1st Chartered Financial Planning Limited

I contacted Sylvia at 1st Chartered as I was wanting help with pensions as I feel pensions are a minefield and didn't understand the Jargon. Sylvia explained all I needed to know in plain English.

We were seeking financial advice and help regarding recent retirement and future financial planning. Both Sylvia and Elliot help by guiding us through the decision making process, helping us to make the right choices for our future following the Phil's recent retirement . We have limited knowledge in this area and they were invaluable with their down to earth approach, nothing was too much trouble even when we didn't understand. We could not be in better hands. We are completely satisfied with service provided by 1st Chartered.

We had a number of investments which had not been reviewed for many years. We also decided it was time to address our financial goals and ensure we would remain financially secure for the rest of our lives. Sylvia provided us with a Financial Plan which gave us the peace of mind we were seeking. We have been extremely happy with the investments she arranged for us, but more importantly we have experienced a wonderful customer service over the years and could not recommend it highly enough. We are completely content with their service.

I approached 1st Chartered to help sort my financial affairs when my husband died in 1993. Sylvia was recommended to me so a meeting was arranged. I felt she was someone who would be helpful. She helped sort things in a clear and easily understood way. It helped put my mind at rest that my affairs were being well looked after. I am financially secure, more so than I could ever have hoped for. Even Sylvia's staff, over the years, have been first class, being able to answer questions if Sylvia wasn't available.

I have been a client of 1st Chartered for over 15 years. In common with many busy people my savings and pension arrangements were an ad hoc mixture of private pensions, fixed term and easy access savings accounts, which I felt needed professional input to ensure the long term effective management of my assets for retirement. After some initial investigations I spoke with my long serving accountant who recommended I include Sylvia Bentham in my search for an adviser. During my first meeting I felt comfortable with her approach, she took on board my initial expectations and offered a range of possible courses of action for me to consider.Over the last 15 years the technical quality of her advice has been consistently good and she does appear to make a special effort to keep up to date with future trends and possible or likely impending tax issues. As her business has expanded she has built up a small and effective team. This combined with modern I.T. systems has enabled 1st Chartered to respond promptly to requests for information.Whilst having no current actual experience of other adviser costs I cant really pass judgement, but speaking with colleagues and friends I consider that advice received over the years has been value for money and of high quality.

Following retirement I had a large lump sum to invest. Sylvia arranged to invest the lump sum. Transferring an under-performing additional pension. Inheritance planning. Over 7 years, all investments have performed well. They invite constructive criticism and respond positively.

Sylvia has provided a logical and understandable approach to my financial needs. Uses the most up to date methods to keep track of my investments and provides regular updates. I am impressed by her commitment to professional development which is not just gaining qualifications but uses these to enhance her service to the clients.

I had just retired and was not happy with the professional competence of my previous adviser. I wish that I had been introduced to Sylvia Bentham years ago! In contrast to previous financial advisers that I have encountered Sylvia is straight talking, cuts out all the nonsense and gets directly to the facts. I have been advised to seek a cautious portfolio given that I am now retired. The service that Sylvia and the team offers is so far and above any advice that I have been previously given.

We had inherited money and wanted to know the best way to invest it to get a favourable return. Sylvia took the trouble to get to know us, our lifestyle and how we would like the future to pan out. Her advice and service has been invaluable - she's brilliant!

We were unhappy with the quality and service of the financial adviser we were currently with and contacted 1st Chartered Financial Planning following a friend's recommendation. Sylvia gave us advice on how to invest our money in a way which we felt comfortable with and gave us advice on how to use our ISA allowances. We are very pleased with all the advice given by Sylvia and her team - They are professional and efficient

We needed someone to manage my mother's estate/assets and provide an income to pay for her Nursing Home fees and also to give her a good return on her investments. Sylvia and her team provided the know how and the expertise to organise and set up investment for my mothers assets and ensure the best return for her needs. The products and services provided by Sylvia and her team have provided us with outstanding results for my mothers investments, my brother and I are very appreciative of this company's work and feel we are getting a value for money product. In my honest opinion I don't think this Financial adviser could have done anything better than they already have. They are a professional and trusted company who treat their customers in an outstanding manner.

