Ben Lancaster

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

bad service and lack of value my last one

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

He has put my mind at rest about my financial future.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

So far, yes

What could they have done better?

nothing

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

As always, I had a very insightful teams meeting with Ben, pre-budget, he came up with wide variety of solutions, should the budget target business and pensions. We will touch base after the budget to come up with a plan.

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

We wanted to change to an advisor who could meet us face to face and advise on how best to transfer my company pension from an Isle of Man scheme.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

We were looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable advisor, who would take the time to listen to our needs and concerns and advise and act on these appropriately. Ben fitted all these criteria. We have chosen to re-engage with Ben as our advisor despite him moving to a new company. This is because of his exceptional customer service and communication combined with his excellent financial advice.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben has been fantastic from the start. Very clear and concise and very prompt with his communications. It’s been a pleasure to speak to him as he makes this previously daunting exercise so much easier to digest and understand.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Fantastic first meeting with Ben. He immediately made us feel at ease and quickly identified the areas we should focus on in future discussions. Ben is a breath of fresh air in advisor terms and we definitely look forward to future discussions and planning sessions with him.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Recently met with Ben following a glowing recommendation from a friend and ex business colleague. Really got to know me and my family during our initial chat and fully explored how my investment objectives could be met. Look forward to further discussions.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

We have recently met Ben when he accompanied his father for our annual review of our portfolio, having recently joined the Cosgrove Partnership. He was well prepared and knew already the details of our holdings. He was knowledgeable, easy to understand and clearly had a good grasp of financial trends. His manner was reassuring and professional. We hope to have a long association with him in the future. He is clearly a rising star in the financial sector as shown by his other reviews, and he is a person who you can rely on for good,solid advice.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I am writing this feedback on behalf of my brother David who has autism and a learning disability. As a gesture of goodwill Ben Lancaster has supported my brother in making the best decision regarding releasing funds from a private pension prior to pension age. Ben investigated the position and potential options with the relevant pension company and factored in David's other income to assist in making an informed choice. Ben has shown great patience, care and kindness when meeting with my brother - all done as a goodwill gesture.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

bens extremely knowledgable about all financial solutions required pensions, ISAs, Inheritance and would recommend him to anyone

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I recently met Ben via my partner as she has been dealing with him for many years. He was so easy to talk to and filled me with a great deal of confidence during our initial meeting.

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

Financial advice and future planning in our retirement.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

We have known Ben now for several years and trust in his judgement and advice, He is never unavailable, has an easy and likeable manner which is necessary when discussing personal and financial issues.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Not as yet, as this is a new profile, but judging by Bens advice there is good evidence it will prove to be so in the future.

What could they have done better?

Can't think of anything at this time.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I have been a client of Ben's for approximately 3 years now and my experience with him as an advisor has been invaluable as I was referred to him as I wanted to chat through a few financial matters initially and was unsure what I wanted to do. Ben is extremely approachable, friendly and knowledgeable and speaking with him is like talking to a friend. His advice in regards to my future planning, pension, savings, mortgage etc has been so helpful for me to make changes that I wouldn't have previously had the confidence to in how I approach and now view my finances. You do not need to be a high net worth individual to speak to a financial advisor - I am so glad that I did and if I could give Ben more than a 5 star review I would do.

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I am coming to the end of a happy relationship with my current IFA. He has recommended and introduced Ben to me.On meeting and talking to Ben I am confident that my future with him will be just as happy and trustworthy.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

It has been a pleasure to work with Ben. He is an open communicator, delivers on his promises in a timely way and is quick to build rapport and, most importantly, trust. I have faith that he wants to work in my best interests.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Great so far. Clear plan discussed of the review process looking forward to see the options available

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

Retirement looming.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Financial advice in a world of not knowing.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

My meeting with Ben was an incredibly helpful experience which not only helped direct me on the right path for me and my investments but also improve my knowledge of investing and the process alongside it. One aspect I really appreciated was that Ben did not act as a 'salesman' for any investments provider or account, he took into consideration my unique situation and needs and ensured that the investments I chose were correct for me. I would highly recommend Ben as he provided a chance for me to settle my nerves and uncertainties.

