2022/23 Tax Planning Planning Hub

15th April 2024: I had just bought a property and wanted to look at my finances so I got in touch with Andy Lei. I was able to tell that Andy was willing to go above and beyond and look at all areas. We started off thinking about investments, but Andy talked to us about the importance of budgeting, risk management and having an emergency fund. Throughout the whole process, I didn’t feel that Andy wanted what was best for him but what was best for us. Andy made me aware that I need to build up my emergency fund pot again after purchasing my home. I always thought that I did not need any protection in place but he painted a much clearer picture of the importance of having insurance in place for my family should the worse happen. My experience with Andy and Unividual was great as he was there supporting me throughout the whole process. I felt comfortable knowing that I could call him anytime

7th July 2023: Unividual have been brilliant, they have sorted out my pension and mortgage and I feel so more comfortable with my finances going forward. Can’t recommend them enough.

10th May 2023: We engaged with Unividual in 2020, and haven’t looked back. We had had the fortune of seeing our start up bloom faster than anticipated and with its success the questions of how we wisely responded to the financial gains was heavy. We felt out of our depth with how to steward our personal and company finances, it was overwhelming and intimidating. In a world where financial advisers and accountants had left us feeling small, immature and inadequate, Unividual were encouraging, compassionate and diligent. The Unividual team never left us feeling intimidated and took the time to explain in layman’s terms all of our options. I have never felt unable to ask a question or left with anything other than a resolved understanding of our options. Unividual have relentlessly stuck to their brand values and really got to know us, our company and family as a unique profile of demands and risks. They have helped us articulate the needs and demands of both our personal finances and...

15 June 2023: I have been working with Simon Jones for around 18 months. Me and my partner hadn’t used a financial advisor before so we were a little unsure initially but Simon was friendly, clear and transparent throughout the whole process. He undertook a thorough analysis of that I was looking to achieve and my personal circumstances. The whole experience has been positive, I feel much more confident about having put in place a long-term financial plan, and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Simon and Unividual.

27 January 2023: We have been with Unividual for many years after getting a recommendation from a friend. Lewis Baxter is our financial advisor and we could not be happier with the service he gives us. He has helped in all aspects of our finances and is extremely knowledgeable and up to date on the ever changing rules and legal requirements of the financial world. Lewis is always very personable and reliable whenever we request or hold a meeting and answers all questions in ‘layman’s terms’ so we completely understand every aspect. We have recommended Lewis and Unividual to lots of friends who have been equally impressed with the service they have received.

26th January 2023: I can’t recommend Lewis and Alex, and the team from Unividual highly enough. They have helped me with my retirement planning, life and health cover. Nothing is ever too much trouble and Lewis and the team are always on hand to help. They are extremely good at explaining the minefield of financial jargon and making sense of what, I for one, found a confusing and complex area to understand and helping me make what could be considered difficult decisions easy. If you are looking for a financial planner, look no further. I have recommended Lewis and Unividual to a number of friends who have all taken their advice.

26 January 2023: We have worked with Lewis and his team at Unividual for many years now, both with business and personal finances. The service is first rate on every level. The whole team always work really hard to get info across, chase updates and keep you informed at every stage. Lewis has taken the time to get to know how we like to work and the type of investment we feel comfortable with and that works best for us. So pleased to have Unividual looking after us.

8 February 2023: I have not used a financial adviser for a long time and have to say my previous experience has been less than favourable. My wife contacted Simon, a financial adviser in Bristol, to discuss, amongst other things, a final salary pension. I was happy for the two of them to get on with it, but Simon suggested that as we viewed our finances jointly, I should be part of the conversation. I had some cash saved in an ISA that I had held for a number of years. In light of inflation rising to levels unseen for decades, I asked Simon if he had any suggestions what I could do with my cash to reduce the impact of inflation. After spending time understanding my view on risk he asked if I had any specific ethical or social views that might impact on investments. My wife and I are massive animal lovers and were I to make any investment it was important to me that animal welfare was high on the agenda. Simon was able to recommend a socially responsible fund that targets a return in excess...

