Samsu Miah

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

How has Samsu Miah helped you since your last review?

he continues to help me plan for my financial future

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

I was looking for an adviser to to start long-term planning of family fiannces and pension.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Initially planned an introductory meeting with Samsu but the inductor information was provided in the volume and at detail at a scale of consultation, which is really appreciated. The meeting has touched the points I was not thinking about myslef

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, it helped me to decide, which instruments to start with and first steps to take for financial planning.

What could they have done better?

Unfortunately the adviser is linked to the particular financial institution and therefore cannot provide “paid-by-our” independent advice for the broader market.

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

How has Samsu Miah helped you since your last review?

Sam has been great.

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

How has Samsu Miah helped you since your last review?

The same as before. Advice when needed and always on the end of the phone / email.

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

How has Samsu Miah helped you since your last review?

I see Samsu yearly for a review and in-between reviews Samsu is always responsive to any questions or advice I need. I would recommend Samsu as a financial advisor.

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

I have recently inherited money from my mother and having never had a large amount of money before I wanted some advice on what to do with it.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam was a really good listener and soon realised that there are a lot of unknowns with my situation. I know I want to help my children and be a good steward of my money. I would like to make the most of it, not waste it and use it for the good of others as well as for myself but as yet I have no firm plans and the situation with my children is quite vague too. . Without firm plans, Sam pointed me in the direction of making the most of tax free savings in the short term as well as looking at premium bonds with the view to meeting again in a year when hopefully I will have a better idea of what I want to do. He did not push me into putting money into investments as he could see this would not be right at this time. He is definitely someone I can trust.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Too soon to say.

What could they have done better?

I can't think of anything.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Excelent service. Explained all options and gave me time to think about them. Never rushed me to make a decision. Highly recommend

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

My pension was coming up to fruition, and I needed to know where to start.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Yes, very much so.

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?

To Group together my pension pots.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

With his Experience and advise.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

Needed advice

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu assisted in some useful advice regarding my savings and funds and which direction to move in the future.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes but it is long term.

What could they have done better?

I don’t think he could improve on the general advice he gave. I was very happy with his two visits.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Samsu is very approachable and explains things clearly and gives sensible advice.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Very informative and not pushy, comes across as really interested in your concerns and needs. Really puts your mind at ease.

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

Financial advice for specifically pension pots

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu evaluated and advised me on the safest course of action regarding various pension pots that were scattered.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I have received adhoc advice and annual reviews which demonstrate that given the economic climate I have received great financial advice

What could they have done better?

Samsu doesn't leave me with any doubts that the advice and expertise he provides has any shortfalls

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

I was worried about my investments falling in value. I wanted peace of mind that my money was safe.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He explained everything to me. I had many investments with multiple providers and I was struggling to keep a track of. Sam helped me consolidate and tidy everything up so its easier for me to manage.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. I meet with Sam once a year to review my finances and he is always available on the phone should I have any questions.

What could they have done better?

Nothing, he has provided me with the best advice possible.

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

I needed to plan my retirement

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu Miah did provide advice on mortgages, pensions and inheritance planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

NA

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Professional, warm , knowledgeable, clear talking and reassuring

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

I found it a very friendly and informative session with no pressure to proceed with anything I was not comfortable with. I felt I learned a lot.

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

I was given Sams contact details by my accountant who recommended Sam to help me with arranging pensions, pension transfers and investments as a way of reducing capital gains tax and also to look after my future retirement plans.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Having worked for many companies over the last 35 years I had pensions with many different pension providers. Sam has helped me to combine these pensions as well as set up future investments

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes everything has gone smoothly

What could they have done better?

Nothing

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Sam provided me with some excellent feedback following review of my current pension arrangements. His advice was to continue as I am, which gave me peace of mind and so I am very grateful for your friendly and extremely valuable service.

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

I was looking for a better yield for my savings, as well as a better understanding of what my retirement could look like

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam has been incredibly patient, always pitching the information at the right level and validating my understanding along the way. What stands out for me is that Sam really takes the time to understand his customers' situation before making any recommendations. He is very generous with his time, very personable and I never felt any pressure from him

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes completely, and more I would say. I initially reached out to Sam for generic investment advice but over time this has developed into a much fuller picture and advice from him, which I highly value, and I actually quite look forward to the next catch up call from him

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

I’m soon to be 58 and needed help and advice with planning for retirement and what to do with a pension sharing order lump sum. I’ve had initial chats with a couple of financial advisors previously but felt rushed to make a decision. Samsu was recommended to me and I felt comfortable straight away with his approach to what I needed to achieve.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu has shown me a series of scenarios with outcomes for what is possible with the funds I have available. This has been comforting in knowing that I have various options depending on future events.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I am very pleased with the outcome and wish I’d found Samsu years ago! Happy to know that I have a plan with flexibility to adapt as needed.

