What do we mean when we talk about investment advice?
All investments have a certain level of risk, but provide the possibility of generating returns over a period of time. In a world that has recently had to cope with the shock of Covid-19 across all aspects of life, it is essential that investors seek investment advice from an adviser. An investment adviser that really does understand individual requirements, plans and aspirations, will, all in all, help achieve the best possible investment outcome.
Here at Acumen, we offer comprehensive, independent investment advice and investment planning, including; asset allocation, appropriate investment selection, risk mitigation, inheritance tax mitigation, and educational cost planning for school or university fees.
When it comes to gaining investment advice from an investment firm like Acumen, you have to ask yourself: what are you trying to achieve from your investments? Are you looking for income? For growth? Or, to achieve a specific target level of capital for some point in the future?
At Acumen, our investment advisers have both the knowledge and experience to assess current investments and advice on future investments. Whether it is an investment plan that is required or general investment advice, at Acumen, we take an analytical and personalised approach to investment advice and are one of the leading Investment advice firms in the North West.
Choosing the right investment with an investment adviser
Our independent investment advice begins with looking into your current investments and helping you choose suitable investment opportunities. Since the beginning of 2020, the impact of Covid-19 has created volatile stock markets worldwide. As a result, the need for a high-quality focused investment strategy has never been more critical.
As the process of choosing investments is a key part of financial planning, Acumen can offer thorough investment advice to answer all of your investment questions. Our investment advisers will help you understand the types of investments available and offer expert advice on investment expectations and understanding high risk investments and low risk investments. It is important that your financial aims and attitudes to risk are established at the outset to understand whether high risk or low risk investments will be most suitable.
The next stage of our investment advice is to establish your capacity and tolerance to risk. Only by speaking to our expert investment advisers can you really understand your nature and the level of risk your investments actually hold for you. Our highly personalised investment planning and investment advice will assist you in making the right decisions to suit your lifestyle and financial needs, whether it be low-risk investments or high-risk investments that best suit you.
What our clients had to say
Don’t just take our word for it, take a look below to read M and J’s first-hand account of their experience with our financial advisers:
Over many years of dealing with previous Financial Adviser firms, I have always wondered how much of their recommendations were influenced by the rates of commission. However, I have found with all my dealings with both Jon Landy and Phil Jones, that this is certainly not the case at Acumen and I am confident that my intentions are and have always been the priority.
M and J, Lake District
Investment advice – understanding investment risk and allocation
At the heart of investment decisions is weighing up the element of risk. Therefore the risk is typically at the starting point of the investment planning process and a key element included in investment advice. There could be several types of risk in any investment. Helping you to gain a thorough understanding of your investment risk is a key responsibility of your investment adviser. The asset allocation decision is especially important in the management of risk.
Diversifying across different asset classes, such as UK shares, foreign shares, fixed-interest securities, property investment and commodities, can reduce your investment portfolio’s volatility. What is bad news for one asset class might be good news for another.
Once the asset allocation has been set, the next investment decision is how to invest in the selected asset classes. For most private investors, that will mean using collective funds, such as unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICs). The direct purchase of assets rarely makes sense because of the costs involved and/or the difficulty of achieving an adequate spread within the asset class.
Managing your investments with Acumen
The construction and management of fund-based investment portfolios are now largely undertaken using investment platforms. At its simplest, an investment platform provides a means of assembling and administering a spread of different funds from a range of investment managers, which can be held in a variety of tax structures.
The number of platform providers has grown in the past ten years, although there have also been some disappearances.
Your investment consultant will consider a range of factors when recommending an investment platform to you, including:
The choice of funds and investment managers – generally the more the better
The range of tax structures available. The provider’s record for administrative efficiency
The level of fees charged and their collection method
The financial strength of the platform provider
Your investment consultant will consider a range of factors when recommending a platform to you, including the choice of funds and investment managers – generally the more the better.
The range of tax structures available.
The provider’s record for administrative efficiency.
The level of fees charged and their collection method. The financial strength of the platform provider.
Reducing taxation on investments with investment advice
The taxation on investments has never been a simple matter. Over the years, it has increased in complexity due to an increasingly elaborate tax system and differing taxation policies across governments.
Acumen’s investment consultants will offer investment advice and planning to help you reduce the taxation on your investments. There are many ways of doing this, such as:
Selecting the most appropriate ‘tax wrapper’ for your chosen investment
Advising you on the most effective tax strategies for drawing income/capital
Assisting you with calculations for your tax return
Always being on top of new legislation and tax planning opportunities.
Alternative options for equity release schemes include:
Ensuring that you are claiming all benefits and grant entitlements
Moving to a smaller property to release funds
Seeking assistance from your family
Over many years dealing with previous Financial Adviser firms I have always wondered how much of their recommendations were influenced by the rates of commission. However, I have found with all my dealings with both Jon Landy and Phil Jones, that this is certainly not the case at Acumen and I am confident that my intentions are and have always been the priority.
M and J, Lake District
Independent investment advice from Acumen
If you’re requiring investment advice, requiring investment plans or wanting more information on different investment options including the likes of property investments or risk mitigation, Acumen Financial Partnership is an investment firm that can help you.
Acumen offers independent advice on the best way to achieve your aims and helps to ensure your investments realise the outcomes you want for your children. For independent investment and property investments advice, contact Acumen today. Call 0151 520 4353 or email [email protected] today.
Key Benefits of investment advice
The difference between investments and cash deposits?
Cash deposits are typically used for more immediate needs, “rainy day money” or an emergency fund. Investments provide us with the prospect of medium to long-term growth in real terms by beating inflation. Proper use of the various “wrappers” can improve the tax treatment and when combined with high-quality, well-researched investments it allows us to create wealth.
Reduce tax on your investments
Tax on investments is complex. This is why it is important to employ a financial planning expert to help you better understand the impacts of taxation on your investments, and how best to reduce the level of tax on your financial investments. We do this by advising you on the most effective tax strategies and tax planning opportunities.
Consider a range of factors
Our expert financial planners will consider a range of important factors when recommending the best investment platform for you. This includes understanding the range of tax structures available, the levels of fees, the financial strength of this provider and the range of funds available to you.
Understand the impact of risk on investments
Here at Acumen, we understand that the heart of investment is weighing up the element of risk. We work to help you understand the associated risks with investments and advise you on the best options for you. Depending on your financial assets and how risk-averse you are, we can give advice on both high and low-risk investments to see returns that suit your aims.
Key Benefits
Investments and cash deposits are very different. Deposits in cash are typically used for more immediate needs, “rainy day money” or an emergency fund. Investments provide us with the prospect of medium to long-term growth in real terms by beating inflation. Proper use of the various different “wrappers” can improve the tax treatment and when combined with high quality, well-researched investments it allows us to create wealth.
Tax on investments is complex. This is why it is important to employ a financial planning expert to help you better understand the impacts of taxation on your investments, and how best to reduce the level of tax on your financial investments. We do this by advising you on the most effective tax strategies and tax planning opportunities.
Our expert financial planners will consider a range of important factors when recommending the best investment platform to you. This includes understanding the range of tax structures available, the levels of fees, the financial strength of this provider and the range of funds available to you.
Here at Acumen, we understand that the heart of investment is weighing up the element of risk. We work to help you understand the associated risks with investments and advise you on the best options for you, based on your financial assets and how risk averse you are.