Frankie makes you think about things in a fresh way
The Client
Mum of two Sarah is in her mid-forties and lives in Surrey. She was introduced to Frankie a few years ago by a former work colleague.
Sarah says: “I was interested in investing in a former colleague’s new business, and she suggested I chat to Frankie about it. Frankie is brilliant, she understands investing in companies in the very early stages and explained the risks versus gains and the tax issues.
“We connected straight away. I liked her friendly, approachable but very professional manner. That was just the beginning and now she is helping with all the family finances.”
Sarah’s goals and dreams
Sarah and her husband were financially aware and had some decent investments in place. They had started talking about planning for the future and being more tax efficient and decided they needed a more professional eye over everything.
“I was good at sorting out the basics, but it was more the accessible end of financial planning,” explains Sarah. “I also don’t have a lot of spare time to dedicate to keeping on top of sorting out our finances.
“I found it interesting to go through projections with Frankie and see where we were heading if we stayed with what we had in place, but with some ‘tweaks’ where we could head. I feel we are on a much stronger financial journey now, much better than just plodding along as we were.”
What Sarah has achieved so far
Sarah says the family now has a clearer plan in place and she and her husband feel more comfortable with where they are and where they are heading.
“Frankie’s expertise and experience has brought a very useful insight into things. I like the confidence that comes from someone else talking and explaining in a professional capacity.
“Half of the stuff we are doing now we wouldn’t have thought of or understood before meeting Frankie. She has helped us to choose great products for pensions and other investments – that require much less effort from us but offer much better growth potential.
“Her advice around pensions is very interesting. We had old work pensions that weren’t giving a good return, and she has helped us consolidate and change them to much better products.
“Frankie was very astute, she picked up from our early conversations that I was interested in investing in smaller, new businesses. I’ve now got three VCTs (Venture Capital Trusts) which I really like. I would never have had the courage to invest in these myself. But she explained them so well. We have a bit of capital and I’m not averse to taking some risk, but these are invested in a portfolio of businesses, spreading the risk.
“She has also helped us to plan better for paying for the kids’ private education, which is about to become even more expensive when VAT is added to fees.”
How Sarah feels
“Frankie really listens to you and gets what you want to achieve and then helps you find the best way to do that. She is totally on it, incredibly knowledgeable and makes you think about things in a different way.
“She works with you in a lovely, friendly, non-judgemental way, if you need anything explaining she does that well and doesn’t make you feel inadequate.
“I love her passion for finance and her aim to especially help women become financially aware and independent.
“I really like that she had the courage to go out by herself but also to recognise that the way the rest of the industry is doing things isn’t the best. She’s shaking up the industry one woman at a time.
“Her style means you know she is very approachable and responsive. There have been lots of thing happening to my finances. I like that I can just jump on it, get things sorted as I go along and get ahead of the curve. I don’t have to wait for some once-a-year review which is what you get from other firms.
“I feel like she is a safe pair of hands and has your back like your friends would.”
*Clients’ names are changed for confidentiality. Advice given is based on each individual’s personal circumstances. Case studies are for general informational and educational purposes, they are not offered as and do not constitute financial advice. You should not act or rely on any information without first seeking advice from a professional. FSWM Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-servicesregister. FSWM Limited is entered on the FCA register under reference 1008154.