17 February 2023: Lewis Baxter and the financial advice team in London Paddington are fabulous – they’ve taken the time to help me understand how best to invest and the right time to do so and they’re always available to answer any questions. I was introduced through a friend and I would definitely recommend.

14 April 2023: I recently started a business relationship with Unividual and primarily my chartered London financial advisor Alex Caswell. I can thoroughly recommend him and the company. I am a new investor and he has made the process incredibly easy and enjoyable, spent many hours researching and discussing options with me and he is always available. Would certainly recommend to friends and family.

19 January 2023: Simon Jones at Unividual is very patient and considerate. At a very difficult time for us, he took time to ask, listen & investigate in order to really help us understand our priorities and plan for them in the most effective way. I would have no hesitation recommending his services. He is clear, rational, sensible and beyond helpful. And he totally respects our views & ideas, as he has taken the time to understand what makes us tick and our attitude to risk.

3rd June 2023: I wanted a London based Financial Adviser to put some Private Medical Insurance in place for myself and chose to work with Alex Caswell from Unividual. He’s been great and really friendly, researching and talking me through all the options available to me. I’ve now got cover in place and have a great relationship with Alex, no doubt I’ll continue to work alongside him.

1st June 2023: Excellent experience with Alex Caswell, London financial adviser at Unividual. He was very knowledgeable and clear when it came to explaining different available options and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Would thoroughly recommend.

5 February 2023: We used Simon at Unividual, a financial adviser in Bath, to review pension provision. His advice was excellent. I would highly recommend his services.

6th February 2023: Simon Jones has helped myself and my husband more than I could imagine. We are currently re-mortgaging, Simon has helped us make better financial decisions towards our future and was able to explain everything every step of the way, making us feel confident in our decisions and educating us to make better informed decisions in the future. Professional, friendly, expert advise, would not hesitate to recommend to any of my friends and family.

29th September 2022: For the attention of Simon jones, regarding his high standards. He was so helpful and was amazing at making me understand everything he was explaining to us regarding our finances. He was very efficient, well mannered and very explanatory. He made it all very easy to understand and I would like to thank him personally.

29 September 2022: Simon Jones is exceptional to work with, constantly going that extra mile. His professional, calm, friendly manner along with his financial expertise and guidance has instilled client confidence, my trust and peace of mind in a complex and sometimes bewildering financial market. Thank you Simon.

27 September 2021: Working in finance I have little time to plan my own finances. What Simon has done for me and my family has ensured our current situation, and our futures, are secured and protected. This has meant I can concentrate on my own work knowing everything is in good hands. Simon has helped us with our Wills, mortgage, life and critical illness insurance, pensions, investments and estate planning. We chat and meet regularly to discuss our ever changing needs and he’s always available and ready to help. Highly recommend him as a very experienced and knowledgeable Financial Adviser

13 September 2021: My wife and I have been working with Simon Jones for just under two years and are very pleased with the service he has provided. During our time working with Simon he has provided us with the peace of mind of knowing that should anything happen to me or my wife then our family is protected, helped us ensure that we are getting the best mortgage interest rate and started a plan for a financially secure future. I like to think I am pretty clued up when it comes to investments but with a busy job and a young family it’s not always easy to find the time to do the research required. Simon has taken over the management of our personal pensions and the savings for our two sons. This not only frees up my time but given his technical knowledge means that they are in safe hands. Following a recent annual review we have been very pleased with the results, particularly given the global events of the past 18 months. Thank you Simon

11 September 2021: We dealt with Simon Jones of Bristol pension advisers Unividual to look at all of our finances, investments, pensions and insurances. He was extremely thorough and worked patiently to fully understand everything we needed as well as our future ambitions before reviewing our position and recommending any changes. We did everything piece by piece and he was very impartial, only making recommendations where he felt we could improve. As a result we have saved money on policies and improved our position with regard to pensions and other investments. I would highly recommend Simon to anyone looking to use a financial adviser.

