Independent financial advice for Birkdale, Hillside and PR8
I'm an independent financial adviser based in Southport, working with individuals and families throughout Birkdale, Hillside, Ainsdale and the wider PR8 area. From pension planning to inheritance tax, I provide straightforward, impartial advice with no product bias.
Impartial guidance designed around your circumstances
Independent
Not tied to any product provider. I search the whole market to find solutions that suit your situation.
Locally Based
I'm based in Southport - the same PR8 postcode as Birkdale. In-person meetings are straightforward, with video calls available for those who prefer them.
Plain Communication
Financial advice shouldn't require a glossary. I explain what matters, why it matters and what happens next - so you leave every conversation knowing exactly where you stand.
High property values mean IHT is a real concern here
Birkdale and Hillside are among the most valuable residential addresses in Merseyside. From the large detached houses around Waterloo Road, Westcliffe Road and the Royal Birkdale Golf Club corridor, through the family streets of central Birkdale and Birkdale Village, to the established neighbourhoods around Hillside station and Liverpool Road, most clients I work with here own property that already sits well above the residence nil-rate band on its own.
Add in pensions, ISAs and a portfolio of investments built up over a career, and many Birkdale and Hillside estates are firmly inside inheritance tax territory long before death. With current thresholds of £325,000 (nil-rate band) and £500,000 once the residence nil-rate band is factored in, an estate above those allowances can face inheritance tax at 40% on the excess.
From April 2027, things get tighter still: unused pension funds will fall inside the estate for the first time. For Birkdale retirees with substantial SIPPs and old defined contribution pensions, that's a material change. It is worth planning well ahead of 2027.
As an independent adviser working across Birkdale, Hillside and the wider PR8 area, I help families understand their actual exposure - in pounds, not percentages - and put structures in place to address it: gifting strategy, trust planning, life cover written in trust, the right pension structure and the right order of drawdown. Use the free IHT calculator for a two-minute estimate of where you stand.
Where I work across Birkdale, Hillside and PR8
Birkdale and Hillside both sit inside the PR8 postcode, the same as my own base in Ainsdale, so a face-to-face meeting in Birkdale Village or at home is straightforward when it suits. Clients typically come from across central Birkdale, Hillside, Churchtown, Ainsdale and into the L37 boundary with Formby.
Work usually starts with an informal conversation, then a more detailed meeting (in person or by video), a written report and a meeting to go through the recommendations. Ongoing review work is optional, not assumed.
A full range of independent financial advice
Pension Advice
Consolidate old pensions, maximise your annual allowance and plan a tax-efficient income in retirement.
Learn more →Inheritance Tax Planning
With property values in Birkdale as they are, many estates here are above the inheritance tax thresholds. I can help you plan around it.
Learn more →Cashflow Planning
See a clear picture of your financial future. Understand how long your money will last and what changes might be needed.
See how it works →Tax-Efficient Investment Advice
Make the most of ISA allowances and tax-efficient investments to keep more of your money working for you.
Learn more →Protection Review
Life cover, critical illness and income protection, reviewed against your needs and sourced from across the market.
Learn more →Unsure where to start? An initial conversation can help clarify what matters most.
Book a callAbout John Anthony Sykes
I'm John Anthony Sykes, an independent financial adviser based in Southport. I'm an Independent Financial Adviser connected to Fintuity and work with individuals and families across Birkdale, Hillside, Ainsdale, Southport and the wider Northwest.
My focus is on pensions, retirement planning, inheritance tax and cashflow analysis - typically for people who are approaching or already in retirement, and those thinking seriously about passing wealth to the next generation.
Fees are agreed in writing before any chargeable work begins, and there is no charge for an initial conversation.
Start with a conversation
There is no charge for an initial conversation about where you stand and how I might be able to help.
Book a call