What could they have done better?

I am fully satisfied with what has been achieved and don’t feel anything could have been improved upon.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

In my introductory discussion with Samsu I found him to be professional, well informed, and pleasantly conversational. Through helpful questioning and attentive listening I believe Samsu gathered the initial information he required while making sure my questions were answered and that I was happy overall with how we were doing.

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

We moved to the UK and brought our savings over that we wanted to invest for retirement.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

When we approached Sam for financial planning advice, he gave us all the time we needed to explain our options and ensure that we understood everything clearly. He has been very patient and professional, always making us feel that he had our best interests at heart.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are satisfied with the investment choices we have made, however, it is too early to have seen any outcomes yet.

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

A number of Pensions needed to merge them

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Assisted in finding pensions and transfering to a single manageble Pension Plan

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

planning for future retirement

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

he helped me plan for my future retirement

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

too early to say

What could they have done better?

nothing

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

Approaching retirement along with receiving an unexpected inheritance lump sum I was looking for advice with respect to investment, retirement income and inheritance tax planning.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam has always taken time to explain the options open to me and with clear and unrushed illustrations of different scenarios. This has allowed me to make well informed choices with respect to my pensions and investments. Sam always makes time to help and make sure the options are fully understood.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. Ongoing guidance especially in the current economic turmoil (Autumn 2022) is invaluable.

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

I was worried about my retirement and wasn't happy with my existing advisor as there was no in person reviews.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu has been very informative and is very easy to talk to, explains scenario's well and is happy to go over any issues that i'm not sure about. He is very friendly and seems a nice genuine person.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes we have reviewed my investments and transferred my SIPP and ISA to a medium risk portfolio.

What could they have done better?

Nothing I am happy with Samsu as my advisor.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

We appreciated his honest advice and the amount of attention he devoted to our interview.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Easy to talk to and understand

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Samsu is very professional and knowledgeable.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

He took the time to listen to what I had to say and responded accordingly, his advice was relevant to my situation and and he made no attempt to 'blind me with science'. Whilst some of his advice regarding my financial situation was hard to hear, it was this honesty that has ultimately gained my trust.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

I was in need of advice concerning a mortgage and inheritance tax and was recommended to contact Samsu. Following my email to him outlining the situation he phoned back very promptly to discuss the matter. He was friendly and understanding and gave his advice in plain English. I would be happy to use his service again and to recommend him to others

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

Primarily for the reasons of pension consolidation and to understand how to get the best out of pensions accummulated throughout my active working life. Secondly, to get more return on cash currently sitting in no-interest bank accounts.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam provided education, advice and guidance on both pension consolidation for my wife and I, and made us understand the value of investing according to our future needs without pressure. Sam did a lot of the groundwork with numerous pension providers of our multiple pension plans (from various workplaces) and he came back with full recommendation that was easy to understand and make qualitative decisions from. At all times during the process, Sam acted both friendly, personal and professional towards my wife and I, and he was never shy of providing detailed explanations on anything we questioned along the way!

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

It's too early to tell as the relationship with Sam and the investment/pension consolidations made are only a month old at this point. The main thing for me is that I feel comfortable and quietly confident that my wife and I have made the right decisions based on Sam's guidance.

What could they have done better?

Can't think of anything at this time.

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

I was recently made redundant and wanted to have an expert review of my pensions to understand my financial position to support my future.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu plugged all our pensions, investments and expenditure detail and into his software and helped me to better understand my current and future circumstances. We will now have the appropriate pensions transferred into one place where we anticipate it being better invested.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, we have more clarity on the future and a greater degree of security.

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

My previous financial advisor advised me to invest into so called "low to medium" risk structured financial products based upon the value of three or four named shares without adequately explaining the risk of one of these shares not performing well enough and the chance of over 50% of my investment being deducted on maturity which is what happened.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He advised on other yet to mature structured products and advised and made some changes regarding my pension.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

It's early days but yes so far.

What could they have done better?

No

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

The tax complications in cashing in International Investment Bonds in Guernsey and arranging alternative of the funds in the UK, eg donations to family/ reinvestment, with due regard to Income and Inheritance Taxes. In addition, simplifying management of a number of ISA's and fund investments with various providers.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He paid several visits to discuss details of the various investments and explain possible alternative plans and the costs involved. We agreed he should concentrate on consolidating UK investments first, then deal with the more complex Guernsey accounts. He has also gone out of his way to assist me with the transfer of my deceased wife's investments.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. All my UK investments have been smoothly transferred to St James Place management. We are currently looking for the most efficient way to deal with the International Bonds.

What could they have done better?

Nothing. Any delays being experienced are due to the providers apparently struggling under Covid restraints on staff.

