Elliott Swatton

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

During my working life I had saved money in several different ISAs, fixed term bonds, etc. I left work before retirement age, and had a personal pension from there plus a couple of smaller ones that I had opened. I was in need of advice as to what action to take with all these different investments.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott advised me to transfer the various products under one umbrella but also ensured that funds would be accessible to get me through to state pension. He enquired about my lifestyle and goals I wanted to achieve and importantly my attitude towards risk and then put forward his suggestions as to what to do and where to invest. I came to Elliott with a limited financial knowledge and he took time to explain anything I was unsure about.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I am happy with the outcome, although obviously the events over the last few years have taken their toll somewhat. However, I have learned not to try not to worry and to look at the long term.

What could they have done better?

I can’t think of anything.

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

Need for professional advice on financial planning.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

By thorough review of my finances, arranging investment changes, annual reviews.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. My finances are properly looked after.

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

I was changing jobs and needed to start a SIPP. Since first working with Elliot nearly 10 years ago, he and the wonderful GEMS team have looked after all our savings and investments, responding brilliantly to some major life changes.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliot's expert advice has enabled me to retire early, as planned, despite the political headwinds and unexpected life events.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

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

I was unhappy with my previous IFA and when I met Elliott I realised what I had been missing.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott has understood exactly what we need as a family

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?

Help with future financial planning

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He has provided good planning and advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing springs to mind

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

Needed to help to understand what my financial future looked like and to consolidate the various accounts to see the bigger picture.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Provided a comprehensive financial plan and advised on pensions and investments

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

Retirement planning

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Improved my confidence concerning my financial security during retirement

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

I was looking to retire early and needed clear advice of options available. Elliott provided this in a way that I could easily understand and buy into. Best thing I have done.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott has given me peace of mind that my finances are being looked after. I feel comfortable that my pension will provide more than adequately for me and my family.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Having retired a number of years earlier than expected and with the financial security to see a future where I can continue to live comfortably - invaluable.

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

We wanted to make changes to our work life to do more of what we were passionate about.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliot has given us the confidence to stop working and pursue what we really wanted. He is always available and responds really quickly to any queries we may have.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes so far ...

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

I needed to check that I was on track for an early retirement

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Careful, thoughtful approach to my circumstances and rock-solid advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Not much

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

I had accumulated various company pensions over the years and wanted to consolidate these. I also wanted to make the most of my savings which were, for the most part, simply sitting in my bank account.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott is first and foremost is a lovely person - sensitive, understanding and insightful. He has a genuine interest in my well-being and happiness. Sessions with him are almost like therapy. At the start, he took great pains to get to know me, my family situation, my goals, hopes and dreams for the future so he is able to give me meaningful, sensible advice for my particular situation. Thus far he has advised me on ISAs, pensions and longer-term investments.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. Almost every year (apart from when Covid hit), my investments have increased by much more than the average.

What could they have done better?

Nothing. The whole team at GEM are wonderful - personable, professional, knowledgeable, responsive and understanding.

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

Looking for a disciplined approach to additional savings outside of existing pension plans.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Optimisation of ISA savings for me and my wife and effective management of additional savings.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes and Elliott has challenged me to consider plans for the future

What could they have done better?

Could have taken a more proactive approach from time to time.

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

Retirement was approaching and we felt that we needed the reassurance of an external review of our financial situation. We wanted to know whether we needed to take any particular action to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable retirement. Protection against inflation was a key concern.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He has provided advice and reassurance that has enabled us to be confident about our future financial wellbeing, despite the more recent turbulent times in the world and in the U.K. economy. We trust Elliott to give us the right professional advice to help us achieve our goals and he does this objectively, letting us know when we need to take a different perspective.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

To some extent but current economic circumstances have affected our holdings in the short term (as they would have done wherever we had put our money) However, our focus is on the longer term and we believe that Elliott has given us the best advice with this objective in mind.

