What to expect when you get in touch
No jargon, no pressure, no obligation. Here is exactly how the process works from your first call to a plan you can act on.
If you have never worked with a financial adviser before - or if a previous experience put you off - I understand why getting in touch can feel like a bigger step than it should be. This page explains exactly what happens, from the moment you book a call to the point where we agree a plan together. There are no tricks, no upsell, and nothing you need to prepare in advance.
From first call to a plan that works
A clear, four-stage process with no surprises.
Free 20-minute discovery call
This is where we start. The call costs nothing and commits you to nothing. I will ask about your current situation - what you have, what you are trying to achieve, and what is keeping you up at night financially. You can ask me anything. At the end, we will both know whether working together makes sense. If it does not, I will say so - and point you in the right direction.
Full financial review meeting
If we decide to proceed, we arrange a fuller meeting - typically an hour to ninety minutes. This is where we go through everything in detail: your income, your assets, your pension arrangements, your protection cover, your family situation, and your goals. I take a holistic view - I cannot focus on one area and ignore the rest, because everything connects.
You will need to sign a Client Fee Agreement before this work begins, which sets out exactly what we will do and what the fee will be. No charge is ever made without that agreement in place.
Research, analysis and suitability report
After the review meeting I carry out the research - looking at your existing arrangements, comparing options across the whole of market, and building a written recommendation. Every recommendation comes in a formal suitability report: a document that sets out what I am recommending, why, and what the alternatives were. You will never be asked to make a decision without that report in front of you.
Recommendation meeting and implementation
We meet to go through the suitability report together. If you are happy to proceed, I handle the paperwork, liaise with providers, and manage the implementation. After that, if you have opted for an ongoing service, I will be in contact throughout the year and we will meet at least annually to review whether the plan is still on track.
What to bring to your first meeting
For the initial discovery call, you do not need to prepare anything at all. Come as you are. For a full review meeting, it helps to have some of the following to hand - but do not let the absence of any of these stop you getting in touch:
Pensions
Annual pension statements or recent correspondence from any workplace or personal pensions. Do not worry if you have lost paperwork - I can help trace these.
Investments & savings
Details of any ISAs, investments, bonds or savings accounts - balances and providers if known.
Protection policies
Any existing life insurance, critical illness, income protection or private medical insurance policies - or a rough idea of what you have.
Income & expenditure
A broad sense of your monthly take-home income and regular outgoings. A precise figure is not necessary at this stage.
Your goals
What do you want your money to do? Retire at a certain age? Pay less tax? Leave something to your children? Having a rough idea of what matters to you most is the most useful starting point.
Mortgage details
If mortgage advice is relevant, any recent mortgage statement showing your outstanding balance and current rate.
Things people often ask before getting in touch
Do I need a lot of money to see a financial adviser?
No. There is no minimum investment or income requirement to get advice. What matters is whether the advice will add value for your situation - and that is something we can work out together on the initial call, free of charge.
Will you try to sell me something?
No. I am not paid to sell products. Being independent means I have no incentive to recommend one provider over another - I am paid a fee for advice, not a commission for placing business. Every recommendation I make is based solely on what I believe is right for your circumstances.
Can we meet in person?
Yes. Annual review meetings for ongoing clients are delivered face-to-face. I am based in Ainsdale, Southport, and meet clients across the area - including Formby, Birkdale, Lytham St Annes, Ormskirk, Wirral and the wider Merseyside region. I also work with clients across the UK by video call.
How long does the whole process take?
From initial call to receiving a full suitability report is typically four to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of your situation and how quickly information is gathered. I will keep you informed throughout and there will be no unnecessary delays on my end.
What if I decide not to proceed after the review?
If we have completed the full research and produced a suitability report and you choose not to proceed, a £500 report fee is payable - this covers the work done on your behalf. This is disclosed in your Client Fee Agreement before work begins, so there are no surprises. The initial discovery call is always free, with no fee triggered at that stage.
John Anthony Sykes, Dip PFS
Independent Financial Adviser · FCA ref: JXS00972
FCA-regulated and working with Fintuity - a directly authorised independent firm. Qualified to CII Diploma level (Dip PFS) and whole-of-market. Based in Ainsdale, Southport - meeting clients across Merseyside and West Lancashire, and nationwide by video.
Ready to get started?
Book a free 20-minute call. No preparation needed, no commitment required - just a conversation to see whether independent financial advice is right for you.