James Marlow

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with James

I reached out to James for help with a plan, and he was incredibly professional and approachable. He maintained confidentiality and broke it down step by step, simplifying a complex world for me. James reviewed my situation thoroughly and provided sound advice without being pushy or self-motivated. It felt like talking to a friend, bouncing ideas and realities off each other. We put steps in place not only for the next 12 months but for the long term as well. I feel much more comfortable talking to James and have some real actions to take from our discussions.

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

I wasn't happy with the current firm where my financial adviser kept changing. There was no continuity and they hadn't been proactive to review and service my financial position.

How has James Marlow helped you?

James made a huge impact straight away, identifying a potential huge tax issue and advising how to limit this with an existing trust arrangement. His Knowledge and expertise around trust planning and distributing assets tax efficiently has been excellent. He's managed expectations and worked closely with a recommended solicitor to ensure everything is sorted out properly. To do this he's kept all the trustees informed and provided an excellent service throughout. He's now helping the wider family and someone I would highly recommend.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

He's provided peace of mind that my affairs are fully in order and working well for me and the family. It's been a breath of fresh air having James as my adviser.

What could they have done better?

Nothing that I can think of. He's exceeded my expectations.

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

I initially sought an adviser due to my need for professional guidance in insurance and protection as well as pension planning. I wanted to ensure I was making informed decisions and securing the right coverage for myself and my family, as well as planning for a stable financial future

How has James Marlow helped you?

James Marlow has been incredibly helpful by providing expert advice on my insurance and protection needs as well as guiding me through pension planning. He took the time to understand my financial goals and tailored his recommendations to suit my specific situation. His professionalism and clear explanations have given me confidence in making informed decisions about my financial future. Additionally, his ability to communicate in British Sign Language has made the process even more efficient and comfortable, ensuring very clear communication throughout

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have seen the outcome I was hoping for. With James' guidance, I feel much more confident about my **insurance and protection** plans as well as my **pension arrangements**. His advice has helped me make well-informed decisions, and I now have a clearer path for securing my financial future. The communication was excellent, especially with his support in **British Sign Language**, which made everything easier to understand.

What could they have done better?

Overall, James Marlow has provided excellent service, and I’m very satisfied with the support I’ve received. However, one area that could be improved is **more frequent follow-ups** to ensure that I fully understand the long-term implications of the recommendations, especially when it comes to complex areas like **pension planning**. Otherwise, his advice and communication have been very clear and helpful.

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

I have been assessing options for early retirement and was looking for some professional independent support to look a options for me to support my decision process.

How has James Marlow helped you?

James helped by carrying out a detailed assessment of my financial position using my pension data, from which he developed a model that helped me better assess my options for myself/family. This was particularly useful in understanding options of taking my pension earlier or not from my defined retirement age along with any impact.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes the assessment and report was very good but most importantly James took the time to get to know me and understand my situation, as well as explain the outcome - to me this was the real value. For me this will be one of my major life financial decisions.

What could they have done better?

No James was excellent throughout the process

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

I had formally finished work and needed advice on the best way to take my pensions and plan for the future.

How has James Marlow helped you?

James was extremely thorough and very helpful. I had no idea there were some key guarantees on my pension which meant I could take more than the ordinarily 25% Tax Free Cash. In the end my policy allowed me to take 42% Tax Free, which was fantastic for my current situation. The overall process investigating this wasn't straight forward and I appreciate the amount of work James did to investigate this. It's made a significant difference to myself and he's kept me fully informed throughout the process.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely. The outcome is better than expected and means I'm not paying as much tax on my pension.

What could they have done better?

Nothing