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

Pension transfer

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Very much so, excellent

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, a positive 12 months

What could they have done better?

Unsure they could

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

Transfer pension from a defined benefit company scheme

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

With the process from start to finish and continued advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

Need to convert and converge pension savings into tax free cash and set up a SIP

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Implemented plans to enable above stated

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Not sure that any other outcome would have been better

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

I am due to retire in 2025 and wanted to firm up my Financial planning ready for next year

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben was amazing, so helpful and knowledgeable. He kept me updated all through the process and I have now got all my future finances sorted out.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, Ben advised me and guided me through my options so we chose the best place to invest my pension funds

What could they have done better?

Nothing, I am so pleased with the outcome and now feel confident for my future retirement and ongoing savings

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

Wanting advice on investments and savings; planning for retirement; tax advice

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Provided expert advice in all areas. Flexible and adaptable to my needs and requirements.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes positive outcomes realised

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

Pension review.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has helped consolidate our finances, provided excellent advice and service and is a joy to work with. I would not hesitate to recommend him.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, appropriate action taken.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben was so helpful & supportive He was attentive & helped me enormously with the finance query I had

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

Transfer of Isle of Man unprotected pension

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has given us advice on retirement plans and investments as well as facilitating the transfer of a previous company pension. He is currently looking at various retirement scenarios with a view to maximising the potential of our portfolio.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Perhaps a crystal ball might help?

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

I was nervous about deciding to retire due to potential financial concerns. I had numerous different pensions but no idea how to progress, combine, how best to make these pensions give me financial assurance

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has helped me in every way possible with my numerous pensions in both liquidating and investing and financial planning. I have now been retired 18 months and have done so with financial security and confidence

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes without doubt

What could they have done better?

There's nothing Ben could have done better. Ben goes the extra mile in every respect and he does so with patience

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

i needed to ensure i had prepared myself for my pension. Did not think I would live this long and had little pensions all over the place. With no real understanding of the value i would receive on my retirement. I am on my own a widow therefore, no one else to rely on.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

He helped me consolidate my mortgage, took on my concerns on risks that i was willing to take and concerns about my inheritance. Not easy as there was so much paperwork to go through. I was very disorganised and it was good to see Ben making this process easy and happy to answer what i call crazy queries. I am confident in his ethics, capability and have happily recommended Ben and to colleagues whom are happy with his service too.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, and more. I have received good advice and feel more confident about my future.

What could they have done better?

I believe what he is doing is great, i could not have achieved what i have without the help of Ben and his team. What they need to do is keep up the good work.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

It has been a pleasure working with Ben. He listens carefully to what you require and has come up with a financial plan which hopefully will be beneficial to both of us for years to come.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben was highly recommended to me by a colleague and has provided some very helpful advice on planning for my early retirement. Ben has spend time understanding my personal and financial situation, future plans and preferences. Although not yet a paying customer of Ben's, he always helpful and I have no doubt or hesitation that I will become a client of him in the near future. Thanks for your continual support.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Whilst this is an embryonic relationship with DepledgeSWM and Ben in particular, I have now had a couple of meetings with him with the most recent being an initial face to face meeting. Ben was kind enough to travel to London (where I was on business) to hold the meeting with me. So far, I am very encouraged with what I have experienced and positive around a potential long term business relationship with him as I move towards retirement. An attentive and interested listener and, has a skill for capturing and remembering virtually everything that is discussed. I am encouraged by the approach being suggested and am looking forward to getting to know Ben more and, hopefully, working with him in the future.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

If retiring seemed a big decision to make, getting excellent financial advice from someone you can trust with your retirement pot is even greater. Fortunately for us Ben Lancaster has helped us through the whole process. Providing us with a very clear plan of all options available. We couldn't have asked for anything more.... Excellent communication, clear advice, prompt follow up. Professional and personal approach throughout.

