Clear Future Financial Planners - Stonehouse

Sue Edwards

We have been well supported by Clear Future Financial Planners for many years now.

Our confidence in them means that we can leave our pension and ISA investments alone knowing that they are being well looked after.

At annual review meetings we spend time discussing our goals and retirement planning and together we look at how we are working towards this. A visual tool to model it all, good questions and a sense of perspective enable us step out of our day to day to think differently and make decisions.

We will continue working with Simon, Michelle and the team in years to come.

Daniel Allin

We have been using Simon and more recently the rest of the team for over 6 years now to look after both our private pensions and ISAs. From the start the advice we have received has always been clearly explained, tailored to our personal circumstances and well considered. The team at Clear Future takes the time to understand our current financial position, priorities in life and longer term goals to provide sound advice and reasoning.

The scenario modelling they use during planning sessions along with clear and simple explanations allow us to visually see and discuss the future impact of decisions we’re making now and consider whether we’re taking the right approach to saving vs. living life! This provides significant reassurance to what can otherwise feel like big, difficult decisions.

The team are super friendly, responsive and easy to deal with, always happy to flex and work around our schedules. If you’re thinking about getting some (financial!) advice, I can highly recommend them.

P-j Charters

We have found the team at Clear Future Financial Planners to be everything that we would want our financial advisors to be. Simon, Michelle and Serena are excellent. From the start they have been collaborative with attention to our financial needs within the context of our circumstances. They never take our understanding for granted and are prepared to explain everything that may not be clear to us – they are very patient.

We have been impressed by the rapidity by which they have responded to our requests. Following every face-to-face meeting they write a clear summary of the discussions that we have had and a detailed plan of the actions we have agreed that they are going to take forward on our behalf.

We have a strong ethical and sustainable bias to our investing and they have responded with a strategy that meets our values and principles. We have never felt “shoehorned” into decisions that we feel uncertain or unclear about. We believe that they act on our behalf with the highest-level of integrity whilst being friendly, personable and engaging.

We would thoroughly recommend their services.

Richard Barley

We have used Simon and the team now since he took over full responsibility from IFPL and he manages a varied portfolio of assets on our behalf.

We are delighted with the service his knowledge and expertise gives us. The breadth of understanding he has, in a world which can confuse investors at times, helps to keep our confidence high. He is happy to be challenged when the investments are going through difficult times but very balanced and reassuring in his advice and outlook. He is always on top of the detail of our varied investments and regular communication is offered throughout the year. I have seen a definite improvement in formal and informal comms over the past few years.

The services are quite specialised in terms of taking longer term views and he makes this very clear. In our case having longer term investments have been well rewarded especially with our children.

I can thoroughly recommend the services on offer and would have no hesitation in suggesting an initial session with him and his team if you are thinking of securing a financial foothold going forward.

D LP

We have Joined Clear Future after trying a few financial planners and advisors and by far this was the most transparent and clearer communication we came across alongside the personal touch and bespoke approach, really pleased and highly recommending.

Thank you Simon, Michelle and Serena!

Alex Reed

It has taken some time to process my experience with Clear Future and having taken time to reflect I feel that this score is fair.

Having been through a consultation process (which was professional) a stocks and shares ISA was created and a plan to drip feed existing savings. Whilst the plan seemed sensible to start with, the reality is that after years of investment, the fund represented a 5.9% loss.

I am of course aware of the risks of investing and that a return is not guaranteed, plus this was well communicated during the set up.

My 2 key issues;
1) I don't believe the funds are reviewed with sufficient frequency. When reviewing the portfolio of funds that had been invested in, some were making sustained, persistent losses. Look at the 5 year growth for the FTSE 100 and 250, they have progressively grown whilst the Clear Futures choice of investment have not.
2) Communication. During the set up, the communication was very good. However, as soon as I was raising issues with the ISA, there was very little. Upon writing to request that my account be closed and outlining where the service/product had fallen short, I didn't even receive a response other than saying it will be closed. No apology for losing a customers money?

Whilst the company has received plenty of 5 star reviews, this was not my experience.

Paul Harrison

Simon and the team offer a professional and personal financial advice service. A lot of time is spent understanding our needs and then presenting recommendations that suit our circumstances. The team are proactive in contacting us and re-evaluating our needs on a regular basis both via the online portal and, at least one, annual face-to-face meeting. The cash flow projections are particularly useful and all questions are answered thoroughly. The whole team provides a friendly, professional and bespoke service. If you need to get your pensions sorted out, and organised, then contact them with confidence.

Margaret Chadwick

Three people recommended Geoff and Simon to me when I needed advice about pension funds. Everything was clearly explained and written down for me and two pensions were merged into one fund. Simon is always available to give advice and to address any concerns and I receive regular updates. The team are friendly, approachable and straightforward.