Colin Bates

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

We were initially looking for a financial advisor to help guide both personal and business finances towards long-term success. With multiple financial goals and considerations for the future, we needed expert advice to help establish a clear and achievable path forward.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has been instrumental in bringing structure to our finances, which was something we previously lacked. He worked closely with us to develop a comprehensive long-term financial plan that provides a clear overview of our goals and the steps needed to achieve them. His approach has not only clarified our financial picture but also provided peace of mind, knowing that we now have a well-defined roadmap for the future.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

While we are still in the early stages of our journey with Colin, I am pleased with the progress and initial results we’ve seen so far. Colin’s expertise and structured approach have already started making a positive difference, and I’m confident that, with his continued guidance, we’ll achieve the long-term success we’re aiming for.

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

We previously had a FA who was restricted and charged an annual fee of assets under management, so with the previous FA there was an incentive to advise us to liquidate certain assets and invest the money with them (as they would get a larger fee). We wanted a flat fee for the time spent with us. I vetted 150 FA's on VouchedFor and only found 3 that were happy to work on a Flat Fee basis. Colin was one of those. We approached all three, had an initial meeting with all 3 and Colin stood head and shoulders above everyone else.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Estate management, inheritance tax planning, lifestyle planning, pension drawdown strategy.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are now invested with Colin with our pensions and an ISA. We are invested in a low-cost, global index fund which tracks the global stock market (a financial philosophy we strongly wanted to pursue with our investments).

What could they have done better?

Nothing. Communication is clear. Our meetings with him are clear and succinct.

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

We had savings in our company and personal account so wanted to make the most of it

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He has set up pension schemes an investment account for our business and personal and business financial plans. We had nothing in place prior to meeting colin.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely, we now have everything set up and feel comfortable with the allocation of our funds. Colin has been professional, super communicative and clear in giving advice. I would definitely recommend Colin's services to friends and family.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

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

Our parents have been mulling over retirement for some time now, but felt great uncertainty as to whether it was possible. We sought an advisor who had experience working with retirees to address thier concerns.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin took the time to get to know our parents. He genuinely invested his time into doing so and our parents felt seen, with thier goals and concerns heard. This meant a lot to them. Colin then put together a tailored financial plan for them. Our parents have a host of options & paths available for them to take in retirement, Colin was attentive in modeling out all these scenarios for them and answering all thier questions. Our parents now have much greater confidence going into thier golden years.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Colin has a wonderful ability to communicate challenging financial concepts with clarity and patience. Colin is an advocate of passive, index investing. Colin's pricing is exceedingly fair, unlike traditional AUM fee structures that attempt to justify itself via fear-mongering (with some variant of "this is too complex for you to do without us"). We did not take the choice of our parents financial planner lightly and having interviewing every UK based fixed fee financial planner we could find online and having worked with Colin, we are delighted that we chose to entrust our parents financial affairs to Chapter 3 Financial Planning.

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

An uptick in my business revenue prompted me to seek specialist advice around tax and pension planning.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Listened to the needs of my situation, provided good advice around tax planning and pension provision.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. I am very pleased to have Colin in my corner.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

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

Inheritance planning.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Advising on a long term strategy

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

From the recent discussions itemising all the options available it has made the long term approach more palatable.

What could they have done better?

Non known

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

Inheritance tax planning

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Yes, as well as providing strategies for IHT planning we have also done a financial plan which has given me the confidence to make informed decisions about spending, saving and investing.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

What could they have done better?

I'm happy with the service Colin has provided.

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

Recommendation

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Consolidated several pensions into one sensible one. Advice and information of how best to maximise savings for the future.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I’m sure we will in time - everything has been consolidated which is a great start!

What could they have done better?

Everything has been done well thus far so no improvement needed.

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

We needed advice consolidating pensions

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin is really approachable, patient and helpful in his explanations

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are looking forward to working with Cllin

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

Long term finacial planning

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Given me sensible advise

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Feel much more postiive about my financiel future , we are not just guessing

What could they have done better?

nothing

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

I run my business on my own, which can be lonely, and I often thought I was not seeing the bigger picture. Colin actually approached me and was very patient waiting until I had the time to explore. Once I got to a place where I could look at developing my long term plan, Colin was there.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Educated me greatly on pensions, long term investment and planning. Colin also introduced me to an insurance broker who immediately saved my business what I believe to be significant money. He also has taken a keen interest in some of my business ventures and has been a great vice in those projects.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are relatively early in the investment journey, so I can't say I've seen the long term outcome yet. I have however seen more immediate wins across insurance support and general advice.

What could they have done better?

Not a lot really at this stage, I'm really happy with the service.

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

Our business needed Key Person policies.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has advised and recommended the best product for us.

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?

As an independent contractor / sole director of an LTD, I was looking for financial advice and guidance in how to plan for the future and create the most efficient strategy for investment and tax.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Excellent quality of advice, he took the time to really understand my needs and tailored specific and relevant material to my situation. His knowledge on the complexities of the topic are top tier, and he provided a lot of valuable options to consider.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Unfortunately my personal situation changed, and so we had to adapt the strategy. But Colin stopped at no end to find opportunities to provide value, both on his expert knowledge and referals on to other very useful people within his network.

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

Spent too many years thinking I could do it myself!

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Helped me with a strategy to make my finances more efficient. Encouraged me with future career choices and introduced me to some helpful people

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes and more

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

My husband's income is flexible and had a particularly positive year, which we wanted to maximise on

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Long term financial planning balanced with short term decisions.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Precisely.

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

We received a lump sum of cash and needed advise on financial planning

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin helped us go through our options, set up investment accounts for us and pensions

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

yes

What could they have done better?

n/a

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

How has Colin Bates helped you since your last review?

