Acumen Financial Planning Limited
15th July 2019
We provide clients with a clear vision of their financial future.
We can advise you on
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Pensions & retirement
- Annuity purchase
- Auto enrolment
- Pension consolidation
- Pension drawdown
- Pensions review
- Pensions transfer
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Mortgages
- Buy to let
- Buying commercial property
- Buying first home
- Flexible mortgages
- Next home / Remortgaging
- Self-employed mortgages
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Financial planning
- Wealth management
-
Investments
- ISAs
- Investing for income
- Investment trusts
- OEICs
-
Savings
- Lump sum
- Regular savings
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Insurance & protection
- Critical illness
- Income protection insurance
- Life insurance
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Tax & trust planning
- Capital gains tax
- Estate planning
- Income tax
-
Business
- Group pensions
-
Long Term Care
- Long term care
Meet our advisers
Rhian Morgan MA (Hons) DipPFS®
Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS)
To achieve DipPFS individuals must achieve 140 credits. At least 80 credits must be at Diploma or AFPC level.
Evan Duffus BA (Hons) DipPFS®
Chartered Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS)
To achieve DipPFS individuals must achieve 140 credits. At least 80 credits must be at Diploma or AFPC level.
Accreditations
David Gow CFPCM MSc APFS CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM professional
Chartered Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
CeMAP - Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (LIBF)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, mortgage products, repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.
CFP - Certified Financial Planner Licence (IFP)
An internationally recognised financial planning credential. The holder must demonstrate a combination of experience, financial qualifications (usually AFPC/DipPFS) or equivalent, an IFP assessment, ongoing educational activity (continuous professional development) and ethical behaviour.
SV1 - Saving and Investment (CII)
This examination assessed the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.
J06 - Investment Principles, Markets and Environment (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of: how the economic environment and individual company performance affects investment performance and investment decision making; how risk is measured and managed; the main principles governing how to construct an investment portfolio; the range of investment management services, how their performance is evaluated and their regulatory environment.
J05 - Pension Income Options (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.
J04 - Pension Funding Options (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: main tax and legal frameworks that govern the accumulation phase of building up retirement benefits under registered pension schemes; features of defined contribution and defined benefit pensions; choices faced by early leavers and use of transfer value analysis; State retirement benefits available, including the risks and suitability of contracting out of the State Second Pension.
J02 - Trusts (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: legal principles associated with the creation and management of a trust; main types of trusts that are common in the UK; taxation considerations relevant to trusts.
J01 - Personal Tax (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of: the basic structure of the tax system and self-assessment; the main taxes on income and capital that may be charged on individuals, the self-assessment system and how tax liabilities are computed; impact of residence and domicile on an individuals liability to UK tax.
CF9 - Pensions Simplification (CII)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the Government’s simplified pension taxation regime which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.
CF6 - Certificate in Mortgage Advice (CII)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, mortgage products, repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.
AFPC - Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (CII)
In order to have completed this qualification, individuals were required to obtain three units. These could have been selected from any combination of the available units at that time but must have included the compulsory G10 unit - Taxation and Trusts.
AF5 - Financial Planning Process (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop an understanding of the financial planning process when giving advice to clients.
AF4 - Investment Planning (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to investments and the management of investment portfolios.
AF3 - Pension Planning (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to personal and corporate pensions.
Accreditations
Kevin MacKenzie DipPFS®
Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS)
To achieve DipPFS individuals must achieve 140 credits. At least 80 credits must be at Diploma or AFPC level.
Keith Mackie CFPCM DipPFS® MCIBS CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM Professional
Certified Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
CFP - Certified Financial Planner Licence (IFP)
An internationally recognised financial planning credential. The holder must demonstrate a combination of experience, financial qualifications (usually AFPC/DipPFS) or equivalent, an IFP assessment, ongoing educational activity (continuous professional development) and ethical behaviour.
Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS)
To achieve DipPFS individuals must achieve 140 credits. At least 80 credits must be at Diploma or AFPC level.
Accreditations
Sue Williamson
Chartered Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
Advanced Diploma In Financial Planning (CII)
This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covers topics like: personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.
AFPC - Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (CII)
In order to have completed this qualification, individuals were required to obtain three units. These could have been selected from any combination of the available units at that time but must have included the compulsory G10 unit - Taxation and Trusts.
SV1 - Saving and Investment (CII)
This examination assessed the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.
R08 - Pensions Update Programme
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of recent pension reforms and how the changes impact at-retirement advice.
R02 - Investment Principles (CII)
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the application of the investment advice process.