10 September 2021: For the attention of Simon jones regarding his high standards. He was so helpful and was amazing at making me understand everything he was explaining to us regarding our finances, also from Peter, Simon Jones was very efficient, well mannered. Very explanatory he made it all very understanding and I would like to thank him personally.

10 September 2021: Simon Jones is exceptional to work with, constantly going that extra mile. His professional, calm, friendly manner along with his financial expertise and guidance has instilled client confidence, my trust and peace of mind in a complex and sometimes bewildering financial market. Thank you Simon. If you would like to know more about what our Bristol financial advisers get up to, we have a blog about them teaming up with a charity that helps parents give money lessons at home.

8th September 2021: I was introduced to Simon Jones after an extremely helpful telephone consultation with Team Leader Ruth Stainer who after discussing my requirements introduced me to Simon Jones. Simon Jones is the perfect Chartered Financial Planner for me. So impressed with Simon’s expertise and knowledge. Simon is extremely professional and his easy going, friendly manner instantly made me feel comfortable. I am not that knowledgeable in finance and Simon has listened to what my goals are and has taken time to get to know me and from this great professional relationship found me the perfect products. Nothing is too much trouble, always available and Simon has a very upbeat, positive manner and I am so impressed by his professionalism.

7th September 2021: We dealt with Simon Jones of Unividual to look at all of our finances, investments, pensions and insurances. He was extremely thorough and work patiently to fully understand everything as well as our future ambitions before reviewing our position and recommending any changes. We did everything piece buy piece and he was very impartial, only making recommendations where he felt we could improve. As a result we have saved money on policies and improved our position with regard to pensions and other investments. I would highly recommend Simon to anyone looking to use a financial adviser.

1st September 2021: Thank you Simon Jones for all your hard work sorting through all 12 old pensions I held, to consolidate them all into one. I would highly recommend Simon to anyone looking for professional advice wanting to set up a pension. Once again thank you.

18th August 2021: Bristol Financial Adviser, Simon Hicks, was recommended to me by a friend and colleague. This has been one of the best decisions I have made, from day one he took the time to understand my financial position and goals. Simon Hicks is professional, knowledgeable and personable. He is patient, detail orientated, understands what the client wants and will cover a range of options whether its pensions, investments, mortgages. I’ve been introduced to a range of new products and this has created a positive shift in both my financial position and mindset. I am looking forward to continue working with Simon to achieve my financial goals and would definitely recommend his services to others going forward.

6 August 2021: Professional in all areas, felt fully informed on all aspects of services being offered and Simon (Jones) had an excellent way of explaining products, risks, benefits and costs. Clearly has an affinity and passion for his job and that comes across in the way he provides advice. Thanks!

1 August 2021: Simon Jones has supported me through setting up a pension fund and life assurance. He has the right balance of professionalism and holistic approach to what felt like an area I didn’t want to acknowledge. I am super pleased with what Simon has put in place and feel more relaxed about my future finances and choices. Could not recommend his services more.

8 July 2021: The continued care and professionalism that we receive during regular updates goes beyond my expectations. The detail that Simon ( Jones ) has put into ensure we meet our financial goals is exemplary.

8 July 2021: I approached Simon Jones after looking for help managing my finances from my career as a professional rugby player. He’s looked after me incredibly well and taken the time to educate me and keeping me informed so I actually know where my moneys going and what options I have to help me in the future and when I retire from rugby. I feel at peace knowing my finances are in the safe hands of Simon and I would recommend him to anyone.

6 July 2021: Simon Jones is very responsive, approachable and thorough in his financial investigations and the resulting advice he provides. He has helped my wife and I sort our pensions, ISAs, investments and mortgages. He was able to demonstrate how we could afford to release equity from a rental property, fund our house move and realise our dream of owning a motorhome for those getaway weekends. Simon is more than an Independent Financial Advisor. He not only looks at the numbers but also looks to understand our aspirations and how to achieve them. I have worked with other IFAs in the past but Simon outshines them all. I would highly recommend him to anyone wishing to review their financial circumstances.