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

Required our pensions to be sorted at retirement and advice on how best to do this.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben consolidated all our pensions and then best advice us on long term investments.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

It has been a tough period since we started with investing but it shown a steady growth over the period knowing it is a long term investment.

What could they have done better?

We feel Ben has kept on top of our investments and advised us when things needed to change or he felt we would be better off moving to other things. We have trusted his advice and know he has our best interest at heart.

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

Pending retirement

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

He's advised us through every aspects

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing

This review is a follow-up review from a client who left a review previously.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you since your last review?

Ben has advised for us to arrange our will which we are doing

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben was personally recommended to me by someone I trust implicitly. I was not disappointed. From meeting Ben, he immediately put me at ease and I was very comfortable sharing information about my finances and my life in general. He made the technical easy to understand. I felt at the end of our conversation, I had a good insight and was in very capable hands.

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

Advice on investments, pensions & inheritance tax planning.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Very pleased with the service provided by Ben - he is always extremely responsive and very keen to ensure we are happy with his advice. He works hard to ensure he understands what we are looking for and clearly puts a great deal of effort into thinking about the best options for us.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Too early to say

What could they have done better?

Has taken longer to set up the new portfolio than we would have liked but Ben has personally worked harder to move things along.

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

I though I had been managing a wide range of accounts, investments and recent inheritances well but I recognized I actually needed professional help and support to make these work for me both now and for my future needs.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben took an holistic approach with me, spending as much time as I needed, listening to my requirements and then supplied me with suggestions for me to consider. Then we worked together to implement changes to all aspects of my finances to help me consolidate and future proof it all. It has all gone very well and has helped my confidence grow to help make even better decisions as I know and understand more on how these things work. Always at the end of a phone if needed Ben was a great choice and I'm more than happy to be guided by him going forward.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Of course anyone would want immediate improvements but the investments are not to bad considering and anyone looking at the difficulties going on around us would not be surprised by that. I understand that they are for my long term benefit which is how I want them to be. The revised plans we are going to put in place will help refocus for the future around present difficulties in the world markets and have better results ahead.

What could they have done better?

We have just had our first annual review and have talked through several revisions which Ben and I feel are the best way forward at this time. In the end that is a fair and logical approach to help me achieve the results I want.

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

I was withdrawing from a company pension scheme and wanted some advice regarding effective investment of the fund.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has provided good quality and clear advice from the beginning, is always very thoughtful in his approach, takes care to ensure we are happy with his recommendations and has been responsive whenever we have been in need of advice.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, we have a clear approach, a strategy we are comfortable and easy access to information about our money.

What could they have done better?

Nothing of note

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

Pension transfer

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Very much so, excellent

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Very much so

What could they have done better?

I don’t believe anything

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben is happy to take the time to explain what can be complex issues, helping me get my pensions in order.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben called when he said he would, very clear and concise with the points we covered, made me feel at ease very quickly, great experience.

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

I was approaching 55 and thinking of early retirement and pension planning.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has advised on my pension options, assisted with a major pension transfer and is now advising on the management of my pension investments.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have my pension funds consolidated and under private investment.

What could they have done better?

Nothing I could think of.

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

I was looking to transfer my pension from a Company pension.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has been amazing right from the start of the process, he is extremely knowledgeable, he provides very clear and understandable information (translated all of the pension jargon into plain English) and all of this was done in a professional and very personable manner.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes with Ben's support I have achieved my original goal.

What could they have done better?

Nothing, I can't fault him in any way.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I'm shopping around and looking for a good Pension and Financial advisor to keep my goals on target. I had a introductory phone call which I felt totally at ease in sharing my circumstances and that I was speaking with Ben and regardless of whether I end up a his client or not, he took time to engage with me. I will state already the fact emails are answered in good timely manner by Ben and I feel the professionalism at work. I looked at and took time to contact another company before I found Ben Lancaster and despite my emails, completing forms etc, still no acknowledgements which is all us clients really want.