J05 - Pension Income Options (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: process of decumulating pension funds and the main issues for clients and advisers; main choices facing members of pensions schemes during decumulation; features, risks and tax treatment of the secured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of the unsecured pension option; features, risks and tax treatment of phased retirement; features, risks and tax treatment of the alternatively secured pension option.
J04 - Pension Funding Options (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the: main tax and legal frameworks that govern the accumulation phase of building up retirement benefits under registered pension schemes; features of defined contribution and defined benefit pensions; choices faced by early leavers and use of transfer value analysis; State retirement benefits available, including the risks and suitability of contracting out of the State Second Pension.
J01 - Personal Tax (CII)
At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding of: the basic structure of the tax system and self-assessment; the main taxes on income and capital that may be charged on individuals, the self-assessment system and how tax liabilities are computed; impact of residence and domicile on an individuals liability to UK tax.
G60 - Pensions (CII)
This examination enhanced general pension knowledge, particularly in pension transfers and opt-out business.
AF5 - Financial Planning Process (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop an understanding of the financial planning process when giving advice to clients.
AF2 - Business Financial Planning (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to business.
AF1 - Personal Tax and Trust Planning (CII)
This examination assesses the candidate to develop in depth financial planning skills related to personal tax and trusts.
Accreditations
Jane Cowie
Financial Planner
Qualifications & Accreditations
CF4 - Retirement Planning (CII)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the various pension products, the pension tax regime and retirement needs.
CF3 - Financial Protection (CII)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of financial protection plans.
CF2 - Investment and Risk (CII)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the risks involved.
CF1 - UK financial services, regulation & ethics (CII)
This exam accesses understanding of the financial services industry including regulation and legislation.
DipFA - Diploma for Financial Advisers (LIBF)
The Diploma enhances knowledge in core areas such as regulation, investment principles, risk, taxation and personal financial planning using real-life scenarios to develop the essential skills to apply this technical knowledge in practice
Andy Eason
Head of Employee Benefits
Qualifications & Accreditations
Dip PFS - Personal Finance Society Diploma (PFS)
To achieve DipPFS individuals must achieve 140 credits. At least 80 credits must be at Diploma or AFPC level.
CF9 - Pensions Simplification (CII)
This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the Government’s simplified pension taxation regime which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.
FP1 - Financial services and their regulation (CII)
This exam accesses understanding of the financial services and their regulation.
FP2 - Protection, savings and investment products (CII)
This exam accesses understanding of protection, savings and investment products.
FP3 - Identifying and satisfying client needs (CII)
This exam accesses understanding of identifying and satisfying client needs.
G10 - Taxation and Trusts (CII)
This examination assessed a knowledge and understanding of the UK tax system, the law and practice of trusts, but also an ability to advise individual clients on the tax treatment of their investments and the use of trusts to meet their current and foreseeable future needs.
G20 - Personal Investment Planning (CII)
This examination assessed a knowledge and understanding of investments and an ability to advise individual clients on the construction of investment portfolios to meet both their current and foreseeable future needs.
G60 - Pensions (CII)
This examination enhanced general pension knowledge, particularly in pension transfers and opt-out business.
SV1 - Saving and Investment (CII)
This examination assessed the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.
What our clients say
The level of help, guidance and service provided has been excellent and could scarcely be surpassed. I would certainly recommend Acumen to friends and family.
Acumen Financial Planning is a very trustworthy organisation and unlike many in the financial advisory service industry genuinely looks after the clients interest. I have had good results while Acumen has been advising me since 2006 until present and see this partnership continuing.
Acumen Financial Planning has provided me with guidance on personal and business finances for over 10 years. They are astute, extremely trustworthy and offer first class advice. I would have no concerns over recommending their services.
Where to find us
Acumen Financial Planning Ltd, 4 Kingshill Park, Venture Drive, Arnhall Business Park, Aberdeenshire, Westhill, AB32 6FL
Make an enquiryAbout us
Accredited Financial Planning Firm of the Year 2016 and New Model Adviser 2017, Acumen Financial Planning provides the highest calibre of counsel to companies, business owners and private individuals alike. Whatever your circumstances, we take the time to make sure you understand every aspect of your finances, staying in regular contact to refine and update detailed plans as your situation evolves. Our continued support helps you bring your plans to life; so you can have confidence in your financial security, whatever the future may bring.
Our services
We deliver a holistic package of unparalleled financial guidance in an accessible and approachable manner, combining one-to-one counsel and unique planning tools that empower clients to confidently achieve their full financial promise.
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