4 July 2021: My husband and I went to Simon Jones for a review of our financial position, and for assistance in planning our financial future. Simon is friendly and very thorough. He investigated all of our pensions, ISAs and other assets, and advised how we can best utilise them all. He assessed our attitudes to risk and proposed a plan to fit our risk profile. He then put the plan into action and made all the transfers in our behalf. With Simon’s expert help, we have been able to realise our dream of owning a motorhome, and buying an amazing house with 180 degree views across the sea. This has long been a dream, and we weren’t sure that it was possible. As part of the process, Simon arranged our residential mortgage and a let-to-buy on a rental property we own, so that we are paying the best rates possible. I would highly recommend Simon! He has enabled us to live the dream!

4 July 2021: I highly recommend Unividual. I received excellent service from my advisor Simon who was courteous, professional and very knowledgeable. Simon took the time to explain things thoroughly and was able to answer all my questions. I was very impressed by the pensions projection spreadsheet and can see it being a very useful tool as we plan for retirement.

3 July 2021: Simon Hicks is always very clear, organized and generous with his time. I make better decisions and have less to worry about with Simon as my financial advisor. I would definitely recommend!

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2 July 2021: Very professional, extremely helpful and more importantly for me life changing. I never realised how important good financial advice is for your health and wellbeing until I had the support from Simon Jones at Unividual.

1 July 2021: Simon Jones made the whole process very easy and explained everything well along the way. I now have a better understanding and feel in control of my finances. I cannot recommend him enough!

1st July 2021: Simon Jones has provided an excellent, professional service and has been approachable and available whenever we needed him. He hasn’t tried to sell us anything that we didn’t need or want and has put a lot of research in to the services he has provided. Would highly recommend.

30 June 2021: Simon Hicks has been advising me on my pension, investments, life cover and mortgages for 3 years now and I’m always incredibly impressed by his knowledge and professionalism, as well as his willingness to go above and beyond when explaining any aspect of my investments. A very well earned 5 star review, I’ve not looked back since Simon has started advising me and I couldn’t recommend him highly enough!

30th June 2021: We dealt with Simon Jones who was very professional and extremely knowledgeable. He helped us sort out our finances and made it possible for my husband to retire within the next year – something we thought wouldn’t be able to happen for probably another 6yrs. He made it all so easy. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending him again

30 June 2021: Simon H. Excellent professional manner. Very informative with my options for life insurance. Made understanding an area I had little experience of very clear and I felt very confident the option I choose was the correct one. Simon H is always on hand if I have a question and responds very quickly allowing me more time with my family. I would definitely recommend his services.

29 June 2021: Simon Hicks has transformed my life. He is thorough and earnest. Trust in financial advice is very important to me and I can certainly vouch for Simon Hicks. I am grateful for his services and very excited for our future together.

29 June 2021: We were looking for advice for our finances as a whole and were recommended Simon Hicks by a friend. He took care of all of our mortgage and protection needs to begin with, then when we were ready we moved onto pensions and investments. His knowledge of everything was incredible. We even started talking about our wider family and their needs including estate planning and inheritance tax. He explained to us in the first meeting that he had the highest qualifications you can get in the industry, after hearing him discuss countless topics in depth, I now understand what this means. Terrific adviser and would highly recommend.

28th June 2021: We met with Simon Hicks to discuss our retirement plans and to invest some capital we had recently received following the sale of property. His knowledge of the industry, products and finance in general was very impressive. We are also extremely happy with the growth we have received and the tax we saved through investing into some more complex products. Delighted to recommend his services to everyone and anyone.

27th June 2021: I found a lot of great reviews on Simon Hicks on VouchedFor. After meeting him I was impressed straight away. I only needed a mortgage, but he seemed to know a great deal about pensions, life cover and investments too. He was able to advise on the most suitable mortgage initially, rather than just picking a standard 5 year fixed off the shelf like a mortgage broker would do. Look forward to moving on to the investing side. Have told friends and family about Simon and would always recommend.

