Independent Financial Advisers

We Start with People, Not Portfolios

Every client’s story is unique, which is why we believe advice should never begin with an investment solution.

The most important part of our role is understanding the bigger picture. By taking the time to learn about your circumstances, ambitions, family relationships, and long-term aspirations, we can provide advice that is truly aligned with your life and your goals.

When advice starts with people rather than products, it delivers better outcomes and greater peace of mind.

Many of our client relationships span decades and often across generations. Whether you’re planning for children, grandchildren, or wider family members or friends, we’re here to help you protect what matters most and ensure your wealth supports the people and causes important to you.

The Strength of Joined-Up Financial and Legal Advice

Through joined-up financial and legal advice, we empower our clients to achieve the future they want.

Many of life’s most important financial decisions are closely connected to legal considerations, from estate planning and inheritance tax to trusts, powers of attorney and succession planning.

Being part of a law firm allows us to take a more joined-up approach, bringing together financial and legal expertise under one roof. This means we can help ensure every aspect of your planning works together, providing clarity, consistency and confidence for you and your family.

Rather than viewing your finances in isolation, we look at the whole picture, helping you make informed decisions about your future and the legacy you wish to leave behind.

A Focused Approach to Investment Management

Investments are an important part of achieving your financial goals, but they are not where we begin.  Once we understand your objectives and have a plan in place, we provide a disciplined investment approach designed to support those goals over the long term.

As independent advisers, we are not restricted to a particular investment provider or solution and regularly assess a broad range of active and passive investment strategies. However, unlike firms that offer an overwhelming number of options, we undertake rigorous research, due diligence and ongoing monitoring to identify a select range of solutions that meet our standards. This allows us to combine the benefits of client choice with robust governance, ensuring investment decisions are implemented consistently and with clear purpose.

By combining financial planning, investment management and legal expertise, we help you make confident decisions, protect the people who matter most and achieve the future you’ve worked hard to build.

With almost 30 years of experience and Chartered Financial Planners across our Derby, Leicester and Nottingham offices, you can be rest assured that you are in safe hands.

What We Can Help With

Our independent financial advisers provide financial advice across the UK, covering the full range of financial planning (pensions, investments, protection and estate planning) for individuals, families, business owners and trustees. Because our financial adviser team works alongside our legal advisers, we’re equally comfortable handling a single, focused question, such as whether you’re on track to retire when you want to, how much you can afford to spend in retirement, or whether your current plans are sufficient to achieve your long-term goals, as well as coordinating plans that include inheritance tax planning, trusts and a business sale.

Retirement and pension planning

Most pension questions that we get asked are often the same question in disguise: will this be enough, and will it last? Our advisers look at what you’ve already built up, what it’s likely to generate in terms of yearly income, and whether it’s in the right shape to meet your goals.

“How much should I save into my pension?” and “Can I take my pension early?” are both questions our advisers answer on an ongoing basis.

Read more: Pension Financial Advisers

Cashflow modelling

One of the main concerns that our clients have is whether they will run out of money in retirement. Cashflow modelling answers that concern directly. It maps your current assets, income and spending against your future plans so you can see how long your money will last.

However, its value often extends far beyond simply avoiding running out of money. Cashflow modelling can provide the confidence to spend more on the things that matter, retire earlier, help children or grandchildren financially, make gifts during your lifetime, or pursue other goals, whilst understanding the impact those decisions may have on your long-term financial security.

Cash flow modelling is a great tool that empowers clients to make decisions with clarity and confidence.

Read more: Cash Flow Modelling

Intergenerational wealth management

Passing on wealth is rarely just about the money. It’s about giving a child a head start, or making sure the business you built carries on the way you want. More families are choosing to share wealth while they’re alive rather than waiting until it passes through a Will. That might mean helping your children get onto the property ladder, structuring gifts to reduce a future Inheritance Tax bill, or planning a business handover. Our independent financial advisers work alongside our Wills, Trusts and Probate solicitors so the legal and financial planning is reviewed as a whole picture.

Read more: Intergenerational Wealth Management

Financial advice for business owners and executives

Business owners are often deeply engrossed in the intricate details of their business operations and have a clear vision for their business’s future. However, when it comes to their personal financial plans or details about their policies and investments, they may not have sorted out the finer details. Many hope that the eventual sale of their business will provide for a comfortable retirement without knowing what that retirement might look like or will cost.

We work with business owners and executives on exit planning, remuneration structuring and shareholder protection, alongside our Corporate and Employment teams to help translate business success into a tangible future for owners and their families, while avoiding or mitigating many of the risks along the way.

Read more: Financial Advice for Business Owners & Executives

Watch our video, presented by John Stanley, Partner and Independent Financial Adviser, on the financial advice we can provide…

Contact Us to See How We Can Help

• You’re approaching retirement and want to understand how to turn your pensions, investments and other assets into a sustainable, tax-efficient income that supports the lifestyle you want
• You’re selling or stepping back from a business and need to know what it means for your personal finances
• A parent has died or is approaching the point where you’re helping manage their affairs
• You’ve inherited money, or you’re thinking about gifting money to children or grandchildren while you’re alive
• You’ve changed jobs and have pensions from previous employers you haven’t looked at in years
• You want to know your family would be financially secure if something happened to you

Holistic Advice

Financial planning at Nelsons works as an ongoing relationship, and being part of a law firm allows us to take a joined-up approach, bringing together financial and legal expertise under one roof.  Here’s what to expect.

1. Initial consultation: we start with a conversation about your goals, concerns, and ambitions, allowing us to understand your situation and determine how we can best support you.
2. Understanding your current financial position: we build a detailed picture of your assets, liabilities, income, expenditure ,and existing arrangements.
3. Developing your personalised financial plan: you receive a written report and recommendations that are bespoke, unbiased and tailored to your circumstances.
4. Putting your plan into action: we implement the agreed recommendations and coordinate any necessary changes, handling all the administration and paperwork.
5. Keeping your plan on track: through regular reviews, we help ensure your plan continues to reflect your objectives, changing circumstances and developments in legislation and taxation.

Why Choose Nelsons for Independent Financial Advice

• Holistic Advice and Collaboration: As part of a full-service law firm, we seamlessly integrate both the financial and legal aspects to create comprehensive solutions, saving you valuable time. We can also work with your existing accountant, solicitors, or other advisers if you wish.
• Unbiased Expertise: As independent financial advisers, we are not tied to any product providers or banks, which allows us to offer you truly unbiased and objective advice, meticulously tailored to your specific needs.

• 

  Advice with genuine technical depth behind it: several of our advisers, including Zoe Till, who heads our team, hold Chartered Financial Planner status through the Personal Finance Society, the industry’s recognised marker of technical depth and professional standards.

• Our charges aren’t linked to your investments: we charge a fixed fee for our services, based on the complexity of the work involved. You’ll receive a fee quote before we undertake any work, so you know exactly what to expect.
• Determining the right fit: The initial consultation allows us to understand your needs and objectives in greater detail, while giving you the opportunity to decide whether our service and expertise are aligned with what you are looking for.
• Rigorous Investment Oversight: Our investment committee meets on a regular basis to diligently review and research our model portfolios. You can rest assured your investments are in capable hands.
• Local and Ongoing Support: Offices in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham mean we are available for face-to-face conversations. You can also contact your adviser and our support team at any time and review your finances via our dedicated Portal.
• Real protection if something goes wrong: we are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. 523173).  This means you have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which is protection you don’t get from unregulated advice.

Ready to Talk to Our Financial Planning Team?

Now you understand how we can help; take the next step. Speak to us today for no-obligation advice on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form.