FAQs

Yes, we are fully independent financial advisers, which means we have access to the whole of the market to make our recommendations.

We are an appointed representative of Caliber Financial Associates Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check this on the Financial Services Register here or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768 and quoting our Financial Services Register number 471230.

Yes, absolutely. We’re happy to meet however suits you best – whether that’s face-to-face at our office or yours, via video call, or over the phone.

We are happy to hold meetings where you feel most comfortable. You are welcome to come to the office, or we can visit you at home or another suitable location. We also offer video calls or standard phone calls if it’s more convenient.

There’s plenty of free parking directly outside our office.

Caliber Financial Management has been helping clients with their financial planning since 2009, building a reputation for trusted, independent advice across Bedfordshire and beyond.

We’re based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and while many of our clients are local to us, we’re happy to work with clients across the UK. Distance is no barrier to building a strong working relationship.

We don’t currently hold Chartered firm status, but our advisers maintain high professional standards and qualifications to deliver expert advice tailored to your needs.

We don’t hold CISI Accredited status, but we are fully FCA regulated and our advisers are committed to maintaining the qualifications and expertise needed to serve our clients well.

Yes, we’re proud of the feedback we receive from clients. You can read reviews and testimonials on our website, and we’re also featured on VouchedFor, an independent review platform for financial advisers.

We take the time to really understand you and what matters most. We’re not a faceless corporate firm – we’re local, independent, and build long-term relationships based on trust. Our advice is tailored to your unique circumstances, and we’re always on hand when you need us.

Our Financial Services Register number is 471230. You can verify our registration on the FCA’s website or by calling them on 0800 111 6768.

We’re based in Ampthill and work with many clients across Bedfordshire, including Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, and the surrounding areas. We also work with clients further afield across the UK.

You can make your enquiry either by phone, email or through our website.

We offer potential new clients an initial consultation at no charge.

During our initial meeting, we’ll discuss your financial position and your objectives. We’ll let you know if there’s anything you need to bring with you.

We’ll take the time to get to know you, understand your current situation, and talk about what you’re hoping to achieve. It’s an informal conversation where you can ask questions and we can explore whether we’re the right fit to help you.

There’s no fixed allotted time for our meetings, but as a guide, the initial meeting usually takes around an hour.

There’s no obligation to sign up to our services after our initial consultation. Once we have conducted a review of your circumstances, we usually offer a second meeting a few weeks after the first, also at no cost to you. During the second meeting, we discuss our recommendations that we feel would achieve your objectives and clearly explain the charges involved. You can then, in your own time, decide if you would like to proceed with implementing our recommendations.

Please get in touch with us to discuss your preferences. We’ll do our best to match you with an adviser who you’ll feel comfortable working with.

We have a great team of advisers and support staff who can be contacted with any urgent issues you may have while your adviser is unavailable.

We stay in regular contact with our clients, typically reviewing your plan annually or more frequently if your circumstances change. You’ll also hear from us if there’s anything important we think you should know.

Yes, cashflow planning is an important part of what we do. It helps you see clearly whether your money will last throughout retirement and what impact different decisions might have on your financial future.

Life doesn’t stand still, and neither should your financial plan. If your circumstances change, just let us know and we’ll review your plan to make sure it still works for you.

Absolutely. We’re happy to work with your other professional advisers to make sure everyone’s pulling in the same direction and your interests are protected.

Yes, we can liaise with your mortgage adviser if needed. Good co-ordination between advisers helps ensure you get the best overall outcome.

In the unlikely event your adviser leaves, you’d be introduced to another member of our team who would take over responsibility for looking after you. We’d make sure the transition is smooth and your service continues without interruption.

We’d be happy to show you what our financial plans look like during an initial meeting. Each plan is tailored to the individual, so it’s helpful to discuss this in person.

Yes, you’ll have online access to view your investments and see how they’re performing whenever you wish.

Yes, we provide secure online access so you can check your investments at a time that suits you, giving you peace of mind and control.

Typically, we meet with clients for a formal review at least once a year, though some clients prefer to meet more frequently. We’re also available throughout the year if you need us.

While we don’t provide mortgage advice directly, we can refer you to trusted mortgage advisers if you need help in this area.

We can discuss equity release as part of your overall financial plan and help you understand whether it might be suitable for your circumstances.

Yes, personal pensions are a key area of our advice. We can help you understand your options and make sure your pension is working as hard as it can for you.

Yes, we regularly advise on workplace pensions and can help you understand what you have and how to make the most of it.

Yes, many of our clients have pensions scattered across different employers. We can review whether consolidating them makes sense for you and help you bring them together if it does.

Absolutely. How you take your pension can have a significant impact on the tax you pay. We’ll help you structure things to make your money go further.

Yes, if investing in line with your values is important to you, we can help you build a portfolio that reflects what matters to you while still working towards your financial goals.