26th June 2021: I was lucky enough to find Simon Hicks a couple years ago when searching for the best ways to grow my investment portfolio. Simon is also very knowledgeable about a wide range of areas I hadn’t even considered. Always professional without being too formal. Would highly recommend Simon’s services for mortgages, protection, pensions and investments. He knows it all inside and out!

25th June 2021: Myself and my partner first met with Simon Hicks early last year, as we were looking to purchase a new home and needed assistance with our mortgage. Simon was extremely professional and transparent and a service that was much improved on finding a mortgage on my own last time around! Since then Simon has helped both myself and my partner in making sure our protection levels are all in place, at all times making sure that we understood every step of the way. I look forward to continuing our EIS* conversations in the near future! EIS means Enterprise Investment Scheme

26th June 2021: I contacted Unividual for advice on mortgages and had a meeting with Simon Hicks. While I didn’t end up buying a house, I was really impressed by the company and Simon in particular. He knew his stuff and highlighted some financial issues that I hadn’t even thought which should save me a lot of pain in the future. I’m very glad I picked up the phone!

24 June 2021: Simon Hicks at Unividual is the best financial advisor I have ever had dealings with. I go to him with complex issues and he comes back quickly with well researched, sound, and accurate advice. I have recommended his services to multiple people and have only had positive feedback from them too.

25 June 2021: Simon Hicks made sorting our finances out an absolute breeze. He explained all our options in a way that was easily understandable and made the whole process completely stress free! We immediately felt that Simon understood our circumstances and have full feeling of trust in him and his abilities that you don’t always get. I couldn’t recommend him and Unividual enough!

24th June 2021: Simon Hicks has been such a great help, he’s taken a lot of stress away by explaining my finances to me in a way that I can understand and it’s a huge help to have someone so knowledgeable looking after my money. His manner is always polite and professional, he’s always available to answer any questions I have and responds quickly to any queries. Could not recommend Simon Hicks & Unividual more highly. It’s a very well earned 5 stars from me, I would give more if I could!

My previous financial adviser was retiring and I needed someone of equal quality to take over my affairs, I know Scott Gurd personally and I had no hesitation in asking him to look after me. In the main I was looking at pension advice and investment planning. He reviewed my circumstances, discussed my views on investment, risk etc and we had a general discussion around my existing financial portfolio and my plans for the future. Scott then ensured I looked at all the available options open to me. Have I seen the outcome I was hoping for? Yes and more, I have no complaints. Scott is technically very good and he is genuinely interested in getting his clients the best possible outcome. I am now able to retire 4 years earlier than previously planned. If you are looking for a typical salesperson Scott is not your man, most advisers push harder to get you to follow their advice. Scott however, just gave great financial advice

I was looking to sell my existing property and jointly purchase a house with my partner. Scott Gurd visited my house at a time convenient to me and my partner and provided us with comprehensive information about our options. We are now clear about what to do next and Scott was fantastic.

I wanted to invest in medium term savings and make sure my pension and mortgage were the best products on the market for me. Scott Gurd helped me by ascertaining my risk level so that I chose the right product portfolio for my savings. I have seen the outcome I was hoping for and Scott has done everything I could want for. He’s accessible and incredibly helpful.

Simon Jones is both extremely professional and personable. He is a joy to work with and even via online meetings he is easy going and takes time to get to know you in order to fulfil his role as adviser. He manages to provide accountability without being overbearing and is also clear that I am free to take or leave his advice! His advice has always been spot on. In the short time I have been consulting with him, I have found myself in an improved financial position and have greater clarity when it comes to future financial issues. I would highly recommend him to anyone, whether you are planning on buying a house or just need to get your finances in order so you can make some sound investments.

I started looking for a financial adviser after having children and wanting to ensure that we have financial security for our family, now and in the future. Simon gave us clear advice and information regarding what services were available and took the time to really understand our situation both personally and financially to help us choose a life insurance policy and make plans for our will.

I have been working with Simon Jones for a couple of weeks now and he has been incredibly helpful explaining what options are available with regards to pension planning. The process has been very smooth and our meetings are very relaxed but with clear instruction on what we need to do next and I look forward to continuing to work with Simon going forward.

