Almary Green Brochure Sept 2015 HIGH RES SINGLE PAGES non print version

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Almary Green

Independent Financial Advisers

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Growing Prosperity...



Creating Wealth & Protecting Your Interests

At Almary Green, we
believe that your financial
security needs to be
nurtured and protected.

You’ve worked hard to build your Our strength lies in being truly As a Chartered firm, we take our
wealth whether it’s your personal or independent, with access to status very seriously. We ensure the
business wealth, but there are always products from the whole of the advice, service, and ongoing support
demands upon it and many threats to financial services market. Our we provide is of the highest quality,
face. We believe it’s our job to stand philosophy is to develop strong based on the client’s researched needs
by your side in good times and bad to lasting relationships with our clients. and provided by someone operating
ensure that your prosperity is allowed We stand by our reputation for within their level of competency.
to grow safely and strongly, to provide professionalism and our success has
for your needs and those who depend been built on the trust and confidence
upon you. of our clients, most of whom have
been with us for many years.

1

Who Are We?

Created in April 2001, Almary Green
has grown steadily year on year and
we now have over £400,000,000 of
client funds under advice.

We are a firm of award winning combination of both. This means
independent financial advisers, that our advice is truly impartial and
directly authorised and regulated by that you will never receive a bill that
the Financial Conduct Authority. We you are not expecting.
have advisers based in Norfolk, Suffolk
and Cambridgeshire, supporting both All our advisers are fully qualified
businesses and individuals throughout and are supported by a strong
East Anglia and beyond. Our main back-office team of paraplanners and
office is in one of Norwich’s premier administrators. Knowledge and skills
business districts, Meridian are constantly refreshed through
Business Park. regular product and regulatory
updates. Staff at all levels are given
Green by name, we work hard to be both the time and encouragement
green by nature, by using technology to study for further professional
to run a paperless office and to enable qualifications. The advisers have their
our advisers to work remotely keeping own areas of expertise and, working
their annual mileage to a minimum. as a team, we tap into each other’s
knowledge where needed to ensure
Our advisers are not paid according that the advice you receive is fully
to sales targets, and we offer a tailored to your specific circumstances.
choice of payment either by a
Client Agreed Adviser Charge, Since the business began in 2001, we
which involves a payment from have retained the majority of all the
a product, or by pure fees, or a personal clients who engaged us.

2

What’s in a Name..?

Almary Green is a small lawn in the Cathedral
Close in Norwich, and it was in an office
overlooking this lawn that the future directors
of the newly conceived company sat discussing
potential names. The company spent its first
4 years in premises facing Almary Green,
before moving to the new open plan building
on Meridian Business Park in 2005.

3

What Do We Do?

We will advise you on every aspect of your
financial well-being. Our aim is to highlight the range
of products and services that are available to you,
either as an individual or a business owner – to build
your prosperity and enhance your financial security.

Key Elements of our Service Financial Planning for Individuals

• Reviewing your existing financial position and Financial planning for you as an individual is all about
analysing your needs making sure that the wealth you have created is not
• Holistic financial advice including cash flow analysis eroded by life’s challenges. Our aim is to minimise the
• Tax and Estate Planning tax paid by you in your lifetime and by your heirs when
• Advice regarding and implementation of Pension you die. It’s about making sure you have enough in the
Sharing Orders pot to meet your needs now and in later life. Our goal
• Care fee planning is to maximise the value of your assets to give you the
• Saving and deposit advice flexibility to make life’s decisions in the future and to help
• Corporate financial planning advice you react to changes in legislation.
• Holistic planning on divorce/dissolution/separation
• Pension products from the whole of the market In practical terms, we will analyse your needs and show
• Investment products from the whole of the market you how to achieve maximum growth within the agreed
• Non-investment/protection products from a risk parameters. Managing your investments is critical -
range of insurers we will ensure that you take advantage of tax-efficient
investments and will explore a number of options for
protecting your investments against market fluctuations.

Retirement should be a time to take a step back and
enjoy life. We will help you plan ahead to ensure that
your pension arrangements will achieve your desired
lifestyle. Pension legislation is constantly changing,
therefore we will review your plans regularly to make sure
they stay on track.

If your circumstances change in later life, we can help
with regulated Equity Release arrangements and Care
Fee Planning.

We will look at your liability to income tax during your
working life and plan for minimising Inheritance Tax.
We will help you protect your income and assets for the
future for both you and your family.

4

What Do We Do?

