Informed decisions.
Better outcomes.
At Cove we help you to achieve better outcomes through more informed investment and financial planning decision making.
We provide expert independent financial planning, investment advice and wealth management for individuals, families, professionals, business owners, and trustees.
How We Work
We deliver a truly personalised service to every client.
We work for our clients as we would family, striving to build meaningful relationships and adding value through expertise, trust, integrity, and superior service.
Meticulous attention to detail, robust advice, and conviction in every decision means planning remains appropriate and responsive to change at all times.
Discover
We initially take time to ask you questions to fully understand your situation. We take a comprehensive approach, looking at the entire picture of your personal and financial circumstances. We also identify your concerns and help you to set out your goals and aspirations. It is a crucial stage and these conversations form the foundation of our advice, ensuring better outcomes for you.
Analyse
Using the information you have given us, we will then begin our analysis and the construction of your financial planning strategy. Crucially, we will look at how strong the connection is between your existing situation and planning, and your goals and aspirations. It is our job to then help you to bridge any gaps between them.
Inform
We will present our recommendations, keeping things as clear as possible to ensure you can make fully informed decisions regarding our advice. As standard, you will also receive a comprehensive written explanation of our recommendations, in language that is designed to be understood.
Implement
As part of our service, we will implement or support the implementation of the recommended solutions. We utilise our experience and expertise to ensure this is conducted smoothly and efficiently.
Evaluate
Being agile and taking a proactive approach to financial planning has always been crucial, but in uncertain times it is more important than ever. As circumstances change, your needs change too. When this happens, having a close relationship with a dedicated, approachable team of trusted professionals gives you a huge advantage. Where applicable, we work closely together on an ongoing basis to ensure your planning remains optimal, ready and available with timely, expert support and insight.
Informed decisions. Better outcomes.
Our Services
Key points
- Ensure assets – cash through to investments – are working appropriately for you
- Minimise tax to help maximise what remains
- Avoid pitfalls and potentially costly mistakes
- Maximise returns on investments for the level of risk you are prepared and able to
accept - Make the most of planning opportunities
- Get organised and feel relaxed and in control
- Prioritise what is important to you
- Be free to focus your energy elsewhere
- Have a plan to get to where you want to be
- Stay on track
- Achieve better outcomes
There are some financial steps that many of us can take without the need for professional advice. For example, putting a simple will in place, establishing properly drafted Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), investing money each month into a workplace pension, and paying off debts.
However, as earnings increase or assets accumulate, your financial situation may become more complex. Planning opportunities become more significant, and the potential effect of poor decisions becomes more impactful on your financial future, so it is natural to seek professional advice.
Success is all in the planning. From the start, we will work with you to establish a long-term strategy. One that helps you to meet your immediate needs, but also draws out a clear vision of your financial future. From there, we will talk you through the options around longer-term issues, such as retirement, estate planning and looking after family.
The future is complex and uncertain, but with robust planning you can approach it with confidence, with a long-term partner by your side.
Key points
- Prioritise what is important to you
- Get organised and feel relaxed and in control
- Prepare for bumps in the road ahead
- Be free to focus your energy elsewhere
- Adapt to relying on unearned income
- Stress-test your plans to aid a relaxed future
- Minimise tax to help maximise what remains
- Avoid pitfalls and potentially costly mistakes
- Make the most of planning opportunities
- Stay on track
State pension age is gradually being pushed back, people are living longer, and the number of Defined Benefit (Final Salary) pension schemes is ever shrinking; all of which means the onus has shifted to the individual to save and invest enough money for their retirement.
Without a thorough understanding of when you want to retire, the life you want to live in retirement and the income you will need to fund it, it is impossible to know what actions you need to take to achieve your goals.
Increasingly, even when retirement is reached, sound planning is required.
If you are now thinking about the retirement phase of your life – whether that is because you are planning towards it, you have decisions to make having reached it, or you want help in making the most of it – we have the expertise and experience to help you successfully navigate the complex decisions you need to make to get the best outcomes.
We provide highly personalised and trusted counsel for as long as we are required. We will help you to understand where you want to get to, assist in mapping out a plan to achieve those goals, and aid in meeting any immediate requirements.
We also bring together the best solutions to a range of issues – everything from investment and planning advice to best support the lifestyle you want to lead in retirement, to planning your estate effectively for the benefit of others after you die.
Key points
- Consider engaging with a professional adviser early
- Focus on the best possible outcomes
- Remain organised and in control
- Engage with an adviser that has a proven ability to work effectively and efficiently with other professionals
If you, or a loved one, are looking for financial guidance relating to a legal process – whether divorce, personal injury or clinical negligence – we can help.