I needed financial advice on retirement. I had several private pensions, Sylvia got them together and advised me on the best options for my needs. The advice was followed and the benefits have been everything I hoped for. I found Sylvia's advice clear and straightforward. Would recommend her and 1st Chartered to anyone.

We have had excellent advice from Sylvia for about 17 years. Sylvia knows our affairs in detail, and always explains everything very clearly. Over the years Sylvia has saved us a great deal of money, worry & stress, & has guided us financially in a way we would never have been able to do on our own. Sylvia & her staff have always given 110%, and in a very friendly manner, so we always recommend her. No more to say!

A friendly and professional company who have provided excellent results for me over a number of years.

Absolutely outstanding service for anyone needing to make difficult and complex decisions regarding pensions. Our financial plan was constructed carefully and at very reasonable cost, then thoroughly reviewed with us. Sylvia and her team patiently ensured that we fully understood the findings and the pros and cons of each of the options and that we were making an enlightened rather than a rash decision. Subsequent excellent ongoing support in the form of regular planned reviews and easily accessible by phone if required. Highly recommended.

I wanted somebody to look after my mothers estate in a professional manner and found Sylvia to be upfront and honest in every way, she certainly excelled in every way. Sylvia had the knowledge and expertise to advise and set up exactly what we needed for the protection and income of my mothers estate. Everything Sylvia said she would do has been done and in some ways more than we expected.

My wife and I have been a client for over 10 years. We chose 1st Chartered Financial Planning Ltd because of their Pension expertise, they were one of the few firms with all the relevant qualifications, and truly independent. It was probably the best financial decision we have ever made. They are a small, friendly and extremely knowledgeable team. They take the time to make sure you understand their advice but leave you to make the final call. Their advice gave us the confidence to take early retirement in our 50's and our Annual Reviews with them keep us on track for the future. Finally, one thing I would say, if you are looking for financial advice don't delay. The sooner the better.

We have been with 1st Chartered for four years now and their customer service is as good today as it was from day one. As a very risk averse person by nature all my doubts and Insecurities have firmly been put to bed and I would find it very difficult to trust any other company with our long term financial planning. Outstanding service and knowledge. Thank you very much Sylvia, Elliot and team.

Following redundancy, I wanted to take the opportunity to better understand my financial planning options. In particular, I wanted to consider my retirement planning, taking into account the impact of changes in legislation for pensions and the possibility of undertaking a pension transfer. Sylvia undertook a comprehensive financial planning review with me. This, together with the advice specifically related to pensions that I was interested in, enabled a wider discussion that better informed me and was then sufficient for Sylvia to provide her professional recommendation to best meet my needs. Over a year since the initial recommendation, and supported by regular reviews in the interim, following which I have agreed to suggested changes when deemed necessary, the outcome is as expected.

Seven years prior to retirement, my wife and I needed to ensure that adequate plans were in place to ensure a projected standard of living in retirement that would align with our current standard whilst still in full-time employment. Sylvia provided an in-depth evaluation of our current position, including finely detailed gap analyses. This supported us in making a balanced judgement of our future position and, very professionally advised by Sylvia, understanding in layperson's terms the benefits and drawbacks of the various options available to us in order to bridge the identified gaps. On a personal level, the most important thing that Sylvia did for us was to exercise her skill for explaining in straightforward and understandable language the complex mechanisms of investment and the reasons why we might consider any of a particular range of options. Our expectation at this stage (my wife and I still have some years to go before retirement) is that we should have confidence that our funds are being actively and responsibly managed, and that we are receiving professional and well-informed advice. This is exactly the outcome we have seen. Additionally, we feel that the client/service-provider relationship we have established is very positive and that our trust in Sylvia is entirely justified. A pleasure to do business with.

