FAQs

Find answers to our most commonly asked questions here.

Choosing a financial adviser is an important decision, so it is natural to have questions. These FAQs are here to give you clear, straightforward answers about Lifetime, how we work, and what you can expect from us.

Do you offer independent financial advice?

Yes, we offer holistic independent financial advice. Our advice is tailored to your circumstances, goals and plans for the future.

Does the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulate you?

Yes, we are regulated by the FCA through our network, Best Practice IFA Group. This means we work within the standards and rules set by the regulator.

Can I choose between meeting in person or on a video call?

Yes, you can choose the type of meeting that suits you best. We offer face-to-face meetings in our offices, at your home, or remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Where are face-to-face meetings held?

Face-to-face meetings can take place at our offices in Crawley or Horsham, or in your own home. We will always try to meet in a way that works best for you.

Do you have parking at your office?

Yes, we have free onsite parking for visitors at Regus House, 3 Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9LU, and at Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurst Wood Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4QP making your visit as straightforward and convenient as possible.

How long has Lifetime Financial Management & Planning been providing financial advice?

Lifetime was originally established in 1992 and has looked after many of its clients for over 30 years.

Where are you based and do you work with clients outside your local area?

We are based in Mid-Sussex and currently support clients locally in Horsham, Haywards Heath, Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Chichester, Guildford, and Royal Tunbridge Wells. However, we also work with a number of clients throughout the UK.

Are your planners Chartered or Certified?

Mark and Matt are both diploma qualified advisers with a combined experience of over 40 years. Matt is also a long term care specialist and is currently working towards achieving his Chartered status.

Do you have any client reviews or written/video testimonials, and where can I view them?

We have recently started requesting clients to leave Google Reviews. We also conduct an internal survey with all our clients after their annual review to ensure ongoing satisfaction.

What makes your firm different from other financial planners?

We are an intergenerational financial planning business for intergenerational families and, as a family-run business ourselves, we are well placed to provide our clients with the independent, bespoke financial planning they require.

What is your FCA registration number?

Our FCA registration number is 1028376. You can use this to check our details on the FCA Register.

What are the key cities, towns and areas you work with clients in?

We work with clients in Crawley and Horsham as well as the surrounding areas of Horley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Rustington, East Preston, Chichester, Guildford, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Wimbledon.

Can you advise on mortgages?

No, we do not advise on mortgages directly. Instead, we work with selected partners so our clients can access specialist mortgage advice.

Can you advise on equity release?

No, we do not advise on equity release directly. We work with selected partners to help make sure you receive the best advice in this area.

Can you advise on personal pensions?

Yes, we regularly provide advice on personal pensions. We can help you understand your options and how they fit into your wider financial plan.

Can you advise on occupational pensions?

Yes, we regularly provide advice on occupational pensions. We will help you review what you already have and understand your next steps.

Can you help me consolidate multiple pensions?

Yes, we regularly advise on pension consolidation. We can help you review your existing pensions and consider whether bringing them together is right for you.

Can you help me take my pension tax-efficiently?

Yes, we can help you access your pension in the most tax-efficient way possible. No one wants to pay more tax than they need to, so tax efficiency is always an important part of our advice.

Can you help with ethical or sustainable investing?

Yes, we have access to the whole of the market for investments. That means we can help you select an ethical or sustainable investment portfolio that is suitable for you.

Can you help me invest an inheritance I have received?

Yes, we help many clients who have received an inheritance. As an intergenerational business, we are experienced in helping families make the most of inherited wealth and plan for the future.

Can you advise on self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)?

Yes, we regularly provide advice on self-invested personal pensions. We can help you understand whether a SIPP is suitable as part of your wider retirement planning.

Can you advise on final salary or defined benefit transfers?

No, we do not advise on final salary or defined benefit transfers. We work with selected partners to make sure clients receive specialist advice in this area.

Do you offer advice on long-term care or later-life planning?

Yes, we do. Matt is a long-term care specialist and would be pleased to help with your long-term care planning needs.