What could they have done better?

Nothing we can think of.

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

I had a number of financial products which I needed advice on what to do with. Elliott reviewed all the products, consolidated and invested the money.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Investment in private pension, ISAs and GIAs.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely. The portfolio invested via the Nucleus platform has performed really well.

What could they have done better?

maybe more regular contact, but i have no complaints. They have given me great advice and service.

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

I was looking initially for pension advice

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott has been my adviser for over 12 years. Initially he set up a pension for me and has since helped with other investments. Elliott has helped me plan not only for my retirement but for other life events I'd not given much though to.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. I'm very happy with the financial plan Elliott has set up.

What could they have done better?

I've given this some thought and can honestly say I can't think of anything Elliott could have done better. Elliott is very knowledgeable, patient and personable. I've spoken to other members of staff at GEM and all have been polite and helpful.

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

Trustworthy and knowledgeable help.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He gave sound advice according to my circumstances. Understood what I needed and even tho I feel I was a small value client the advice felt the same as big value.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. Given the current tricky financial climate.

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

Approaching retirement age, wanted advice on portfolio & potential income in retirement.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

In-depth interview with my wife and I, covering our family, lifestyle, income & assets, attitude to risk, and what we want from retirement. Detailed explanation of how we might be able to fund out desired lifestyle. Selection of an appropriate portfolio & taking over management of an appropriate selection of our assets.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, definitely. I have a much clearer understanding of the picture, and it's no longer something I have to worry about.

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

I was a high-earning company owner, looking for advice on financial planning and pension options.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Planned our pension options and made sure I retained the maximum tax relief.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nice coffee in his office; shame about the Lockdown!

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

Promotion at work

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Thorough assessment of my financial situation and short, medium and long-term plans Setting up new investment account to hold all my products in one place Generally making management of my financial affairs easier

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing I am very happy with the service

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

Our children inherited money and we needed investment advice. As the children have got older Elliott has included them, helping them to understand their investments.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He set up the investments and we’ve had regular updates and review meetings. Subsequently, we asked for his advice on retirement planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I feel confident in his advice. He is knowledgeable, professional and has great integrity.

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

To invest money for retirement and looking for a bias towards green promoting funds

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Straight forward and friendly advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes , the suggested pension and invested funds have worked well for me

What could they have done better?

Bit more personal communication and updates sometimes rather than just a general news letter .but contact is always available of course

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

Advice on value of Pensions

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Provided comprehensive 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?

The need to plan my retirement from a financial point of view and consolidating my pensions and savings

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott helped me to consolidate all my assets. He projected for me how my financial situation would look for my retirement, and with his team arranged my pension investment portfolio. He advised me on my pension plan and my current monthly drawdown.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have received the advice and of course practical assistance to reach my goal.

What could they have done better?

I sometimes had problems with contacts with the office especially by email. Maybe a personal contact within the team would have been a good idea and a replacement in case of someone leaving the company.

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

Elliot was able to aluminate the mortgage market and possibilities of Let-to-buy.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliot was able to initially advise on Let-to-buy mortgage and hand off to a very good mortgage broker going forward. Additionally Elliot has been helping with pension.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

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

Pensions and financial planning advice needed

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott and his team at GEMS assisted across all areas needed assistance with and manage my portfolio of investments and pensions

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely - am very happy with the client services provided and feel i am in very safe hands

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

I was in receipt of a defined contribution pension.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He gave me advice on a drawdown pension and an employee share scheme.

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?

We wished to change from one who had become tied to St James's Place and ceased providing what we wanted.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott has provided outstanding support and enabled us to build a retirement plan which has proved absolutely ideal for our purposes and gives us total freedom of mind.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, in every way.

What could they have done better?

Nothing.

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

I was looking for professional, unbiased advice from a trusted source.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott helped me look at the bigger picture around my financial situation, both now and in the future. This approach continues to help with my financial planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Definitely.

