Independent financial adviser in Formby and Freshfield
FCA-regulated IFA based in neighbouring Southport, working with families across Formby (L37), Freshfield (L37), Hightown (L38) and the wider West Lancashire area. Whole-of-market advice on pensions, retirement, inheritance tax and cashflow - explained plainly, with fees agreed before any work starts.
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
Based in Southport, I work with clients across Formby, Freshfield and Hightown. Close enough for in-person meetings, with video calls available too.
Clear, Straightforward Communication
Financial jargon clouds understanding. I explain things plainly - what matters, why it matters, and what happens next. You leave knowing exactly where you stand.
Significant wealth - and the planning questions that come with it
Formby is one of the most sought-after addresses in the Northwest. From the leafy streets around Formby Village and the L37 conservation areas, through Freshfield's pinewoods, to the larger family homes around Victoria Road and the Royal Birkdale corridor, property values here are well above the regional average - and so are the financial planning questions that come with them.
Many of the families I work with in Formby have built their wealth through a mix of long careers in Liverpool and Manchester, business sales, professional partnerships and decades of property appreciation. A typical L37 estate today, including the family home and accumulated pension pots, sits well above the £325,000 nil-rate band - and in many cases above the £500,000 available once the residence nil-rate band is added.
From April 2027, unused pension funds will also fall inside the estate for inheritance tax. That single rule change will pull a large chunk of Formby retirees' wealth into the IHT net for the first time. It's worth understanding what's actually changing - and allowing time to plan before April 2027.
As an independent adviser, I help Formby families make the most of what they've built - from pension consolidation and tax-efficient drawdown through to trust planning, gifting strategy and estate planning, working alongside your solicitor.
Where I work in and around Formby
Clients come from across the L37 and L38 postcodes - Formby Village, Freshfield, Hightown, Altcar, Little Altcar and the residential roads around Formby Hall, Cabin Hill and Range Lane. I'm 10-15 minutes up the coast in Ainsdale, so face-to-face meetings in Formby are straightforward when you'd prefer them.
On a personal note, Formby is a part of the world I genuinely know - most weekends you'll find me walking the pinewoods and red squirrel reserve, usually after a coffee at Kiosk Coffee in Freshfield. It means when clients talk about their part of Formby - whether that's the streets around the village, the L37 conservation area or out towards the dunes - I know exactly where they mean.
Most planning sessions happen by video call, with a small number of in-person meetings during the year - usually the initial fact-find, the recommendations meeting and the annual review. Whatever blend works for you.
A full range of independent financial advice
Pension Advice
Consolidate old pensions, maximise your annual allowance and plan a tax-efficient income for retirement.
Learn more →Inheritance Tax Planning
With property values in Formby as they are, many estates here are well above the IHT threshold. 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
Maximise ISA allowances and use 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 Formby, Freshfield, West Lancashire and the wider Northwest.
My work is focused on pensions, retirement planning, inheritance tax and cashflow analysis - typically for people who are approaching or already in retirement, and those thinking 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