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

As I approached fifty I decided to proactively research, control and hopefully safeguard my future by engaging a specialist Financial Advisor and Ben came very highly recommended by a close, trusted work colleague.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has helped me sort the differing pensions that I had accumulated over the years, into a single entity of my choosing, allowing me greater control and flexibilty over my future finances. He achieved this by firstly meeting with myself and my wife, documenting current assets, pensions etc, and then taking time to understand us, (as a family unit), What was important to us, what were the aspirations, goals, concerns, fears etc. Everything was completed at a pace that was fully under our own control, with Ben making sure that everyone was entirely happy and fully understood the next steps ahead, before we embarked upon them. This no-pressure, fact based approach meant that as a family, we felt in full control of the process, and that the process had been tailored to our individual requirements, and not simply a homogeneous overlay

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have now retired early, as well as both my children benefiting from lump sum payments to help them start out their own journey in life.

What could they have done better?

Introduced himself to me ten years earlier, as I would be far wealthier if I had had the benefit of his advice earlier on in my working career.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben was very helpful in guiding me through my delicate financial situation. He took the time to understand my requirements and explained each area in terms easy to understand. Ben is a very professional and I highly recommend him.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I had a really informative meeting with Ben, who discussed what i wanted to achieve once i get to retirement age. Ben went through potential options for my pensions and gave me some great advice.

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

To transfer my pension out of the company pension scheme.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has successfully completed the transfer of my pension from the company pension scheme. Ben has set up and closely monitors my investment portfolio. Ben is extremely professional and knowledgeable in his field, his guidance and expertise has been greatly appreciated over the years.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, definitely.

What could they have done better?

Nothing comes to mind.

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

Planning for an early retirement and my future.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Excellent support and advice. Ben explains everything in a way that I understand, in particular around investments and any associated risks.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, most definitely.

What could they have done better?

There are no improvements that I can think of.

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

Transfer of pensions

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

being willing to listen and advise on options

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Not yet but that is as a result of market volatility in 2022

What could they have done better?

Nothing comes to mind...

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

To ensure there was enough in our pension pots to take earlier than statutory retirement.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Made sure we were given the best advice to ensure financial stability and life style choices could be met throughout retirement.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Ongoing still, but yes.

What could they have done better?

Speeding up the time between consultation and the resulting forecasts or actions but saying that it is better to ensure it is all correct and quality assured before speed. We are always kept informed with any delays.

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

Our previous financial advisor has retired

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has helped facilitate moving our pension and exploring other options

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Ben has been very professional throughout.

What could they have done better?

Prevented the war in Ukraine and Liz Truss being PM

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Our interactions with Ben were smooth, informative and clearly understood at all times. Ben took the appropriate amount of time to fully answer our questions. Communications in between meetings were prompt and courteous Although we eventually chose a different investment outcome we would not hesitate to recommend Ben's financial advice due the the balanced views provided.

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

Reaching retirement age and wishing to ensure pension pot would be used to help ensure financial security during my retirement

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Prompt and clear pension advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Considering how the economic picture has been recently clear and precise planning has resulted in better than expected results

What could they have done better?

Nothing

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Very professional and pleasant to deal with.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Excellent communicator and immediately made me feel at ease

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

I was being made redundant after 40years within the same company and had also built up a substantial pension pot. I wanted the best advice possible before making any decisions.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has been a huge help to me. I spent time with several other Financial Advisors before choosing Ben, partly due to his ability to explain things in a way everyone can understand. But most of all, his empathy, compassion and huge level of commitment towards me and my family meant he was my “go to” person in this case.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, my investments have continued to grow in the current volatile markets.

What could they have done better?