What could they have done better?

Nothing comes to mind.

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

I had multiple pensions from various employers which I wanted to consolidate.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott helped me to consolidate the pensions and has since given me advice about ISA and pension contributions. In addition, we speak of the near and medium term future, inheritance and potential retirement plans.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

In terms of returns on investment - yes (even in 2020 when frankly I was expecting a far worse outcome due to Covid).

What could they have done better?

Elliott could not have done anything more, in my view. He continues to support me in every way possible to achieve my investment but also life goals. I value his financial expertise but also the fact that he is understanding, compassionate and caring. He has become a confidant, someone I can turn to in times of difficulty. Talking to him always makes me feel better and makes the path ahead clearer. Nor do I ever feel that he is motivated by self-interest. It is all about what I want and what would make me happy.

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

I have worked with IFA's for many years and I must admit to being continually disappointed with the lack of engagement unless there was potential for a sale. This wasn't what I wanted.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott has taken time to understand my life and my needs going forward. He has devised a coherent plan that I can understand and always been available for financial queries as they arise.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We live in difficult times so my expectations are not high but things appear to be recovering from last years shock.

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

About 10 years ago I had several pensions from a few employers and some savings arrangements which were not really performing.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott reviewed all the savings arrangements and advised how reinvest them in a single platform, which includes my pension, ISA and General Investment Account. His services include an initial risk assessment, advising on the spread of funds and which are the best in class funds.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

The combined arrangement has performed really well, and it is possible to log in and view the accounts whenever I like. At the age of 40 my savings were going nowhere, and now 10 years on, I have achieved a very solid financial position.

What could they have done better?

Nothing really on the advice side. I sometimes slightly lose track of who is who in your office - but I guess this is a sign of a growing team!

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

Consolidated pensions

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Great pension planning and investment advice

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

I don’t have any additional comments, good altogether experience

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

Selling my share of my business and taking early retirement.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott gave us very sound and positive advice at every step, taking the time to really understand what we both wanted out of our retirement, and planning accordingly. Some of his advice was truly pivotal in altering our approach to financial planning, and the wrapper system has simplified our finances hugely.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

So far very much so. We have enjoyed our retirement free of financial concerns that would have been a concern without Elliotts guidance.

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

I received a mail from a pension provider about transferring my final salary pension I had from a previous firm to a non final salary scheme. You had to get advice from an advisor before you could make your election

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He further discussed my finances and helped me allocate resources more efficiently and profitably

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

I would like to see a list of fees that we are charged versus other providers so you can judge where they are versus peers

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

We didn’t meet Elliott but one of his colleagues

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

Had very positive initial consultation.

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

Manage my portfolio better

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Built a financial plan and improved what investments I am holding.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

Nothing else!

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

I wanted to invest my pension

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Provided clear sound advice, and took care of transferring funds from existing investments into the new porftoflio which he recommended

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

My pension fund was quite a large sum of money so when searching for an advisor I was very wary of knowing who or what company I could trust as you hear so many stories of scams. I was worried that one day I would go for a meeting with a financial advisor and find their office was now empty and they had disappeared with my life savings! I don't know how, but Financial advisors need to make sure potential clients are 100% assured that their money is completely safe. The problem is a scammer would also be trying to give you 100% assurance so it is hard to know who to trust.

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

Joint house purchase and need to simplify investment portfolio.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott explained the services that GEM could provide and provided options that matched our goals.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

Didn't use a IFA to change from Capped Drawdown to Flexi Access did it myself.

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

Needed professional help to ensure I maximised interest as far as possible.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He understood my needs and attitude to risk. Looked at long term goals

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes. Everything has been well managed.