Colin understood our requirements and explained fully how we could achieve our standard of living throughout our retirement.

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

To better understand and better plan for the longer term, and understand the different options.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

A wholistic view of long term financial planning

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, we are far more equipped to make decisions, knowing the implications for the longer term

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

Need for investment advice

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Financial planning for the rest of our lives as a family of 4.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are long term investors and so the current climate not as much of a concern.

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

I wanted to assess my financial situation and plan my future to see if I could retire early.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin helped so much! We first met so I could give him an idea of what I wanted to achieve. He then created a financial plan which was so detailed and gave me an overview of my plan assumptions and key projections, including Cash Flow, Net Worth, and Asset Allocation. This provided me with Insights into achieving my goals and indicated my current financial health. The plan structure allowed me to throw different scenarios at Colin to enable me to work out what was best, he also threw in some scenarios which I hadn't thought of.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I retired at 50!

What could they have done better?

Nothing, the service was so detailed and personal. I have never worked with a financial advisor in such a way before, I felt so calm and relaxed and at no point had that 'sales' pitch to buy products which you get from so many FA's. It was a pleasure being on the journey with Colin.

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

We wanted to plan for retirement

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin projected our finances presented options

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

We are happy with the results

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

I wanted to understand what to do with surplus money and savings and how to invest money from the business into other ventures, or investment options.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He advised me on what to do with the surplus money, helped me with various scenarios to understand my current and future situation and also helped me with the possibility of buying a property overseas.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

My investments are currently doing ok in this environment, I understand my current and future situation better and I also managed to invest and make decisions more wisely.

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

Recommended by our accountants

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has been great in seeing the bigger picture and actually creating a strategy.

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?

Following the sale of a company and receiving a large sum of money, I needed help in how best to invest for both generating income and investing for the future.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has looked holistically at my particular circumstances and has been invaluable in helping me formulate a plan and signpost to other specialists where necessary. His friendly demeanour and communication style makes complex issues easy to understand.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Colin has advised and made investments on my behalf, plus coached and mentored on other aspects of investments, and implemented a lifestyle plan for me.

What could they have done better?

I actually can't think of anything that Colin could have done better.

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

I had substantial assets but was unsure how best to make them last through my retirement years, protect/improve my quality of life, allow me to fulfil ambitious travel plans, cover potential long-term care and also provide an adequate inheritance for my non-lineal heirs.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has perfectly understood these aims from the outset. It has been a delight to be able to talk this through clearly and empathetically. It's also a great relief to approach the next phase of life in such a safe yet exciting way, knowing my finances will be able to cope.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

The process, even in its early iterations, has provided me with confidence that all my objectives are being accommodated if not improved upon. In addition, I will have regular reviews and adjustments (as necessary) to ensure I can accommodate the twists and turns of future life.

What could they have done better?

All of Colin's advice and paperwork have been exemplary and easy to understand. Queries have been quickly clarified and adjustments accommodated.

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

Having had two health scares in the last 12 months we wanted to get some assistance in ensuring we were set up for retirement and were optimising our investments

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He helped us to develop a Cash Flow forecast until death, optimised our Share portfolio, tax optimisation and given us confidence that we are well set for our retirement but also what steps we need to take to deliver on the plan

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Definitely. We couldn't be happier and have recommended Colin to our friends.

What could they have done better?

Honestly nothing - when we asked "stupid" questions Colin would proactively follow up with more detail or explanations of the topic to ensure we were happy.

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

B2B meeting arranged through LinkedIn to explore mutually beneficial relationship

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Colin has introduced and created a robust structure of wealth management/financial planning arrangements centred around our existing small property business and also through a thorough review of pensions and medium- long term investment opportunities in equities leading to our retirement

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes - the planning of our desired retirement goals has been brought in to sharp focus with associated strategies for realistic achievement

What could they have done better?

Contacted me sooner!

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

I wanted advise on retirement planning .

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He has helped me realise that with the correct planning and using our savings and pensions wisely we can have a comfortable retirement and not worry that we will have a comfortable standard of living in our retirement.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Its early days yet but everything seems to be ok.

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

How has Colin Bates helped you since your last review?

Tax efficiency and financial planning.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Colin

Colin was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. He took the time to understand my goals and personal situation so he could tailor his services to suit my needs. I felt informed and learned a lot from talking to Colin.

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

Just turned 60 years old and wanted to review retirement options

How has Colin Bates helped you?

General review of all assets/pensions, reviewed inheritance tax concerns, prepared different overviews for retirement planning

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Work in progress!

What could they have done better?

Not much!

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

I wanted to plan for my future and optimise my earnings.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He helped me make a longer-term plan to look into my retirement, how much I needed to save to achieve my goals and maintain my current lifestyle and how to manage my pension

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have implemented a lot of the plan's actions and I have a North to move towards right now so that I can make informed decisions.

What could they have done better?

I am quite pleased with Colin's services as he has helped me with queries and resolve minor issues with transferring my pensions and managing my investments. I think he has gone over and above, which I really appreciate.

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

I needed help understanding what my options were and how to best financially set myself up.

How has Colin Bates helped you?

He provided in-depth knowledge and advice to show me what my potential could be. He helped me understand how to invest wisely and what plan I need to put in place to reach my goals.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I’ve have put the plan into action and I’m already seeing how it’s helping me. I have also had my life insurance sorted by Colin to make sure I have the right cover for my circumstances.

What could they have done better?

Colin laid everything out in a clear and easy to understand plan, there’s nothing more I could have asked for.

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

Tax advice

How has Colin Bates helped you?

Provided financial planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

What could they have done better?

Nothing