Seven years prior to retirement, my wife and I needed to ensure that adequate plans were in place to ensure a projected standard of living in retirement that would align with our current standard whilst still in full-time employment. Sylvia provided an in-depth evaluation of our current position, including finely detailed gap analyses. This supported us in making a balanced judgement of our future position and, very professionally advised by Sylvia, understanding in layperson's terms the benefits and drawbacks of the various options available to us in order to bridge the identified gaps. On a personal level, the most important thing that Sylvia did for us was to exercise her skill for explaining in straightforward and understandable language the complex mechanisms of investment and the reasons why we might consider any of a particular range of options. Our expectation at this stage (my wife and I still have some years to go before retirement) is that we should have confidence that our funds are being actively and responsibly managed, and that we are receiving professional and well-informed advice. This is exactly the outcome we have seen. Additionally, we feel that the client/service-provider relationship we have established is very positive and that our trust in Sylvia is entirely justified. A pleasure to do business with.

"We have been with 1st Chartered for four years now and their customer service is as good today as it was from day one. As a very risk averse person by nature all my doubts and Insecurities have firmly been put to bed and I would find it very difficult to trust any other company with our long term financial planning. Outstanding service and knowledge. Thank you very much Sylvia, Elliot and team."

Following redundancy, I wanted to take the opportunity to better understand my financial planning options. In particular, I wanted to consider my retirement planning, taking into account the impact of changes in legislation for pensions and the possibility of undertaking a pension transfer. Sylvia undertook a comprehensive financial planning review with me. This, together with the advice specifically related to pensions that I was interested in, enabled a wider discussion that better informed me and was then sufficient for Sylvia to provide her professional recommendation to best meet my needs. Over a year since the initial recommendation, and supported by regular reviews in the interim, following which I have agreed to suggested changes when deemed necessary, the outcome is as expected.

Absolutely outstanding service for anyone needing to make difficult and complex decisions regarding pensions. Our financial plan was constructed carefully and at very reasonable cost, then thoroughly reviewed with us. Sylvia and her team patiently ensured that we fully understood the findings and the pros and cons of each of the options and that we were making an enlightened rather than a rash decision. Subsequent excellent ongoing support in the form of regular planned reviews and easily accessible by phone if required. Highly recommended.

My wife and I have been a client for over 10 years. We chose 1st Chartered Financial Planning Ltd because of their Pension expertise, they were one of the few firms with all the relevant qualifications, and truly independent. It was probably the best financial decision we have ever made. They are a small, friendly and extremely knowledgeable team. They take the time to make sure you understand their advice but leave you to make the final call. Their advice gave us the confidence to take early retirement in our 50's and our Annual Reviews with them keep us on track for the future. Finally, one thing I would say, if you are looking for financial advice don't delay. The sooner the better.

When I first met Sylvia Bentham in October 1998, she wasn’t just interested in my finances, she was interested in me as a person and the here and now. This enabled her to design a portfolio based around my lifestyle and for all my future financial requirements and consequently I gained a friend as well as an advisor. In 2004 my husband had no problems moving his portfolio to Sylvia from his previous advisors of over 20 years. He feels as confident in her abilities to help secure our future, as I do.

My husband and I have been receiving financial advice from Sylvia and her team for a number of years and have always been very happy with the level of service received. The fact that we are now able to see in a concreate form , by means of the computerised model, the level of financial security we have and know that our savings are sufficient to enable us to enjoy a reasonable standard of living for the foreseeable future has given us both considerable peace of mind.

I have known Sylvia since 2003. I have been impressed with her unique blend of professionalism and approachability. I believe my portfolio has been managed well and have always found her to be honest and to the point. She listens to my situation and goals, and has considered my investments as part of my life plan. I have found it extremely helpful to have a structured annual review, which has been clearly prepared. At these reviews I found it particularly helpful that everything was explained to me, including the use of easy to understand projections.

I have been a client of 1st Chartered for many years. Sylvia looks after every aspect of my funds and investments, which I have always found to be a subject which I did not understand and of which I was somewhat fearful. Not only has she managed my funds with excellence, but her unique ability is to explain to a lay person exactly what can or can not be done in simple terms and at the same time give the listener confidence, not only in her ability, but also in the listeners ability to understand and choose the options. I find this a rare gift.

Sylvia made everything so clear and interesting, as well as making me feel happy, welcome and important in our business dealings. I look forward the future and know that I will be satisfied with your company.