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

I needed advice on my pension

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He explained things to me that I could understand

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

Just needed advice for our future

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He helped me with all the information I needed.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing everything was great

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

Sam has been absolutely fantastic, always on hand and very useful! I'm so pleased I found him, and I look forward to working with him now and in the future.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Pension and life cover advice predominantly

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing - all good

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

I've had two appointments with Sam so far and have been very pleased with the outcome and follow ups. Sam is clearly extremely knowledgeable in his field but perhaps more important to me is that he took the time to understand my needs, and is able to adapt his speech to the audience. In other words he uses a language I understand and is great at breaking down complex financial matters into every day language. Looking forward to our next call Sam!

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Sam was very professional in his approach. He arranged an initial call to understand my requirements and sent me a full length questionnaire to fill out. We had a second call to go through the proposal where Sam explained the costs and benefits. What I liked was, Sam was empathetic and not pushy and gave me time to think. He followed up to check on my decision. I was not able to proceed at this time as I wanted time to review my own financial planning. I would recommend Sam and would be happy to get in touch with him again, once I am ready to proceed, if the costs and benefits stack up at that time.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Samsu has provided a very clear and simple explanation of his services and how we could benefit from using his advises. He presented a detailed information pack about possible investment strategies and patiently answered all our questions in a friendly and professional manner.

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

I had a pension fund with a major company plan (Smiths plc) which I wished to release to another better matched fund to suit my needs on long term investment. To achieve this form of pension transfer you have to use a professional financial adviser.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu was introduced to me through HSBC mgt, where my day to day banking resides, he was given glowing recommendation by them, & they suggested he would suit my requirements both for now & in the long term. Samsu is a very bright guy, with a super knowledge of his market places, having listened to my needs he provided very clear direction for my investments. Additionally, in these difficult times we find ourselves, he worked around the visitation processes normally required for these sort of transfers of funds, with excellent video conferences, which we have continued to utilised since. Once we agreed to go forward the process was very smooth. My dealings with Samsu have been very professional but equally good fun, he's made a boring subject very interesting, giving me a much better understanding. He has a vibrant personality & is very easy to talk to.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

The outcome has been very good, with my investment, since its transfer, growing as predicted.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Really helpful and clear about the services I was making enquiries about.. also very friendly and informative. No question was too silly !

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

I had a great intro call with Mr Samsu - he was very polite and articulate, seemed to understand his business very well and was happy to answer any questions I had clearly and candidly! I look forward to working with him. Strongly recommend!

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Excellent and very thorough.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

Very good explanation, very relatable.. we will discuss charges after second meeting . Knowledgeable

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

We had couple of pension plans which were coming up to the maturity date as we had reached our intended retirement age however they weren’t offering the flexible drawdown option we wanted.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam conducted a detailed review of our finances, took letters of authority to liaise directly with our existing pension providers and then came back to present his findings via a Financial Planning Report. The report explained the pros and cons of transferring our pension plans so gave us time to reflect before we took up his advice.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, our pensions have now been tidied up and consolidated into one plan which provides us the flexibility we wanted.

What could they have done better?

Can't think of anything

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

I had recently purchased a house, therefore, I needed to sort out some insurance policies to protect my mortgage. My mortgage broker gave me options to protect my mortgage but I wasn’t sure if I was getting the best deal for me so I sought advice from Sam, whom I was recommended by a friend.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam visited me at home one evening as I wasn’t able to meet during a busy working day. The meeting lasted just over an hour where he found out about me and my circumstances. He highlighted that whilst protecting the mortgage was important, I needed to think about my wider protection needs, especially as my death or serious illness would affect my wife and young child beyond just the mortgage. I shared my priorities with Sam and gave him the budget I wanted to keep within. He went away did his researched and came back with solutions that I was suitable and affordable for me and my family.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. As a result of the discussions with Sam, not only is my mortgage protected in the event of my death but my family and I will also be protected if we fall ill or if I am unable to work. My family and I now feel we are much better covered for a similar price we would have paid if we just protected our mortgage.

What could they have done better?

It’s very hard to say what Sam could have done better, as I was very impressed by his in-depth research and the time he spent explaining the combination of the products, which I selected in the end that met all my needs. As a result of the bespoke service he provided I have recommended him to family members and friends.

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

We had an investment that hadn’t been reviewed for many years and cash in our bank account that wasn’t providing a good return. We wanted to review our existing investment to see if it can be improved and if we can generate some better return and also additional income from our cash savings.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

He gave us advice to transfer sole investment into joint names, split our investments over 2 tax years to take advantage of our tax allowances so we paid lower amount of tax. He invested our cash into low risk investments to provide better return and generate additional income we wanted for discretionary spending. Sam met us on several occasions to explain to us our options. He did not rush us and did his best to explain the world of investment jargon in simple English.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, we now have investments which are more tax efficient as they are taking advantage of our annual ISA allowance. These investments have grown and are now providing better return than if they were sat in our bank accounts. We are also getting quarterly income which we are able to spend on holidays – when we’re able to travel again!