Achieving Business Growth or permanent loss of key individuals such as
directors, partners, shareholders and business-critical
We work closely with business owners and directors staff. We will help you identify where your risk is
to ensure that the financial arrangements they greatest, and will advise on what products will best
have set in place are still delivering both in terms of protect you from that risk.
investment return and flexibility. Business growth
is not just about increasing business activity and When it is time for the business to pass into
making greater profits, it’s also about maximising new hands, we can help with exit strategies and
the investments you make with those profits and succession planning to ensure that the transition is
securing the successful continuity of the business. properly managed to safeguard everyone’s interests.
You have a responsibility to provide the right
employment structure for your staff in terms of
pension arrangements and benefit schemes, to
ensure that you retain them and maximise your
investment in them.

Our group scheme experts will help you find the right
solutions for your business from the wide range of
pension, life assurance and healthcare arrangements
available for your staff. Pension legislation now
means that every employer must run an approved
workplace pension scheme and automatically enrol
staff into it: we will help you plan your pay and
benefit strategies to both finance and deliver the
right schemes for your business. We will tailor your
staff schemes to meet your needs and budget, with
a range of support and advice services available to
you as an employer and to individual staff members
if required.

Directors have long pondered the question of
how best to achieve their personal remuneration
aspirations, by balancing salaries and dividends
to maximum effect. We will advise on the tax
implications of a range of pay strategies.
Directors’ pension needs are not forgotten either –
our Self-Invested Pension specialists will advise on
the opportunities offered by taking greater control
of your pension investments.

Preparing for the unforeseen is an integral part of
business planning. A number of insurance products
exist to help protect the business from the temporary

5

Graham & Hazel Williams, Personal Clients since 2001
6

What Can You Expect From Us?

Whether you are a new client or someone who has
benefited from our advice for years, we will ensure you
know exactly what service you can expect from us. Our
processes are clearly defined with you in mind and our
services tailored to suit your specific requirements.

First Steps A key part of this analysis will be both accurately and in an acceptable
your understanding and attitude timescale. We will maintain a record of
When you first make contact with us, to risk (ATR). This information is a everything we do on your behalf, for
we understand that you need time to critical factor in determining suitable your security.
make decisions. We will spend up to solutions for you.
one hour with you (either face-to-face
or by telephone) without charging a We will put together a set of
fee; we will use this time to discuss recommendations based on our
your circumstances to establish if we analysis, supported by illustrations
can be of assistance. We will talk you and factsheets showing the key
through our Client Agreement so that features of the proposed solutions.
you understand every aspect of the We will talk you through both the
proposed relationship with us. recommendations and the supporting
documentation to ensure you
Once you are happy to engage us to fully understand everything we
advise, we will work with you to carry are proposing.
out a full analysis of your current
financial position, taking into account When you are confident that you
your future needs and objectives. This understand and are happy with
will involve asking detailed questions our proposals, we will assist you
as well as obtaining information in the completion of the necessary
from your existing product providers, paperwork and work with the
where this is relevant. We will create a proposed product providers to ensure
financial summary of this information your wishes are followed through
and agree objectives with you prior to
moving forward.

7

What Can You Expect From Us?

Moving Forward Transactional Service

We recommend that you review your financial This level does not include a review, valuation, or any
arrangements on a regular basis to ensure that they additional services and is aimed at those who wish to
still meet your needs and objectives, as these may use us on a “pay as you go” basis.
change over time. To meet this need, we offer a
choice of ongoing service propositions for you to The Client Agreement
select according to your requirements.
Our Client Agreement, which we will ask you to
You will see that the service level you select will not sign when you engage us to provide advice, is an
impact on the way we advise you regarding any new important document and forms our contract with
business transactions, but it does however impact on you. It gives a detailed breakdown of the service you
the frequency of your reviews and how we provide can expect from us and the fees we will charge for
ongoing advice. providing that service.

Premium Service

This is our top level of service aimed at those clients
with over £500,000 invested, with both reviews and
valuations provided half yearly. Reviews can either be
completed over the phone, in writing, or in person at
a face to face meeting. The valuation will provide a
complete summary of the investments and arrangements
that you have asked us to look after for you.

Classic Service Key Elements of Ongoing Service

Aimed at those with over £100,000 invested, this Valuations provide a complete summary of your investments
service level ensures that you will receive both a and arrangements including the amounts you invested,
review and a valuation each year. your fund holdings, current values and any amounts you
have withdrawn.
Cumulative Service
Reviews can either be completed in writing or in person at a
This service offers the ideal opportunity for clients face-to-face meeting. The review will include consideration
with less than £100,000 invested through us to keep of the portfolio performance, the asset allocation of your
track of their investments and ensure that reviews investments and take into account any changes to your
are carried out from time to time, without the need circumstances or objectives.
to pay charges disproportionate to the amount
invested. We will provide you with a valuation and Communication by email (where agreed) or by post on a
a review once your account has accumulated a regular basis with Newsletters and details of appropriate
minimum amount. Alternatively, you can pay the seminars or workshops.
difference between your account and the minimum
charge to receive a review at any time.