I feel there is absolutely nothing they could of done better for me. The experience I’ve had with Ben and Depledge since day one has been exceptional.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I decided to contact Ben through a family recommendation and I am incredibly glad that I did. Even though I felt I had straightforward financial circumstances, there were areas in relation to my current pension, mortgages and insurances that I wouldn't have considered without Ben's (and his team's) advice. Ben is extremely easy to speak to, very friendly and can explain complicated financial information easily to a person like myself who finds financial obligations complex and (at times) a bit of putting off exercise. It has helped me to focus the weak areas in my future planning that I hadn't considered. I highly recommend Ben to anyone, no matter what financial stage you may be at in your life - this is not a service provision that is only for high net worth individuals.

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

Retirement arrangements

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Organizing finances to maximize return to enable financial security of income.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

An initial discussion was had with my wife who decided to go to next stage, where their team collected and collated the information from both our numerous pension providers. Then we had an 1.5 hour Teams review of this. This was all done 'free/no-obligation'. Thankfully for us all, this time wasn't wasted and Ben left us both confident that we wanted to progress with him and his team, and the solutions he was suggesting. The discussion was detailed but succinct and focused and left us optimistic that we could dramatically improve our pension planning & outcomes, & visibility/tracking of this. I appreciated that his personable approach, and that he also constantly tried to clarify the jargon and summarise the points as he lead us through the discussion. We certainly got the impression that he and his team aren't focused on making 'easy money' for themselves and instead take more pride in helping their clients get their own money working harder for them. We're happy that it's a service that will more than pay for itself over the next 10 to 15 years.

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

I needed support with redeploying a pension share

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has helped immeasurably from initially explaining all the options available to me and providing forecasts and scenarios that gave me certainty around next steps in the immediate and long term. He has ‘had my back’ during the turbulence of the last 18 months and initiated some investments that have performed brilliantly despite the overall market uncertainty.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes sbdolutely

What could they have done better?

I can’t fault Ben and his knowledge, client care and professionalism

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

When wrestling with decision on whether to take early retirement I needed some clear advice on my options

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben gave great advice, making options very clear and concise. Ben always ensured I fully understood what he was explaining and gave me confidence in decisions I could take.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes although the recent political turmoil has had an impact that is hopefully short term

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

Approaching retirement

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Yes

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

Complex pension situation requiring financial epertise and guidance

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

By educating me and producing sound financial proposals to assure my future financial position post retirement. He has also assisted me in completing some of the requisite forms that have been somewhat challenging

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing. Consider that Ben's service has been thorough and to a very high standard

This review is a follow-up review from a client who left a review previously.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you since your last review?

Guided us with Equity release and also using that cash for investment for building interest whilst the cash is used over the next 15-20 years

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

We had savings which were not making much on low interest rates and needed professional advice. Also we both had pensions which needed to be centralising into one and we needed professional advice on how to go forward.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

He has helped by advise on savings and combining our pensions. Also he has always kept us with up to date advice and on how our investments are progressing.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes we are both satisfied with the outcome especially having gone through some rough financial periods.

What could they have done better?

No we don't think that they could have done much better and have made a low risk increase during some bad times.

This review is a follow-up review from a client who left a review previously.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you since your last review?

Ben has been very helpful in putting our monthly income in place, through discussion it proved to be most beneficial to. Plus we have discussed further investment regarding child and grandchildren. His knowledge & help putting things into perspective is very helpful whilst he keeps our interests a priority.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I spoke to Ben about specific tax questions. He was approachable, quickly understood my questions and was able to help me to understand the situation that I found myself in. I was able to leave the conversation with a much clearer understanding.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben's preparation for our meeting was excellent; he had a well thought-through agenda, had prepared each scenario with detailed calculations for each, and facilitated both discussion and answered all my questions fully. Transparency is vital in discussions such as these and, again, Ben provided full disclosure and was painstakingly thorough. I came away both informed and able to make the best choices for me. I'd have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Ben to friends and colleagues as a Financial Adviser.

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

I had accumulated several pension schemes each with different rules and restrictions. I wanted to create a coherent and flexible Pension plan that optimised the schemes.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben developed a robust plan to consolidate the schemes that made the best of the individual schemes while also taking into account overall factors such as LTA and a trade off between flexibility vs security.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I am confident we have the right plan which we are implementing now.

