Independent Financial Adviser · Northwest England & Beyond

Clear financial
advice, built
around your future

Based in Southport, I provide straightforward, independent financial advice to individuals and families across the Northwest and throughout the UK — helping you make confident decisions about retirement, tax and long-term wealth.

John Anthony Sykes – Independent Financial Adviser, Southport
Nationwide Clients across the UK
100% Independent advice
FCA Regulated
Transparent Fees — always agreed upfront
Specialist guidance

Advice for specific situations

Some financial decisions carry more weight than others. These are the situations where independent, specialist advice makes the biggest difference.

Approaching retirement

The years immediately before retirement are when critical financial decisions need to be made. Pension consolidation, drawdown planning and tax-efficient structuring set the foundation for everything that follows.

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Passing on your wealth

With IHT at 40% above the nil-rate band — and upcoming changes to how pensions are taxed on death — planning how your estate passes to the next generation is increasingly important. Early action gives you more options.

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Long-term care planning

When a loved one needs care, it can be hard to know where to turn. As a qualified long-term care specialist, I can help you understand the costs, the options and how to plan for them.

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Trust planning

Trusts can protect assets, manage tax exposure and ensure wealth reaches the right people in the right way. From discretionary trusts to bare trusts, I help families find the right structure for their circumstances.

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Families with vulnerable dependents

Planning for a family member with special needs demands a different approach — one that considers their future financial security, benefit entitlements and appropriate trust structures.

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Receiving a financial windfall

An inheritance, compensation payment, redundancy settlement or business sale can change your financial picture significantly. Without a clear plan, the opportunity to make it work hard can quickly pass.

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Going through a divorce

Pensions are often the largest financial asset in a divorce settlement — and frequently undervalued or overlooked. Specialist advice at the right point can significantly affect the outcome.

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How it works

From first conversation to a plan that keeps working

Three focused meetings to go from where you are now to clear, actionable recommendations — then ongoing support to keep your plan on track as life changes.

1

Initial discussion

A free conversation — typically 20 minutes. I want to understand where you are now, what you're trying to achieve, and how I might be able to help. No paperwork, no pressure. You leave with a clear idea of whether I'm the right fit.

2

Building the plan

Once you decide to go ahead, we get into the detail together — your full financial picture, your risk profile and preferences. I use this to research your options thoroughly and build a plan specific to your situation.

3

Your recommendations

I present a clear written report with specific recommendations and the reasoning behind each one. We go through it together. If you're happy, we complete the paperwork and get things moving.

After the advice

Ongoing support — because your finances don't stand still

For clients who want continued support, I offer an ongoing advisory service charged as an annual percentage of the assets under advice. This structure is commensurate with the work involved — a larger or more complex portfolio requires more active management, more frequent assessment, and more planning decisions throughout the year.

The ongoing fee funds a defined, active service — not just the ability to call me. It reflects my FCA obligation to ensure your advice remains suitable on a continuing basis, and my commitment to be proactive rather than reactive when things change.

Annual review meeting
A structured annual meeting to review your progress, update your cashflow model and confirm the plan is still on track for your goals.
Ongoing suitability assessment
FCA regulation requires that advice remains suitable as time passes. I actively check that your investments and strategy still match your circumstances and risk profile.
Legislative and tax changes
Pension rules, IHT thresholds and tax allowances change regularly. I flag the changes that affect you and advise on action — before the deadline, not after.
Changing circumstances
A new job, inheritance, health change or shift in retirement plans can all affect your strategy. Ongoing clients can reach me at any point — not just at the annual review.
Testimonials

What clients say

"I would recommend him to others with total, 100%, confidence."

Dr. K. Mashiter

"We were unhappy with our previous adviser. After meeting with John, we felt he was a more capable pair of hands."

A. Middleton

"My wife sadly passed away, and I wanted to set a trust fund for my stepdaughter. John found a solution that exactly fit my requirements."

C. Fowler

Ready to make your money work harder?

Every tax year, pension and ISA allowances reset — and unused allowances are lost forever. Book a free 20-minute call to make sure you're not leaving money on the table.