Can you help with Inheritance Tax planning or estate planning?

Yes, we help many clients plan how to pass on wealth to future generations. Whether that involves gifting during your lifetime or making use of available allowances, trusts or specialist investments, we aim to help you pass on as much wealth as possible.

Can you advise on investments such as ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts)?

Yes, we regularly provide investment advice, including advice on ISAs. We can help you understand how these fit into your overall financial planning.

Can you advise on protection such as life insurance, critical illness cover and income replacement?

Yes, we regularly provide protection advice. We can help you put the right cover in place to protect your finances and your family’s future.

How can I book an initial meeting?

You can book an initial meeting by using the contact form at the bottom of our website, clicking the Contact Us button, or using the email address or telephone number provided. We aim to make it easy for you to get in touch in the way that suits you.

Do I have to pay for an initial meeting?

No, your initial meeting is free. It is also free to complete our onboarding process. We only start chargeable work once we have gathered the information we need and have your consent to proceed.

What do I need to bring to an initial meeting?

Please just bring yourself and be ready to talk openly about your finances and your plans for the future. A recent payslip, if employed, and any information you have about existing plans or policies, is always helpful, but we can gather that later if needed.

What happens in the first meeting?

In the first meeting, we will talk about what has prompted you to seek advice and what you hope to achieve from the process. We will also discuss where you would like to be in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years and beyond, along with any existing plans, policies and other relevant financial information.

How long should I allow for an initial meeting?

We would usually allow 30 minutes for an initial call. A follow-up meeting, once you have completed the onboarding process, would typically take around an hour.

Do I have to sign up to your services at an initial meeting?

No, there is never any pressure to sign our Service Charter at the first meeting. You are always free to go away, reflect and make decisions in your own time.

What happens if my financial planner is away on holiday?

Mark and Matt are never away at the same time and cover for each other when needed. Our support team is also available 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

How often will I hear from my financial planner?

You will have at least one review meeting each year. We will also contact you at other points during the year about important financial matters and send a monthly newsletter as well as other key updates when needed.

Do you offer cashflow forecasting/planning as part of your service?

Yes, we complete cashflow modelling for all of our clients. It forms an important part of the planning process and helps us build a clearer picture of your future.

What happens if my circumstances change?

Just let us know. Life changes, and we are always happy to review your financial plan to make sure it remains suitable for your circumstances.

Can you work alongside my accountant or solicitor?

Absolutely. We are always pleased to work with your other professional advisers to help make things as easy as possible for you.

Can you coordinate with my mortgage adviser if they need information from you?

Yes, we are happy to share information with your mortgage adviser if needed.

What happens if my planner leaves the firm?

As Mark and Matt are the owners and partners in the firm, we are unlikely to be going anywhere. This gives clients continuity and reassurance over the long term.

Can I see an example of a financial plan?

Yes, absolutely. We would be happy to share example reports with you so you can see how our advice is presented.

Will I be able to see the value of my investments online?

Yes, you will be able to view your investments online through our client portal, the Wealth Platform. You can also use it to see your personal financial information in one place.

Do you provide an online portal for clients to view their investments?

Yes, we do. Our client portal, the Wealth Platform, allows you to view your investments and your personal financial information securely online.

How often will I meet with my planner?

We will meet at least once a year. However, you are not restricted to a set number of meetings, so if you need to speak to us or see us, just get in touch.

Do you offer a free initial consultation?

Yes, we do. It is also free to complete our onboarding process. We only start chargeable work once we have gathered the information we need and have your consent to proceed.

How do you charge for financial advice?

We charge a holistic financial planning review fee of £1,000 to carry out a detailed analysis of your current financial situation, your existing plans and policies, and your cashflow forecasting.

If you decide to progress to the next stage, we will then typically charge £400 to £850 for a suitability letter.

Finally, if you proceed with our recommendations, we charge the greater of the combined financial planning review fee and suitability letter fee or, a 1% implementation fee calculated on the amount invested. This is typically deducted from the recommended plan.