What could they have done better?

The time to implement has necessarily been uncertain due to the aftermath of CoVID meaning the response of various pension trustees has been tardy. Ben's estimates of the time to complete various stages have been a bit out (both ways).

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Finding a financial adviser can be a tricky business - you need someone who is completely trustworthy, an attentive listener, can communicate complex information, has the ability to provide appropriate advice and act in your best interests. Ben has all these qualitities and I look forward to continuing our professional relationship.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben was very professional and thorough in helping me improve my awareness of options available to me based on the information I was able to provide. Ben was very clear in his explanations and made sure that I was happy with each stage of our discussions and was able to add clarification where appropriate including doing further research when he felt it necessary. I felt that Ben was not only professional but also cared about me getting the best outcome possible and treated me with respect and sensitivity and I owe him a debt of gratitude for his help and advice.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

We are extremely pleased with the level of professionalism shown by Ben. We very much look forward to working with him going forward.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben and I had a really good “chat” which made it fell comfortable. It was two way and flowed naturally. If we didn’t cover something off Ben asked for more. This showed to me Ben has a well planned approach, listens and records as the conversation develops but then goes back to clarify or request more. Ben was able to look at various aspects that will be important for future review and outlined steps that could be considered. Ben was transparent about likely costs/fees. I came away from the call positively. Thank you Ben.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

At the exploratory stage Ben has been open, informative, flexible and professional, and I am full looking forwards to working with him more as my financial adviser.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben has a professional, open and transparent approach, with clear and complete communication throughout. I have no hesitation in recommending his services.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben has explained things with great clarity throughout all our meetings, ensuring we fully understood the options under discussion.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

My original expectations of the initial contact with Ben was that I would get a 1/2 phone call where we would have just a very general discussion about the health of my pension plans and investments. I also had not had a great experience with a previous Financial Adviser many years ago and so I was delighted when Ben gave me far more than the expected consultation. The depth of his analysis and advice was far more than I was expecting for what has, so far, been a no fee relationship. He has given me many pointers and options to improve the way my money is working for me. I am far more confident with the shape of my portfolio and have a much clearer idea of how I will proceed with handling my pensions/savings and investments going forward. Ben's manner inspires confidence and he is patient and willing to explain (several times in my case) the mechanisms of the various products, tax efficient investment techniques, and tax rules. He provided detailed notes from our discussions backed up with example illustrations and links to further information for me to digest. These are excellent for future reference. In all of this, there has been no requirement for me to commit to any future business with him, but I feel that I will be coming to Ben for some further advice and help in a fee paying arrangement. Overall the experience has been very pleasant and reassuring, which I did not expect.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben has been professional, extremely helpful, informative and supportive during the range of meetings we've had to date. In fact due to all of that his new client and my good friend has decided to put her business with him. This is mainly because he explained everything so well and has gone to great lengths to meet her particular requirements.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

From the outset of our initial meeting, Ben took time to understand my particular family dynamics and what my true retirement goals were. His easy-listening style allowed very quickly for me to feel at ease with himself and open up truthfully to him on any concerns or fears concerning my future pension provision for myself and the family. Ben has ensured that the process to date, moves only at the pace that I personally want it to travel, never pushing or trying to move me along. This journey has allowed me to read, understand and fully digest the financial projections he has created (specifically matching my requirements), allowing me to feel confident and in full control of my family's financial destiny. His style of working means that I am looking forward and confident in having a long term fruitful relationship with him.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Fairly complex financial matters clearly explained.

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

Pension drawdown

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben has been a great help in advising on all pension possibilities, he is very helpful and nothing was too much trouble I would highly recommend.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

Negligence by previous adviser.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

This is too generic to answer!

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

What could they have done better?

Improve terms on investment, although these are early days.