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

Reaching a certain age (50) your mind turns to thinking about retirement and my husband and I began wondering how we could find out if we would ever have enough to retire comfortably. We had savings and ISAs and pensions with various different organisations and funds which were good at the time, but had slumped over the past few years.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott took us on a journey, firstly to identify our goals and desires and attitude to risk. We then went on a fact finding to establish exactly what we had where, whether it was a good location for our savings and then what our current expenditure was. Elliott then produced the most insightful financial report, far better than we could have imagined. It provided us with absolute clarification of what we needed to do and the impact of the timing of these decisions. He then also identified better funds for us to invest in, providing clarity and surety along the way.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are within the first 2 years of our plan and the markets have been against us, but our plan is longer term and the growth is still greater than we would have achieved under our previous schemes. The real outcome of understanding where we stand and what our future choices are has been made absolutely clear and I feel confident we now know where we stand!

What could they have done better?

Not sure! the communication we received, the patience to answer all our questions, realigning all our investments and the security this has given us is terrific. We have have knowledge, understanding and security knowing that we are in safe hands with Elliott.

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

My wife and I had built up a fairly substantial cash balance sitting in various building society accounts earning low interest. We wished to investment the cash but in a fairly low risk manner. We sought advice on this and chose Gem as financial advisors.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliot talked through our assets, our outgoings, and our plans for the future, together with a review of cash holdings held in the name of our children. Elliott proposed a planned movement from cash to other investments over a period of time, whilst also advising on tax planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are investing for the long term. We are happy with the investment vehicles proposed by Elliott, and the annual review process.

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

Advice about Personal Pension planning and general investments

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He explained the available options clearly which helped me in my decision making.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes

What could they have done better?

I’m happy with the way advice was given so gave no suggestions.

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

Poor service and disappointing results from a previous financial adviser.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He looked in depth into our current financial position and our medium and long term ambitions and advised accordingly.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

The overall results have been better that we had expected and the frequent contact plus the annual reviews have allowed us to undertake strategic financial planning with Elliott's help.

What could they have done better?

I honestly cannot think of anything that Elliott could have improved upon.

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

Lack of appropriate knowledge and looking to retire early - needed to find out true position and what it means for the future.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He took all the information from myself and my wife and then displayed it back to us in such a way that it was clear and concise and in a way that we could easily understand. He was able to model different scenarios and took into account our personal aspirations and include our approach to risk - therefore we felt a lot more in control of our futures.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

So far we have been very happy with the outcome.

What could they have done better?

Difficult to answer but Elliott has been able to answer all our questions so far.

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

To construct a suitable pension plan, combining several pensions together, both money purchase and final salary schemes, matching future lifestyle expectations.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott advised on a structure that suited what my requirements were and guided me through the process advising on pension law, restrictions and possibilities.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, in fact the structure advised has help me to retire a few years early.

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

I had left work where I was a member of a Group Personal Pension Plan and was looking for advice on what options were available as to what I could do with my pension pot and which option would be best for me.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott is friendly, courteous and professional and I warmed to him from the start. He gathered all necessary personal information, financial information, lifestyle, what my intentions were for retirement, what level of risk taker I was with investments, etc. It was at the time when pension choices were changing and he clearly explained all the options and advised which he considered would be most appropriate for me and why. If I did not understand something, he would put me at ease and go over it again without making me feel "inadequate" in any way.. Over the years I had invested in various different savings tools with several different providers and he advised what would be the best way to proceed with these.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I am very satisfied thus far.

What could they have done better?

I can't think of anything.

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

The interest rate on my savings was very low, so I was looking for a trustworthy company to arrange suitable investments for the longer term. I considered using my bank but decided on GEM.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

An investment portfolio was opened in 2011, I receive regular dividend payments and the capital has grown steadily since then, maximising my stocks and shares ISA allowance each year.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, the capital growth and dividend payments have exceeded what I would have received from savings interest.

What could they have done better?

Nothing that I can think of. Elliott visits me for an annual review to go through things and answer any questions. I am able to contact him in between times if I have any queries.