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

I have been meaning to review my protection policies for a while as I hadn’t updated it since I moved home and got a bigger mortgage. Sam was recommended to me by a friend who said he has worked with him in the past and that he will give me the best advice.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu visited us at our house on a Saturday morning to introduce his business and the services he provides. He took some information about my personal and financial situation and suggested some of the insurance options I should consider. He explained he cannot make any recommendations until he has reviewed my existing insurance policy as this could potentially be altered saving me from taking out a new policy. I signed a letter of authority giving him permission to speak to the existing insurance company on my behalf. Once he completed his research, he came back to present us with a report documenting his advice which we were happy to proceed with. Rather than just focusing on protecting my mortgage, Samsu looked at the overall financial impact a serious illness or death could cause me and my family – something which I hadn’t thought about initially.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. We now have multiple insurance policies with different providers which protect me and my family in nearly all eventuality.

What could they have done better?

Nothing that I can think of. Samsu is a really good adviser who always has time to answer all my questions. Recently my mortgage was due for renewal and I reached out to him to see if there was a better deal out there for me. I am currently working with him to arrange a personal pension plan as I’m self employed and do not have a company pension scheme. Samsu explained the tax benefits of a pension especially if I pay it directly out of my business account.

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

I had a compensation pay out and needed some advice on how best to get this money invested for better return.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam conducted a detailed review of my finances and got to know about my financial as well as personal circumstances. We discussed my goals and what I wanted to achieve with the money and agreed this money should be invested in Trust for my daughter’s school. Whilst I had invested before, I didn’t know much about Trusts – something which seemed very complicated! Sam took his time to educate me about the benefits of Trusts and how they worked – he has a way of being able to explain complicated things in simple, easy to understand manner!

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, my money has been invested and has been growing nicely for my daughters future. I know it’s been set up in a way which will help minimise the tax I will pay on any profit I make.

What could they have done better?

Nothing. I have known Sam for few years now and I have always found him to be extremely helpful and he always goes above the call of duty. He has wealth of knowledge when it comes to finances so I tend to run everything past him before I make a decision on anything. Whenever I call or send him a text message, he will usually get back to me the very same day. If he says he’ll do something, he always does. Sam is a genuine person that I trust wholeheartedly to give me the best advice for my own benefit, which is rare to find these days. I have already recommended him to several of my friends and they too have been impressed with his service.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Samsu

I found the meeting very informative and explained every thing in an understandable way, he was very friendly and up front with the information to help me. i am looking forward to working with him in the future with my financial needs.

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

I wanted to move my investments from a high-street bank which was not giving enough face to face contact & was difficult to contact with questions. I chose Samsu as he had looked after my portfolio at the bank in the past and done an excellent job.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Samsu did a detailed of analysis of how my investment would be handled, an did a comprehensive comparison of how the new packaged compared to the one I held. This allowed me to make an informed decision.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

With regards to the financial aspect, considering the volatile situation we are in at the moment with the Covid pandemic I am happy with the way my investments are performing. As a Financial Advisor Samsu is experienced, trustworthy, proactive and easy to talk to. He keeps regular contact with news and updates, is always available by phone when needed. I would have no hesitation in recommending him.

What could they have done better?

Nothing that I can think of at the mooment.

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

I knew I could do better with investments and pensions and wasn't getting the products from my bank that I wanted. I didn't want to spend the time doing my own investments so I sought help from Sam, who I first got to know when he worked for a high street bank some 10 years ago.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Sam helped me with a review of my current investments and pensions. This was all free of charge initially with no commitment on my side. The review of pensions helped me to consolidate my existing pensions and also maximise my allowance.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

It is too early to tell, but I have every confidence that I will.

What could they have done better?

Nothing I can think of.

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

I was looking to consolidate my various pensions into one pot with a better ROI to meet my desired pension income at retirement.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

At our initial meeting which lasted 3 hours, Sam was very thorough talking me through the options I had available for my pensions, the fees involved in transferring to the new pension portfolio and his recommendation on the best returns for me based on the age I want to retire. At our next meeting, he was also very thorough explaining the progress he had made and next steps.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

My pensions have been transferred into one pot which is much simpler to manage and I am able to track it. Sam keeps in regular contact with me with any updates or feedback

What could they have done better?

I cannot think of anything at this time that I would want to change. I would seek Sam's help again in terms of any other financial advice I need re investments or savings.

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

Consolidate of my wife and my pension pot onto a single platform.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

Retirement planning and consolidation of pensions.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

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

Wanted to consolidate investments with a specialist. Needed support on Inheritance Planning.

How has Samsu Miah helped you?

In depth knowledge and suggestions with well explained recommendations.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Still work in progress.

What could they have done better?

Too early to tell.