What is Financial Planning and How Can It Help You?
Financial planning is about taking control of your money to help you achieve the life you want. It’s not just about figures; it’s about understanding your goals, preparing for the future, and making the most of what you have today. At Bloomfield Financial, based in Houghton le Spring, we specialise in helping individuals and families at all stages of life create tailored financial plans that work for them.
Whether you’re saving for a home, planning for retirement, or simply wanting to get a better grip on your finances, financial planning can make a real difference. Our process is designed to put you in the driving seat while providing expert guidance to ensure you’re on the right path.
Is Financial Planning For People Like You?
No matter where you are in life, a good financial plan can give you clarity and confidence about your financial future. Here’s how financial planning can help:
- Starting Out: If you’re in your 20s or 30s, financial planning can help you manage debt, start saving for a home, or build a solid emergency fund. It’s the perfect time to start developing good habits that will benefit you for years to come.
- Building Your Future: In your 40s and 50s, financial planning focuses on growing your wealth, managing investments, and ensuring your family’s future is secure. It’s also a time to start seriously planning for retirement and considering tax-efficient ways to save.
- Enjoying Retirement: When you’ve worked hard all your life, you want to enjoy your retirement without worrying about money. Financial planning can ensure your pension, savings, and investments work together to give you the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of.
- Preparing for Life’s Surprises: Life can throw the odd curveball, but with a solid financial plan, you’ll be better prepared to handle unexpected expenses, career changes, or family needs.
How We Work With You
At Bloomfield Financial, we know life can be busy, which is why we offer flexibility in how we meet. You’re welcome to visit our offices in Houghton le Spring, where you’ll be greeted with a warm North East welcome. If it’s more convenient, we can also meet virtually via video call. Whichever option you choose, you’ll get the same friendly, professional service.
Our financial planning process is designed to make things as simple and clear as possible. We take the time to get to know you, your financial situation, and what matters most to you. Together, we’ll create a plan tailored to your goals.
Your First Meeting is Free and Without Obligation
We understand that talking about money can feel daunting, but our first meeting is always 100% free. It’s a no-obligation chance for you to find out how we can help and for us to understand your needs. Whether you decide to take things further or not, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of your financial options.
After that initial meeting you’ll know for certain if we can help and exactly what the cost will be, though we do detail that down below in the FAQs too.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can schedule your first appointment directly in the FAQs below. It’s quick and easy, and we’d love to help you get started on your financial planning journey.
Transparent Costs and Regulatory Information
We believe in being upfront about everything, including our fees. In the FAQs below, you’ll find full details of our costs so you know exactly what to expect. You’ll also find information about our regulatory status and how we ensure your financial advice meets the highest standards.
Financial Planning or Financial Advice?... Probably both
Wondering about the difference between financial planning and financial advice? We’ve got a whole page explaining this in detail. Visit Our Process to learn how we work and why combining financial planning with targeted advice can deliver the best results.
Local Or Remote Whatever Works For You
We’re proud to be part of the North East community, based in Houghton le Spring situated in the centre of a triangle with Sunderland, Durham and Newcastle Upon Tyne at it’s points, just off the A690 within easy reach of the A19 & A1. But in the modern world we work with clients from all over the UK using video meeting and conferencing software.
Whether it’s helping you understand your pension, navigate investments, or plan for the future, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Take Control of Your Finances Today Financial planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the savvy — it’s for anyone who wants to feel more confident about their financial future. Schedule your free consultation today using the link in the FAQs below, and let’s start planning for the life you want. Whether you meet us in person or online, we’re ready to help.
FAQs, Appointment Booking, Legal Bits, Costs Etc.
You can Book Your Meeting Online!
Whose Products & What Services Do We Offer?
A holistic financial plan is not based around products but rather takes a big picture view of your finances to establish where you are, where you want to be and what you need to do to get there.
A holistic financial plan is the most in-depth service that we offer. When we construct for you a holistic financial plan it will take into account cash flow throughout your life including retirement, what-if scenarios all based around your aspirations and personal priorities. We will look at all areas of your finance’s constructing a long term plan for you and optimising any areas of your finances that require adjustment.
Your plan won’t make specific product recommendations but rather changes you should make. The plan may recommend that you consider also having one or more of the focused advice services detailed in this document, e.g. analysis of existing pension plans etc. The additional focused advice and analysis services would be charged separately however we would discount the bill for focused advice services that are triggered by the holistic report, as detailed below.
What Will You Have To Pay For This Service?
Initial Charge
Your first holistic financial plan will have a fixed fee of £1,500. Any product-specific advice that you decide to take because of issues identified in your Holistic Financial Plan will be charged at the appropriate rate for that service as outlined later in this document.
Any additional focused advice and analysis services that are triggered by the holistic report will be discounted by £750 or the full bill whichever is the smaller. (This discount excludes any commission-based products).
The price is the same whether you have taken this service as an individual or a couple, and we strongly recommend that if you are part of a couple you both participate.
Plan Updates
There is no ‘ongoing service’ for holistic financial plans, however, we recommend that your plan is reviewed at regular intervals, brought up to date and adjustments made. The charge for a plan update is £500. Plan updates must be made less than 2 years from the original plan or a new initial charge will be incurred instead.
If however you are receiving and paying for ongoing service for pensions or investments the plan update fee will be waived.
When & How You Will You Have To Pay For This Service?
We encourage you to come in for an initial meeting for which you will not be charged where we can explain all our services. If you then decide that holistic financial planning is the right thing for you we will then issue you a fee agreement to be signed before the process begins.
Payments can be made via:
- Bank Transfer
- Cheque
- Direct Debit
- Credit / Debit Card