Receiving a lump sum can feel overwhelming. We’ll take the time to understand what you want this money to do for you and help you invest it wisely.

Yes, we advise on SIPPs and can help you determine whether one is appropriate for your circumstances and what you should hold within it.

At present, we do not advise on final salary or defined benefit pension transfers. We refer these cases to a specialist defined benefit transfer company.

Yes, and we’re attuned to the fact that planning for later life is an important conversation. We can help you think through how you’d fund care if needed and what steps you might take now to protect your assets.

Yes, we can help you understand your potential Inheritance Tax liability and explore strategies to reduce it, ensuring more of your wealth passes to the people you care about.

Yes, ISAs are a tax-efficient way to invest and form part of many of our clients’ financial plans. We’ll help you make the most of your annual allowances.

Yes, we can advise on protection to make sure you and your family are looked after if the unexpected happens. It’s often an overlooked but vital part of financial planning.

Yes, we offer potential new clients an initial consultation at no charge.

We charge fees for our advice, which are agreed with you upfront before we begin any work. This ensures transparency and means our recommendations are always in your best interest.

Our minimum fees vary depending on the complexity of your situation and the advice you need. We’ll discuss this clearly during our initial meetings so you know exactly what to expect.

The cost depends on your individual circumstances and what you need from us. We’ll provide a clear breakdown of our charges before you commit to anything.

Typically, our charges will be calculated as a percentage of the amount invested, adjusted if necessary to reflect the complexity of the advice being given. The actual charges will be detailed in our report.

No, we don’t receive commission. We charge fees for our advice, which means we’re working for you, not for product providers.

VAT is not typically charged on financial advice services, though it may apply to some elements of our service. We’ll make this clear in our fee disclosure.

We’re transparent about what we charge and what you get for your money. Many clients tell us our fees represent excellent value given the expertise, peace of mind, and ongoing support we provide.

Our fees are competitive for the quality and breadth of service we provide. Unlike some advisers, we build long-term relationships and remain available to you as your circumstances evolve.

We’re happy to discuss our fees openly. The best way is to contact us for an initial consultation, where we’ll explain our charges clearly based on what you need.

Yes, and we understand that retiring early is an aspiration for many people. We can help you understand whether it’s achievable and what steps you need to take to make it happen.

Absolutely. Retirement planning is at the heart of what we do. Whether you’re decades away or just around the corner, we’ll help you build a plan that gives you confidence and clarity.

We work with a range of clients, but many are successful professionals and business owners who value expert, independent advice. Whether you’re approaching retirement, already retired, or thinking about how to invest, we’re here to help.

Yes, we work with clients at all life stages. If you’re building wealth and want to make smart decisions early, we can help you lay solid foundations for the future.

Yes, many of our clients are business owners or self-employed professionals. We understand the unique challenges you face and can help you plan around your business and personal finances.

Yes, this is a key area for us. We help clients navigate the transition into retirement and make sure their money works for them throughout their later years.

Yes, and we know that inheriting money comes with important decisions. We can help you invest it wisely and make sure it supports your long-term goals.

Absolutely. Selling a business is a major life event, and we can help you make the most of the proceeds and plan for the next chapter.

Yes, and we understand this is a difficult time. We can help you navigate the financial aspects with sensitivity and care, ensuring you make informed decisions when you’re ready.

We work with all three. Our clients include successful business owners, professionals, and people at or approaching retirement who want expert guidance they can trust.

Our advice is primarily focused on UK residents. If you’re an expat or non-UK resident, please get in touch to discuss whether we can help with your specific situation.

Yes, many clients come to us with existing arrangements. We’ll review what you have and advise whether any changes would benefit you.

We work with clients across a range of financial circumstances. The best way to find out if we’re a good fit is to get in touch for an initial conversation.

Yes, investments we recommend are typically held with providers covered by the FSCS, which protects eligible claims up to £85,000 per person, per institution if a firm fails.

We hope you’ll never need to complain, but if you’re unhappy with any aspect of our service, we have a formal complaints procedure. If we can’t resolve your complaint, you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We take data security seriously and follow strict protocols to protect your personal information, in line with UK data protection regulations.

Yes, we hold Professional Indemnity Insurance, which is a regulatory requirement. This protects you in the unlikely event that our advice causes you financial loss.

You can check our registration on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk using our FCA number 471230, or by calling the FCA on 0800 111 6768.

We’re happy to share examples of how we’ve helped clients in similar situations to yours. Just ask during your initial meeting.

We regularly seek feedback from our clients to ensure we’re delivering the service they expect. Client satisfaction and long-term relationships are central to how we measure our success.

While we’re focused on delivering great service rather than chasing awards, we’re proud to be featured on VouchedFor and to receive positive reviews from the clients we serve.

Yes, we’re on VouchedFor, an independent review platform where you can read feedback from our clients and see how we’re rated.