The upset and trauma of a legal process and the events that may have led you there are likely to mean these are challenging times. The peace of mind and confidence brought about by having a professional adviser to support you with decisions faced, which are likely to have lasting impacts, can be invaluable.
Early engagement is encouraged, as we can help determine likely long-term financial needs and assist in shaping a settlement to your requirements and preferences. Understanding the financial implications of decisions faced during a legal process can be vital in achieving the right outcome.
We offer a comprehensive range of services to support you throughout the process: from early engagement, to post settlement and many years thereafter.
This is an area of planning where our service comes into its own. It is a role we see as a privilege – we are proud to act as a trusted adviser to people in the most challenging times.
Key points
- Involve an adviser early to help you assess pre-sale planning opportunities
- Seek an adviser experienced in collaborating effectively with other professionals
- Understand Inheritance, Capital Gains and Income Tax implications
- Formulate a tax-efficient exit and future income strategy
- Take time to make decisions
- Consider lifestyle changes and how you may be impacted post-sale
Are you thinking about selling your business? Or have you sold up and are now planning the next chapter of your life? If so, our highly experienced team can help you to make the most of what comes next.
Get it right, and the sale of your business can secure you and your family’s future. It is also the perfect moment to take a more structured and meaningful approach to planning your finances. By working in synergy with the other professionals involved in a sale process, this is the time in which a good financial planner can add considerable value.
Business sales can be complex, and the team at Cove have a proven track record of working with others involved to ensure you get the best outcomes. Our personal and comprehensive approach first establishes a solid understanding of your situation, before identifying the most suitable options and solutions.
We keep your long-term goals in mind, securing your financial future and creating a plan that will meet your changing needs. Our team are highly experienced in this area of planning, having assisted clients with matters including the pre-sale transfer of company shares to trust, post-sale IHT mitigation, the utilisation of available reliefs (Business Asset Rollover / Re-Investment Relief), and the establishment and effective management of Family Investment Companies post-sale.
Key points
- Do not rush to share the news with others
- Consider all options and next steps
- Ensure the money is safe and secure so that you can take your time to reach your decisions
- Seek professional advice
- Find an adviser that is right for you
- Create a financial plan from the outset (that can be adjusted to meet changing needs over time)
If you have received a large amount of money, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. It is good news, and that should not be overlooked, but we appreciate that it can bring challenges.
Our initial tips for anyone in this situation would be to allow yourself space and time to adjust. Do not rush to share the news with others. Take simple steps to ensure your cash is safe (we can help with this, as required), and consider taking advice from a professional. Speak to as many advisers as it takes for you find a firm that you can trust and feel comfortable working with.
If you would like to speak to us, we assure you that we will be ready to listen. We will never come to a first meeting with pre-prepared answers. Firstly, we will find out about you and your situation, and what your hopes and ambitions are. Then, we will respond with far more than a particular set of investments or financial products. We will ensure that any plan we suggest will be tailored to you, giving you confidence that you are in safe hands.
Key Points
- Balance gifting with your own potential needs
- Understand the consequences and impacts of any actions
- Mitigate Inheritance Tax to help increase a legacy
- Keep records
- Avoid expensive errors
- Involve and educate future generations to help manage and protect wealth
Having secured your own financial future, it is natural to begin thinking about how your wealth could benefit others. Legacy planning, however, can be an emotive and technically challenging area of advice. Faced with a range of potential options – ranging from simple (but often very effective) gifting, to the significantly more complex use of trusts and specialist investments – support and guidance from a professional adviser can be of paramount importance in ensuring you adopt a plan that is right for you.
When it comes to leaving a legacy, our financial planning will help you meet both your current financial needs and your longer-term goals. It can be a complex and sensitive process, which is why our skilled and personal approach has proven to work so well in this area of advice.
Key points
- Have a plan to deal with major events
- Make sure that a spouse or partner is financially secure when you die
- Secure you own and your family’s financial position if you fall ill or become disabled.
- Make sure that your business can continue if you die or fall ill
- Preserve the value of a business and assets should you die unexpectedly
- Leave loved ones with well-planned and organised financial affairs when you die
- Plan for care costs for yourself or a loved one
None of us know what the future will bring, but we can help bring certainty when the unexpected does happen.
Life does not always go as planned and difficulties do arise, sometimes very serious and life changing ones. It is important, therefore, to ensure that you, your loved ones and potentially your business are adequately prepared and protected. Part of our service involves helping clients identify and meet requirements to ensure they are secure in the event of misfortune, such as ill health or death.
Many of us are capable of going online to buy straightforward policies, such as holiday or motor insurance. However, where help is required identifying potential needs, a greater level of planning, or a higher level of knowledge and technical expertise, is required, We are here to help.
Using our expertise and experience we can help develop a plan that suits your specific situation and needs, as well as recommending and implementing solutions to meet those needs.