What is your minimum fee?

We do not have a formal minimum fee. However, for a brand-new client with very basic planning needs, the likely cost would be £1,400.

What do you typically charge for a financial plan?

We typically charge £1,000 for a financial plan. This forms part of our detailed review of your current position and future plans.

Do you charge fixed fees or a percentage of my investments?

Our initial fees are a mix of fixed fees and a percentage of your investments, capped at £25,000.

For ongoing advice, we charge a flat 1% per annum of assets under management, capped at £15,000 per annum.

Do you get commission?

For investment advice, we do not receive commission. Protection providers still remunerate advisers through commission.

Do you charge VAT?

Typically, no. There are some ad hoc pieces of work that may be subject to VAT, but in our experience, this is very rare.

How do I know if your fees are competitive?

We aim to be as transparent as possible about our charges. Our fees are designed to be fair and reflective of the work we do and the service we provide.

How do your fees compare to other planners?

We are not the cheapest, and we are not the most expensive. We believe our fees are fair, reflect the work involved, and represent the level of service we provide.

How can I find your fees?

Our fees are published on our website. We have also made our Service Charter available to download, which includes our full fee menu and example charges.

Can you help me retire early?

Yes, absolutely. We love helping clients retire sooner than they first thought possible.

Can you help me plan my retirement?

Yes. Many of our clients are retirees or people approaching retirement and we help them plan the transition from work into retirement.

What type of clients do you typically work with?

We typically work with wealthy individuals, high earners, families interested in intergenerational wealth planning, and business owners. Our advice is always tailored to your personal circumstances.

Do you work with younger clients who are still building wealth?

Yes, we do. Matt is one of the very few planners in the UK aged under 30, and he has a keen interest in helping younger people build wealth without seeing a lack of large assets as a barrier to financial planning.

Do you work with company directors or self-employed clients?

Yes, we work with many self-employed clients and company directors. As self-employed partners ourselves, we understand the needs of business owners and directors.

Do you work with clients approaching retirement or already retired?

Yes. Many of our clients come to us as they approach retirement or shortly after they have retired.

Can you help clients who have inherited money?

Yes. We help many clients who have recently inherited money and want support in planning their next steps.

Can you help clients who have sold, or are in the process of selling, a business?

Yes, we can. We have helped many business owners exit their businesses successfully and plan for the next chapter of their lives.

Can you help clients manage their finances after a bereavement?

Yes, we have helped many clients through difficult periods after losing a loved one. We understand that this can be an emotional and uncertain time, and we aim to provide clear support when it is needed most.

Do you specialise in working with business owners, retirees, or professionals?

We work with everyone. We enjoy working with people from all kinds of backgrounds and at different stages of life.

Do you offer financial advice for expats or non-UK residents?

Yes, However, clients must be physically in the UK when receiving advice.

Can you help if I already have existing investments or pensions elsewhere?

Yes, absolutely. We always begin by reviewing your existing plans and investments so we can understand what you already have and help you consider your options from there.

Is there a minimum amount of investable assets or income I need to become a client?

No, there is not, because we believe financial planning is for all.

Are my investments protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)?

Yes, all UK-based investment recommendations will be covered by the FSCS. This gives you an added layer of protection where the scheme applies.

What happens if something goes wrong or I have a complaint?

We would always ask that you contact us first so we can try to put things right. If you do wish to make a complaint, our complaints procedure can be found here and at the bottom of our website.

How do you keep my personal data secure?

We work with selected software providers to make sure we use a high level of encryption and protection when handling your data. Keeping your information safe at all times is very important to us.

Are you insured to give financial advice?

Yes, we have suitable protection in place to provide financial advice in the UK. This forms part of the safeguards around the advice we deliver.

How can I check your FCA registration and authorisation?

You can check our registration and authorisation on the FCA Register using our registration number 1028376. This allows you to verify our details independently.

How do you measure client satisfaction?

We survey all clients after each annual review and also collect Google Reviews. This helps us understand client feedback and build social proof of the work we do.