We had house sale proceeds to invest, Simon Jones patiently took me through a range of different options for long term financial planning. Being quite new to investments, and working with a financial adviser, I really appreciated his approach. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to either invest or get general advice, whether you are a new or experienced investor. I have now got a portfolio of ethical investments that is being managed, I have just confirmed initial investments so can’t review in terms of financial performance, but feel very happy with the service provided.

It would be difficult to improve the level of service that Simon gave during this pandemic. When planning for our retirement, Simon Jones created projections for us and looked at how we were managing our pension funds. Simon has exceeded my expectations and I am looking forward to continuing working with him in the future.

We can not recommend Simon Jones and Unividual highly enough. I’m afraid he had an uphill start as we had bad experiences of old school” advisers. He took pains to allay all our fears. We were fast approaching retirement with little understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of the pensions and products we had in place. After several meetings Simon had a full understanding of our hopes and the products we had. He was able to recommend alternatives that better fulfilled our requirements and overall left us feeling confident about our future which we hadn’t previously. He has also arranged for our wills to be written which had been a “round-to-it” for a very long time. We are in a much better position all round.

We’ve just breathed a large sigh of relief, having secured our first mortgage thanks to the help of Unividual financial advisor Simon Hicks. Both myself and my partner are unconventional financial cases so in turn were expecting a complicated slog, but Simon’s knowledge and diligence pushed things over the line in record speed and with minimal fuss. We would highly recommend Simon to anyone venturing into the intimidating world of first home buying (as he was recommended to us by friends), he was brilliant.

I hadn’t heard from my previous financial adviser, from another company, for a few years. I needed to get my finances sorted out before reaching retirement age. Scott advised me as to my options and showed me comparisons between what I was doing and what I could be doing. He then set me up with what I believe is a much better package with all my finances. I’m very pleased with the return I’m getting from the arranged plans. I know that if I have any issues I can call Scott, or email him at any time and he will get back to me. If I thought Scott could have helped me any better I know I can mention it to him – but I haven’t needed to.

Simon Hicks at Unividual has made what should be a stressful process extremely easy and straightforward. He is very knowledgeable, yet able to explain complex matters in a jargon-free, easy-to-understand way. We could not have asked for a better mortgage advisor; he was very patient with us and made sure that we were always getting the best possible outcome. Always quick to act and respond, even at very short notice. I couldn’t recommend Simon and Unividiual enough. Thank you for everything!

Thanks so much to Simon at Unividual who made everything so much easier by navigating us through this complex process of getting a mortgage!

Could I just say how good your staff are in general to deal with. It doesn’t matter who answers the phone it is always handled in a very polite and efficient way, no pre-handling general recorded messages either. Very refreshing. Your people are extremely efficient with handling of tasks giving me prompt feedback where required without me chasing and being diplomatic when I’ve been mucking things up like shredding documents that I should have been sending back to you!!!  All in all a great service, many thanks.

I used Simon Hicks to assist me in finding a mortgage as I looked to move from my flat into a house, moving away from having the mortgage on my own to being jointly held with my partner. I work in the financial industry but find mortgages daunting hence turning to Simon for help. HE WAS SUPERB. Really clear, patient, attentive, available – finding us a mortgage which suited what we were looking for. Will look to use him for other finances in the future. Thanks Simon.

Simon Hicks is a consummate professional, Simon helped me understand financial processes that were unknown to me. He fundamentally helped me achieve buying my dream home and offering sound financial advice at every step. The face to face personalised service made me feel comfortable about each decision I was making, and where I was a little unsure, Simon made sure we covered that topic until I fully understood everything before we moved to the next area of financial planning. I couldn’t recommend Simon any higher – very nice chap too!

Unividual’s advice and guidance was invaluable in securing a great mortgage deal despite my somewhat complicated personal financial situation. Their advisors are fantastic, professional and can help with all aspects of your financial planning. Would recommend highly!