Case study: Foundation
Financial planning advice on how best to position your investments to generate an income in retirement.
Meet Emily
Emily is a 32-year-old marketing consultant living in Bristol. She recently transitioned from full-time employment to freelance work and wanted to take control of her financial future. With fluctuating income and limited pension contributions from her previous employer, Emily was unsure how to begin investing and planning for retirement. She approached Crowe Financial Planning for guidance on building a financial strategy that would grow with her career.
Understanding Emily’s needs
During our initial meeting, free of charge and without obligation, we took time to understand Emily’s personal and financial circumstances. She had modest savings, no outstanding debts, and was keen to start investing tax-efficiently. Her goals included:
- building a retirement fund
- making use of her Individual Savings Account (ISA) and pension allowances
- understanding investment risk
- aligning her investments with ethical values.
Emily was clear that she wanted a simple, manageable plan that wouldn’t overwhelm her. She was also interested in learning more about how investments work and how to stay involved in the process. We identified that Emily’s work position was changeable, and we noted a secondary goal of protecting her income.
Our approach
We recommended our Foundation Service, designed for clients seeking a simplified investment solution. This service is ideal for individuals starting their financial planning journey or those with straightforward needs.
Our process included:
gathering detailed information about Emily’s income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities
discussing her goals and risk tolerance
reviewing her existing pension and savings
informing her about investment principles and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors.
gathering detailed information about Emily’s income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities
discussing her goals and risk tolerance
reviewing her existing pension and savings
informing her about investment principles and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors.
This investment solution
After analysing Emily’s financial position and objectives, we recommended an investment strategy using our Centralised Investment Proposition. This included:
- Platform: AJ Bell Investcentre – chosen for its cost-effectiveness, user-friendly interface, and robust reporting tools.
- Investment option: Timeline Model Portfolio Service (MPS) – offers diversified portfolios tailored to different risk levels and investment horizons.
Emily’s risk profile identified that she is a 'medium risk' investor, and we therefore recommended the Timeline ESG 60 portfolio, targeting a 60% weighting in equities. The Timeline ESG MPS is passively managed and rebalances regularly to ensure alignment with market conditions while incorporating sustainability and low-carbon goals into its investment strategy. The equity and bond exposures are selected to replicate global investible markets with an ESG overlay, ensuring that all funds meet sustainability criteria.
Implementation
We prepared a comprehensive suitability report outlining our recommendations, including:
- opening a Stocks & Shares ISA and a Self-Invested Pension Plan (SIPP) via AJ Bell
- allocating funds across the Timeline MPS
- setting up monthly contributions to both accounts
- reviewing her protection needs and ensuring she had adequate income cover.
Emily was involved in every step, from understanding the investment breakdown to selecting ESG-compliant options. We ensured she felt confident and informed before proceeding.
Our fees are transparent and competitive
- Initial Advice Fee: £3,000 for recommendation and implementation.
- Ongoing Adviser Charge: £1,250 per year (minimum charge for Foundation clients).
These fees cover:
- annual review meetings | suitability assessments | investment performance reviews | updates to financial planning based on life changes.
All charges were clearly explained and documented in our client agreement. Emily appreciated the clarity and felt reassured that there were no hidden costs.
Timeline and delivery
Regular communication throughout was maintained with Emily ensuring she felt supported and informed. The entire process from initial meeting to implementation took approximately five weeks:
Outcome
Emily now has a structured financial plan in place, with monthly contributions going into her ISA and pension. She has access to AJ Bell’s platform to monitor her investments and receives quarterly updates from the Timeline MPS team.
She feels empowered to make financial decisions and is excited about building her future wealth. The advice gave her the confidence to start investing and the reassurance that she has a team behind her.
What Emily said
“I never thought financial planning could be this straightforward. Crowe made everything clear and approachable. I feel like I’ve taken a big step towards securing my future.”
Benefits by being actively involved
Peace of mind
The right financial foundations are now in place for Emily, ensuring she is protected should the unexpected occur.
Clarity
With all our clients we ensure our conversations are clear and jargon-free. We provided Emily with a detailed explanation of her financial plan, including how her investments work, what risks are involved, and how her contributions will grow over time.
Informed and empowered
Shared all discussions around investment risk, ESG preferences, and portfolio selection. Helping Emily understand the principles behind investing and ethical screening, we ensured she felt empowered to make informed choices that reflect her values.
Growth
Emily’s plan is designed to generate long-term growth in a tax-efficient manner. Through regular contributions to her Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP, she has a strong foundation for building wealth over time.
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Important informationThe client name and scenario used in this case study are fictitious, but the advice and process reflect a real example of how Crowe Financial Planning supports clients. Please note:
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028 unless the plan has a protected pension age). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits. The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation, which are subject to change. You should seek advice to understand your options at retirement. |