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

I wanted impartial advise on where best to invest my money for my future both long, medium and short term.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott helped me look at my situation from a holistic view point. This enabled me to give him the level of information he needed to discuss and plan the right options for me. I feel comfortable that my investments are regularly reviewed and assessed to ensure that these investments continue to work for me.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I have seen a good return on my investments, which has resulted in agreed adjustments in some of the products.

What could they have done better?

So far, so good.

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

I have used various IFA's for many years and not been impressed with their approach to long term care. I wanted a good relationship that involved active monitoring of my investments and proactive advice.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He took time to understand what I was trying to do with my investments and has set up a regular review plan. The GEM team have also been great in keeping in touch and being available when I have queries about issues that arise with pensions etc.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I feel a lot happier that I am valued as a customer and being actively monitored and advised. There is always a massive element of trust in a relationship with an FIA and I feel that Elliott and his team are with me.

What could they have done better?

At this point I am happy that my future plans are being considered and thought about. I am not keen on being bombarded by huge amounts of general information for the sake of it. I am happy with considered and personalised contact when it is appropriate and I trust that Elliott is providing that for me.

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

Got to my mid 50s and felt I needed advice.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Clear practical advice. Explained well. Feel like he’s on our side (as he should be).

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, the portfolio is growing steadily.

What could they have done better?

Nothing

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

To access 25% of my husband's pension and to invest the remainder in a new pension and a pension for myself.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott organised everything and made it very easy.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely.

What could they have done better?

Everything was brilliant, very efficient, easy to understand and the result was exactly as we hoped.

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

In order to access 25% of my pension pot.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Ellliott made it possible to do this and carry on getting my company to put in their previous pension matching payments. My pension provider said this was not possible.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely, within 6 weeks of meeting Elliott, it was all sorted.

What could they have done better?

I cannot recommend Elliott highly enough. In fact, I have given his number to a couple of friends already. I should point out that Elliott was recommended to me by a close friend.

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

Needed financial advice for savings and pensions.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott fully understands my needs and is always open and honest - have complete faith in him.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Absolutely.

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

I had various pensions with different providers through work schemes and I wanted some advice about consolidating them. Also, I was coming to that age where I thought it would be helpful to seek advice about investments for life beyond work.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott asked me a series of very detailed questions, not just about my finances but my life in general. I felt he really wanted to understand what make me tick, what my goals in life were and how to achieve them. I also found the sessions rather therapeutic, truth be told, and it made me take a look at life from various perspectives which I hadn't considered before. During this time I also went from being an employee to being self employed and Elliott was very helpful in reassuring me during this transition in my working life.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, in terms of my investments, I'm happy with the way things are progressing.

What could they have done better?

I honestly don't think Elliott could have done any more for me. As far as I'm concerned, he goes above and beyond the call of duty. He is, additionally, a lovely man - so easy to talk to, empathetic, courteous and professional.

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

I was looking for an adviser to help me with my personal pension.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott put a plan in place for me to save for my retirement. From our meeting Elliott came up with a financial plan which was incredibly useful.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I have used Elliott and Gem for around 10 years now and am very happy with the outcome so far.

What could they have done better?

There is nothing I can think of that Elliott could have done better.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

My wife and I are seeking a financial adviser to help us plan our finances for the rest of our lives. Recently we have had initial consultations with several such advisers and we both agreed that Elliott's introductory presentation was the best that we have seen so far. He was very easy to talk to and unlike some of the other advisers we have met, he focused on what we actually wanted to do with our lives and not just on our financial aims. He also spent more time talking with my wife, to establish her goals than the other advisers. We were both very impressed with him.

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

Establishment of a Trust and investment of the funds.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliot and his staff provided valuable advice and guidance over a number of years. Firstly with regard to setting up the Trust and engaging with a private bank, and then providing advice when investing the funds in a safe, managed manner within the scope of the terms of the Trust to ensure maximum growth whilst minimising risk.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

The outcome was exactly as we had hoped. Modest growth, yet with minimal risk throughout the term of the investment.