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

Age and desire to be able to do my hobbies when I retire

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Helped me understand what I will need, where I am and what I need to be doing to achieve my goals

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

It's early days.. just a year.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I first met Ben on the recommendation from another colleague looking to transfer my defined Benefit pension out. Ben goes through all the pros and cons of this process and explains clearly what every step entails, providing detailed analysis. What impressed me was the fact that he cares about the client and what's best for them and their family in the long run, with no obligation and definately no pressure selling he genuinly wants what's best for you.

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

I have arrived at the age where such matters are important. Ben interviewed very well and we chose him as our advisor.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

in a number of ways but most importantly to gain control again and plan for the future, he is a great listener and got to know us realy well before advising.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

early days but have no doubts

What could they have done better?

all good

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I have found Ben and the Depledge team to be pro-active and very helpful. I have found their financial expertise and advise excellent and an absolute must for non financial experts such as myself.

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

I'm approaching retirement within the next 5 years and want to ensure my family has the best possible financial planning in place.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben reviewed the options with us and made clear recommendations.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes - it's only 12 months since we began working with Ben but the signs are very positive so far.

What could they have done better?

Very happy with the service Ben's delivered to date.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben has been absolutely fantastic helping my husband and myself in discussing our options when investing quite a large sum of money for us. This is our first experience of speaking to a financial adviser, although we did 'interview' a number before deciding on him. He is incredibly knowledgeable, nothing is too much trouble and we have spent some time speaking to Ben for a number of months and we haven't even invested yet. Ben is very approachable, personable and nothing is too much trouble, in fact he never seems to stop working! He regularly checks in with us and sends us confirmation emails of what we have discussed afterwards. Ben has provided us with great support, help and advice and when we are finally in a position to invest then we will certainly continue our relationship with him moving forward.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I met with a number of Financial Advisors before selecting Ben to help manage my pension fund. Straight away I knew he was the person I trusted with my money and future plans. Ben has been supportive throughout the process and nothing is ever to much trouble. For me the trust element is the biggest factor and I’m so happy with the service and support from Ben that I’ve also recommended him to a number of my colleagues. Ben also makes the complicated pension world so much easier to understand. I look forward to many years ahead with Ben as my Financial Advisor.

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

To seek advice on retirement solutions

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Organised a retirement strategy that works for me.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

looking at options around retirement in next 3-4 years- had a number of pension schemes that could be consolidated and were preforming less than ideal. needed to look at transfer options as well as simplification and better diversification

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

focused upon options open to me, explained risk and tax implications well, provided appropriate suggestions re investment strategy. led on the transfer into a better option for me which will provide opportunity to acheive desired income and mortgage repayment

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

to date all is on plan

What could they have done better?

timing of investments but this it not really ben's issue- the process for transfer took a considerable time to progress which resulted in some missed opportunities . however it is the big picture that matters!

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Even though I haven't done any business yet with Ben I have found him to be highly professional, understanding my needs and clearly articulating my options and the nuances of each. His patience is a virtue

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben successfully converted my initial feelings of anxiety regarding how to unravel my various pensions into a feeling of calm assurance. I found Ben to be very approachable and ultimately the information provided by Ben was delivered to me in a way that was easy to understand. Consequently I now feel most positive about progressing our business relationship and am confident that Ben will continue to provide a quality service.

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

Pension imalganation and financial planning.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben gave professional advise fit for our circumstances, easy for us to comprehend and put into action.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

In previous dealings we achieved expected and more than expected. Therefore, we have no hesitation in moving forward with Ben again.

What could they have done better?

At this time nothing. But we know if there should be it would be open to discussion.

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

Desire to move towards retirement and to find a safe pair of hands with financial expertise to manage our finances.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben consolidated pensions and made best use of our savings, explaining options and what was possible for our retirement.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, we have. We are now retired and feel assured our financial affairs are in good hands.

What could they have done better?

Nothing. Ben has been clear and concise during all our dealings with him.

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

Having been with another financial advisor I sought a different advisor and found Ben Kanx Having been with a different advisor for 10 years with declining returns I sought different advice and found Ben Lancaster

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

He reviewed my existent investments and recommended a total revamp of my ISA investments. Further to this he set up an offshore bond within a Discounted Gift Trust

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes most definitely with very good value fees.

