adviser is to help you to meet your financial goals, ensuring that the advice I give you is tailored specifically for your needs. I’ll work with you to understand your current position, and then to create short, medium and long-term strategies to protect and grow your money.
My aim is to offer you a thoroughly professional, highly individual service that puts you in a more advantageous financial position, both now and in the future. Quite simply, I want to make sure you have the greatest amount of wealth available to you, when you need it most.
To learn more about how I can help you please call me now.
The reassurance you need
Positive Solutions opened its doors for business in 1997 and is one of the UK’s leading financial advice firms. Founded on the vision that too many consumers weren’t receiving the financial service or level of choice they deserved, it grew rapidly by teaming up with like- minded finance professionals who wanted to be part of a progressive company and only provide the highest standards of advice.
This ongoing success story, and a shared belief in delivering great customer solutions, led to Positive Solutions being acquired by Quilter Financial Planning in 2013. Quilter Financial Planning, part of Quilter, is one of the leading distributors of financial advice services in the UK with more than 3,300 advisers looking after the interests of customers nationwide.
Where I can help you
Your financial situation is unique and so are my services. The approach I take is simple:
- I find out all about you
- I understand your goals
- I get to know your appetite for risk
I then use all the tools and expert knowledge at my disposal to offer you relevant solutions.
Only then can you make an informed choice.
My services are comprehensive too, which means I can offer professional advice across each of the stages of your financial life.
Pensions
When you retire you still need food and shelter as an absolute minimum, but of course you will want to maintain the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed, so unless you can guarantee a large inheritance or windfall, then you need to provide yourself with a secure income for the rest of your life.
A well prepared pension plan which is regularly reviewed should go some way to providing you with a reasonable level of income in your retirement. It requires action as soon as possible, so start now - and if you have already started, take the opportunity to have a closer look at your existing arrangements to make sure you are on track.
Savings & Investments
When someone talks about savings and saving money, they could be referring to a piggy bank on the mantelpiece or a high interest deposit account. Savings are effectively cash or cash instruments, for example, deposit accounts or term bonds.
Investing is what you can do with the savings you have created - if you are looking to generate a return on your money that is greater than what is already available to you through your savings instruments.
Financial Planning
Professional Financial Planning is the process which aims to help you realise your ambitions - whatever they may be. As professional financial advisers we can help you make informed decisions about your financial future - short, medium and long term.
You will almost certainly have plans of one kind or another - buying a home, starting a family, living abroad, perhaps retiring, but such ambitions have financial implications and you can't leave it all to chance. Careful planning aims to help turn your plans into reality and the sooner you start your financial planning the greater your chance of realising your goals.
Wealth Management
Wealth, just like your health, must be carefully preserved. Your assets need to be protected against the potential threats of erosion by taxation, the effects of inflation and investment risks.
Whatever your level of wealth, there is nothing wrong in making the decision to prepare a risk aversion strategy. Risk aversion is a reasonable and prudent strategy for anyone who is sure that they already have ample to provide for themselves and their family into the future.
Taxation
Most of us face being taxed on our income, our capital gains, and in some circumstances the value of our estate when we die.
Taxation can be very complicated and the rules, reliefs and allowances often change, so it is worth obtaining a clear grasp of how these taxes work by discussing with a professional adviser the most efficient way to arrange your finances.
Life Assurance
The main purpose of Life Assurance is to provide money for those people who may depend on you financially, in the event that something should happen to you. These people could include family members or business partners.
It can provide the reassurance of financial protection for you, your family and your business associates.
Health Insurance
I am an introducer of this business
Health Insurance is probably one of the most important types of insurance you can own. Without it, an illness or accident can have serious long-term financial implications for you and your family.
Most people will be aware that Health Insurance can cover the cost of private medical treatment for any acute conditions you may suffer in the future. However, there are a number of other types of health-related insurance policies which are worthy of serious consideration including critical illness and income protection cover.
Business Insurance
All businesses are exposed to risks in their day-to-day operations. Without insurance cover to provide protection against some of these risks, businesses would find it difficult to operate efficiently and profitably.
All businesses that employ at least one person are legally required to have Employer’s Liability Insurance.
Adequate insurance is therefore not a luxury - it is an absolute necessity.
Equity Release
If you're over the age of 55, equity release offers you a way to use the value of your home to raise money.
There is a range of equity release schemes available on the market offered by reputable equity release providers, and they fall into two main categories, Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.
These services are by referral only.
General Insurance
This is an area of financial planning that is often overlooked but it is important for your peace of mind.
It enables you to minimise the effects of unexpected and often unwelcome future events, and helps you to organise your personal and business life with greater confidence.
These services are by referral only.
Mortgages
Your mortgage is probably the largest financial transaction and commitment you are likely to undertake. Surely then you should seek mortgage advice which is individually tailored to your needs and requirements?
We are not tied to any particular lender, which means that we have the ability to act on your behalf in order to establish the most appropriate mortgage solution for you.
These services are by referral only.
How we work
OUR PLAN FOR YOU
Here's how we formulate the plan towards Your Goals
Many people have goals and dreams, but a goal without a plan is just a wish... an achievable goal is a dream with a deadline.
1: About You
We meet together to discuss your personal circumstances and your current financial situation. I'll go into detail so that I can draw up a complete picture of where you are now, and where you want to arrive. I'll ask about you, your occupation, your savings & investments, your mortgage, your current liabilities and your tax position, and I'll explain how all of this information builds a profile which will help me to formulate my financial plan.
2: Your Goals & Ambitions
Next we discuss your objectives and your aspirations, as well as any concerns that may arise. We’ll discuss risk and reward and capacity for loss which together will result in determining your attitude towards investment risk, as this feedback from you will enable me to construct an investment portfolio which is a major part of the plan. You'll see as we move forward in our discussions how all this fits into place in your personal plan and agree the likely cost for my financial advice.
3: Analysis
I'll discuss with you my analysis of your current financial position, and outline my initial thoughts for the plan. I'll present my recommendations and actions required for you to potentially achieve your goals.
4: How to get there
So now I know where you are and where you want to be. In this phase I present your Personal Financial Plan which maps out the journey to your destination, and I establish the most suitable and most time efficient route to potentially get you there. I discuss with you your current income and expenditure, your assets and liabilities, and how your existing finances can be utilised towards the achievement of your financial goals. Your Personal Financial Plan will also agree the cost of achieving your objectives, and now I ask your approval and confirmation of the plan.
5: Implementation
It's time to implement the plan. Every course of action I have recommended and agreed with you is now put into motion.
6: Review the Plan & Progress Updates
If required, review dates will be agreed and can take place annually or more regularly if required or requested, ongoing fees will be agreed as to which service level is required. The purpose of regular monitoring of your Personal Financial Plan is to enable you to clearly see progress towards reaching your financial goals, and for me to make any course adjustments that may be required. Working closely with you I will explain overall how the plan is going and agree with you any modifications to keep it on track towards the achievement of your goals.