What could they have done better?

Nothing. The service and communication throughout was first class.

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

The sale of my business meant I had monies to invest and also wanted to consider options for the family and possible purchase of a flat.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Helped us understand our priorities and what was important for the short and longer term, had a powerful and engaging way of discussing our personal needs and fears.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, have successfully bought a flat and invested in funds that are meeting our expectations.

What could they have done better?

At the moment we are vey satisfied with the advice and service we have got from Gem FS and Elliott Swatton in particular.

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

I needed guidance with building my pension savings.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He helped me to clarify what my long term goals were and my attitude towards risk with my money. He ensured that I understood how my money would be handled and where it would be going.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes.

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

I wanted to amalgamate my pension schemes from various employers and to get some advice about investments.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

He conducted a very thorough review of my circumstances in order to understand my personal goals and offer the most appropriate advice.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

So far things are going according to plan.

What could they have done better?

I honestly don't think anything could have been done better. He has been professional, thorough and responsive throughout.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

Elliott proved to be a competent and sincere professional advisor during our meeting to run over my requirement. At end of our 15 minutes, he was happy to recommend that I do not require his expertise in my case.

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

help to plan my pension.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Detailed advice.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Almost. The market took a downturn recently which was, initially, hard to swallow but Elliott reassured me about it and I know that I need to be patient.

What could they have done better?

Nothing really. I need to pay better attention.

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Elliott

He has not been in contact, several days later, so I cannot answer whether his services are accurate reeflection or whether he was clear about his charges

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

A fresh look and perspective of my finances.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Bespoke, personal service tailoring advice according to my needs and future aspirations. Professional and friendly service. Very good value for money.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

I have seen an improvement in my financial security.

What could they have done better?

At this current time, I can't think of anything.

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

See below - we wished to move to an independent financial adviser focussed on post-retirement financial advice and services.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

We moved to Gem from our previous financial adviser because we felt he was not giving us appropriate advice as we changed status from being employed to being retired. As Gem have confirmed, in many respects our former financial adviser did a good job in ensuring we laid aside and invested appropriately as we earned, but they were simply not equipped (and were 'tied' to one investment provider) to sort out disbursement rather than investment. We have found Elliott and Gem have been able to re-distribute our savings, re-calibrate our financial planning to meet all our aspirations in retirement and provide ample reassurance.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes we have, we are extremely happy with the service and advice we have received.

What could they have done better?

See above. We continue to have no complaints; nor any thoughts on what might be done differently. We receive sufficient information to assure us that our planning is sensible.

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

I was aware that my endowment policies were suspect, and that I needed to pro-actively plan for my mortgage, university fees and other life style choices (retirement etc). I need to pro-actively get a grip.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

My advisor has helped me to devise and implement a family financial strategy that takes into account my risk profile and my future needs and plans. With his help, I am confident in my planning for mortgage repayments, university fees, retirement and lifestyle choices. I am able to make positive informed choices. I am pleased with the investment vehicles chosen and the risk mitigation acts (insurance and diversification). My advisor is approachable and balances professionalism with a light engaging style. I am confident in disclosing and discussing family issues such as university choices, career chioces and lifestyle plans in an open fashion to inform the flexing of my financial strategy.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, I am now in control of my finances, I have a portfolio of funds and can plan positively for retirement and life-style choices.

What could they have done better?

I am interested in the investment vehicles chosen as a hobby. But I remain a little unclear as to the inter-relation between my ISA provider, and portfolio etc. We no longer receive a quartely market analysis digest. I haven't chosen to investigate the level of fees and I do not use the web-link.