8

Will, Izzy & Clara Farrow, Personal Clients since 2009

9

What More Can We Do?

The performance of your investment portfolio
including your pension arrangements will be one
of the most important aspects of our advice to
you. However, there are a number of other areas
where financial planning can make a fundamental
difference to your life and well-being.

Financial Protection Retirement Planning

When we assess your family’s financial Planning for a secure and comfortable
situation, we will also discuss with you retirement will be at the forefront of
the impact of threats to your financial many financial reviews. Our pension
security such as redundancy, ill health experts will help you work out what
and even death. We will help you you need to save now for your
arrange suitable protection through retirement and advise on the pension
appropriate insurance products products and methods that are most
and ensure that any benefits are appropriate for you, including
maximised – for example with the self-invested pensions for the more
use of trusts. pro-active investor.

Estate Planning At the point of taking your retirement
benefits, we will advise on the
The mitigation of potential Inheritance options available. Since April 2015,
Tax bills plays an important part in withdrawing funds from your pension
many people’s financial plans. We savings has become much more
will advise on suitable measures you flexible, but careful planning is needed
can take. This can involve the use to ensure that your fund can provide
of a number of strategies, including for your needs throughout retirement.
lifetime giving and the setting up of We will provide you with advice to
trusts. ensure that your chosen route gives
you the flexibility and security to meet
your needs.

10

Divorce and Separation

We can provide a full holistic financial planning
service for couples, or for individuals going through
divorce or separation.

We have a number of advisers who hold the
prestigious Resolution Accreditation enabling them
to give expert advice on pensions and divorce,
cashflow calculations including capitalisation of
maintenance, mortgage capability, and maintenance
protection. We work closely with solicitors to
help achieve reasonable and acceptable financial
settlements and advise newly divorced individuals
on suitable reinvestment options.

Equity Release

Our specialist Later Life advisers can help explore
this option for those cases where Equity Release is
appropriate. We will only recommend products that
follow the Equity Release Council Code of Conduct
and will work closely with all parties involved to
ensure that any arrangement recommended is
fully understood by everyone and meets the whole
family’s needs in terms of finance and security.

Important Factors

• Think carefully before securing other debts
against your home.
• Your home may be repossessed if you do not
keep up repayments on your mortgage.
• The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate
some forms of buy-to-let mortgages, commercial
loans and commercial mortgages.
• Overseas mortgages can be affected by changes
in the currency exchange rate and the Sterling
equivalent of your debt can increase as a result.
• Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or
home reversion plan. To understand the features
and associated risks, please ask us for a
personalised illustration.

11

What More Can We Do?

Care Fee Planning Lifetime Cashflow Forecasting

It is clear that an increasing number of us will need How often have you wondered if there will come a
care provision at some stage. It is estimated that time when your money will run out? We offer the
over 30% of people over the age of 80 will need chance to look into the future and see what it might
some form of care. Funding care, whether in one’s hold. A Lifetime Cashflow Forecast is a detailed
own home or in a Care Home, is likely to put serious financial review that takes into account the events
strain on family finances. We have advisers who that will impact on your wealth during your lifetime
are specialists in this field. They are accredited by such as retirement, down-sizing or policies maturing.
the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) and have We look at your income forecast and project your
an in-depth knowledge of the entitlements and spending as the years go by. We can then build in
options available to those needing care. We can, “what if” scenarios such as you or a partner needing
where appropriate, arrange Immediate Care Plans. care or dying early. As we project down the years we
These special top-up annuities can be purchased can tell you if and when your wealth will fall short
for a fixed one-off purchase cost and will provide of your needs and highlight other financial planning
supplementary income to fund care for life, thus issues such as potential Inheritance Tax liability on
preserving the remaining family assets your death.
for the next generation.

Ben Burgess, Corporate Pension Client since 2007
12

Working With Other Professionals

Through our partnerships programme, we have very best possible service through our combined
built strong links with other professional advisers. expertise and professionalism.
These are the people you may need to manage your
home and business affairs, such as solicitors and Several of our advisers have achieved Resolution
accountants. These partnerships are based on mutual Accreditation to allow them to assist in the valuation
respect and confidence in the advice provided, and separation of assets, including pension assets, in
together with a belief that we are giving clients the divorce cases.

The Almary Green Touch...

At Almary Green we will always put your interests first.
We want to keep you as a client for many years to come!

To this end we will: 5 Provide a means to regularly review the
performance of the investments adopted by you,
1 Provide the best possible advice to enable you to and to advise where changes may be necessary.
make informed decisions about maintaining and
enhancing your financial position. 6 Work closely with other professional advisers
to enable the adoption of cohesive strategies in
2 Understand your attitude to risk and reflect this respect of your overall wealth management.
in the advice given.
7 Ensure all members of our team are kept up to
3 Offer products from the entire range of financial date with changes in relevant legislation and
service providers, based on the suitability of the product offerings.
arrangement, irrespective of the fee earning
potential for the company. 8 Maintain high standards of professionalism
and strict compliance with industry
4 Facilitate the purchase of products that enable regulator requirements.
you to meet the aims agreed with your adviser.