What could they have done better?

None I have been perfectly happy with his service

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

We had money sat in the bank and building society’s not returning any interest. Also our pensions were scattered with different funds and we wanted to combine them into one each and reinvest into something with more return at a low risk.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben set up our managed isa's with Aviva. He also set up to combine our pensions into the Aviva pension. He has always offered a personnel service to us and he is constantly in touch with us with updates and how our funds are panning out.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes we both think that things have worked out well considering the present circumstances and we are happy with the service we have received from Ben.

What could they have done better?

We do not think they could have done better, but we are not the experts and of course it is in the interest of all concerned to give us a good service.

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

Reaching 60 I had 4 pensions and also contracted out of the state pension, my wife was already retired with a pension. We also had savings and some Isas I intended to retire at 63 whilst we had some financial knowledge

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

We needed expert advice on our pensions,savings and Isas to maximise our overall pot of money to enable us to enjoy a happy retirement without worrying about our financial position.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely right from our first meeting with Ben I felt a good connection he explained the pensions I had what he thought we could do with them and had also told us we needed to invest in more Isas most importantly why we should do this. Ben then went away and came back with a 5-10 year financial plan with projections pension spending the Isas. The pensions were consolidated into one pension and the Isas allowed us to draw cash from it when I retired at 63. Advised us on my tax giving us a handsome payment when I retired from work. We had a meeting with Ben in September to review the plan and he is going to comeback with some more projections and guide us on inheritance etc.

What could they have done better?

Completely happy with Bens financial knowledge and judgement, also Ben has a great personality and keeps things simple these two things are very important for me so I can completely trust him.

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

I needed to combine five pension funds into one annuity for easy management and also draw down cash tax free lump sums. I had already done a lot of research on the internet and discussed my situation with the government Pension Wise service, and then selected Depledge Wealth Management from their list of recommended advisors, as well as two other listed advisors. Ben Lancaster contacted me promptly to discuss my requirements and provide details of how they could guide me through the process.

How has Ben Lancaster helped you?

Ben Lancaster contacted me promptly and arranged to meet with me via Zoom due to Covid lockdown. I immediately felt at ease due to Ben's professional and friendly manner, which has made the whole process much less stressful than I anticipated it to be. My wife and I are highly averse to risk and Ben talked through the process in full detail giving all potential options and pros and cons involved. Ben gave me regular Zoom meeting updates during the process when we had confirmed our course of action and responded promptly to any phone calls or emails from me.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Ben provided exactly the outcome for my retirement annuity that I had wanted to achieve.

What could they have done better?

The process took a bit longer than expected, but this was due to slow responses from my various pension providers during the Covid lockdown.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

I recently met Ben for an initial review of some personal finances and found him extremely professional and informative and at the same time very personable. At the end of our meeting I felt very confident that he would be able to support me with my financial goals and look forward to working with him and building upon the foundations we have already built.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

My experiences with Ben have all been very positive. From the point of reaching out for advice communication has been very timely and clear. I and my wife were seeking guidance on a wide range of topics including pensions, tax planning, and investments and it is evident that Ben and Depledge SWM have strong expertise in all areas. At all times I have felt advice given has been independent and very much in my best interests. I would definitely recommend Ben to others.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Professional to work with and makes complex financial details easy and simple to understand. No queries or questions are a problem. Timelines of the process are explained in detail and where there is clarity required you can call or email him. There is no pressure but works with you to help you reach the goals that suit you. There are risks managed at the level you have agreed to and informs you if they drop how these risks are monitored and managed.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ben

Ben takes the time to listen and understand client requirements and ensure prompt and proactive follow up of all the points. You never feel rushed with Ben and you come away feeling that he has your best interest at heart. There is definitely no pressure selling and he is always keen to go the extra mile. I have no hesitation in recommending Ben to family, friends and work colleagues.