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

I was made redundant by my Company after being with them for 36 years and needed advice about how to deal with my Company Pension Pot.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott is a very knowledgeable pension adviser and an excellent communicator who listens well and therefore has been able to carefully ascertain the level of risk with which I am happy to engage. He was able to help me understand the processes which took place when my pension pot was transferred to his control and see how it seamlessly transferred to the portfolio investors. I receive regular updates on my portfolio and if at any time I feel concerned about impacts of outside influences I can ring and have a conversation which is most usually sufficient or Elliott will make an appointment to see me in a few days so that he can allay my fears and answer my questions. Elliott seems to have endless patience and kindly repetition does not phase him. Elliott has the support of some very impressive software which assisted him in demonstrating just how far my funds would stretch in the future given certain parameters and enabled me to investigate a variety of outgoings in the future both far and near. I can only say that Elliott has been one of the kindest and most helpful people I have come across at a time of significant change in my life as I have transferred from full-time employment through part-time employment to retirement. I have had the benefit of an excellent guide in Elliott through this puzzling and perplexing process.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Elliott continues to advise me by and watch over my pension fund investments. He provides me with an annual review in which we are able to discuss changes in circumstances both Nationally and personally. I continue to be content with the advise Elliott has provided.

What could they have done better?

I have difficulty thinking of anything that could improve the service I receive from Elliott. During this time either he or one of his colleagues has been available to help me within a day or so.

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

I needed to transfer my pension with better advice.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott advised me in relation to my pension. He provided me with excellent advice about the change and demonstrated to me that the new pension arrangements would be for my benefit. He was up front about fees and also gave me some good advice about financial planning. I would thoroughly recommend Elliott and his team at Gem &Co. Friendly open service and always keeping me up to date with my plan. I can trust him to work for my benefit.

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?

I was looking to ensure my pension was adequate and had never consulted an IFA previously.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Over many years and a number of varied jobs, my pension pot(s) had become very messy. I am in my 50's - and I really needed to get things in order and plan for what may come as I (continue to) get older. I had a number of thoughts about what I wanted to do, and needed clarity about my fianancial situation to explore these options. Elliott was great and using his depth of knowledege and experience, together with some software tools he had, we managed to rationalize my pension pots into a very cost effective and efficient pension plan, and he has given me a very clear and in depth picture of what I need to do to meet any objectives I may have. I continue to utilize Elliott's advice - and could not reccommend him more highly.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Great outcome from Elliott. He has really helped put me on a secure footing.

What could they have done better?

It would be great if he could do more around tax planning and perhaps mortgages - but I've pretty much focussed on pension planning with Elliott

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

Unhappy with existing FIA.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

I have experienced a few IFA services now and Elliott is the first to offer a truly proactive and detailed approach to my modest financial planning needs. He always takes time to explain the options in detail in our reviews. I do feel that confident that my needs are understood and that he is monitoring the situation well. I feel safe in his hands.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes, steady growth.

What could they have done better?

I am happy with the way we work together. I think an annual review is appropriate and I am happy that if opportunities arise in between I will be contacted.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

It is important to have the utmost trust and confidence in your advisor and the guidance they are providing. Elliott not only met ourexpectations, he exceeded them at every meeting. He gave us peace of mind that the decisions we were making had a solid foundation and suggested alternative options to further enhance our future investments and security. We would whole-heartedly recommend Elliott and Gem & Co to others.

What could they have done better?

If it's not broken, don't fix it!

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott is very approachable and a patient listener. He explains everything clearly and is always happy to answer any questions I have . He understands what my goals are and my attitude to risk and using his financial planning software has been able to show me different scenarios which has really helped put my mind at rest and made me feel more in control of my future. He is very professional and knowledgeable and I have complete confidence in him.

What could they have done better?

I can't think of anything that needs improving!

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Elliott is a very professional person, dealing with all the information with confidentiality. He has an excellent knowledge on the requirements to make my retirement 'comfortable'. He had all the required information at hand, and was able to answer queries constructively.

How has Elliott Swatton helped you?

Understands client vision and situation For me is the same age so gets what I need to achieve Incorporated my partners needs into the equation for financial planning

What could they have done better?

Could be better at tracking progress more regularly rather than just one review per year