13

Armultra, Corporate Client since 2001
14

Our Fees and Other Charges

Our fee structures are covered in detail in our Service and Fee Guide and we will
always talk you through this document before undertaking any investigation or
analysis on your behalf. The charge we make will depend on two factors:

1 Whether or not the work 2 Whether or not you are covered by one
relates to new business of our ongoing service propositions

New Work Ongoing Reviews

We charge our initial fee based on a percentage of Premium, Classic and Cumulative
the amount invested, where there is no investment Service Propositions
it will be based on the complexity of the work
undertaken. The annual charges for our Ongoing Service Propositions
are based on a percentage of your investment portfolio,
When undertaking new work on your behalf, we subject to a minimum charge. For further details please
offer a choice in the way that you pay our fees. see our Service and Fee Guide.
Further details and specific rates can be found in our
Service and Fee Guide but in summary: Reviews Not Covered
by a Service Proposition
Direct to us
If we carry out reviews on a Transactional basis (i.e.
This can be by cheque or direct bank transfer. If you if you haven’t adopted a Service Proposition) we will
choose this method we will send you an invoice charge a fee based on the work involved.
when the fee is due and will request that you settle
this within 28 days.

Deduction from your
Financial Product

With your agreement we can arrange for your fee
to be settled by deduction from a financial product
such as a pension or investment. The fee amount is
agreed between you and your adviser prior to the
transaction taking place, and your written authority
is obtained to authorise the deduction. This method
of payment will, of course, reduce the amount
invested in line with the fee charged.

15

What Should You Do Next?

Contact us to arrange a free initial Our head office is located in Norwich. Our
consultation during which we will identify advisers are based in and around Norfolk,
where and how our advice can make that Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and are happy to
all important difference. travel further afield to assist their clients.

Contact Details

Head Office: Central Norwich Office:
Almary Green Investments Ltd, Greenfields 7 The Close, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 4DJ
House, 10 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Tel: 01603 706740
Park, Norwich NR7 0TA
Tel: 01603 706740 | Fax: 01603 437136 Lowestoft Office:
52 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft NR32 1PJ
[email protected] Tel: 01502 538539
www.almarygreen.com
Wisbech Office:
27-29 Old Market, Wisbech,
Cambridgeshire PE13 1NE
Tel: 01945 429518

Financial Health Checklist

Not sure if we can help? Use our Financial Health Checklist to work out the areas where you might
benefit from our help.

You: I have the right level of control over
my investments
I’ve set up pension savings to meet my
retirement needs My mortgage rate is a good one and I know
what the market can offer if I change it
I’ve reviewed my pension arrangements within
the last 2 years Your Business:

My retirement income choices are clear to me I have a qualifying workplace pension scheme
I’ve made a will and its content is still valid in place and am happy with it
I’ve looked at my Inheritance Tax liability and
set up the necessary trusts, gifts or insurance The pay and pension strategy used for me and
policies to mitigate it where possible my fellow directors/owners works for both us
as individuals and the business
I’ve made maximum use of tax-free
investments this year My business profits are protected against the
loss of key personnel
My life and other family members’ lives are
covered by Life Assurance I am able to source finance for my business
when I need it
I’ve taken out the necessary policies and plans
to maintain our family income in the event My profits are invested effectively
of illness
If you’ve not ticked every box,
My investment portfolio has been we can help!
reviewed this year

16

Winner of the Professional Adviser Awards’ Adviser Firm of the Year 2015, Charity Champion 2013,
nominated for Best Small Adviser Firm 2013, Investment Adviser of the Year 2013 and Retirement Adviser
of the Year 2013. Winner Retirement Planner Awards 2015 and 2014.

Winner Money Marketing Awards Best Tax and Long Term Savings Adviser 2015 and 2013 and Best RDR
Business Transition 2013 and Bronze finalist in Best Tax and Long Term Savings and Best Professional
Development Awards 2014.

Winner Financial Adviser Awards’ Group Pensions Adviser of the Year 2013. Winner Moneyfacts Best Tax
and Estate Planning Solution Provider 2013. Winner of the Gold Standard for Independent Financial Advice
in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Almary Green Investments Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration Number 212015. The Financial
Conduct Authority does not regulate overseas mortgages, unregulated collective investment schemes, taxation and trust advice, national
savings, overseas shares and foreign savings. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up payments on your mortgage. To understand

the features and risks of Equity Release, Lifetime Mortgages, or Home Reversion Plans, you should ask for a personalised illustration.