The Century Plan

💡Are you thinking about working with a financial planner but unsure what to expect?💡 You’re making a positive step towards securing your financial future. But, what happens next? Your first meeting with a financial planner sets the stage for the entire process. And this initial discussion which, by the way, should be complimentary, is your chance to: ⭐ Understand the financial planning process. ⭐ Decide if this adviser is the right fit for you. To help you prepare, we’ve created an animation that clearly explains what to expect in this meeting - and, crucially, what shouldn’t happen. Let’s be clear: this meeting is about you. It’s not about rushing into portfolio adjustments or making quick decisions about your ISA or pension allowances. Instead, the focus should be on: 🔹 Your vision and values 🔹 What you want to achieve in life 🔹 When you’d like to become financially independent or retire 🔹 The lifestyle you want to maintain in retirement 🔹 The legacy you’d like to leave As financial planners, our role is to take this information and build a plan that aligns your finances with your life goals. From there, we calculate what’s needed - your savings, investments, and pensions - to achieve financial independence. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers right away. A good financial planner works with you to create a comprehensive, long-term plan designed to support you for the rest of your life. We’re proud of the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received on our animation, which breaks down the financial planning process step by step. 🎥 Take 8 minutes to watch the full animation by scanning the QR code, or clicking on the link in the comments. It’s a simple, engaging way to understand what a financial planner can do for you.

📣 New episodes incoming.... Happy New Year to all our listeners (and to those who have yet to tune in 😊). The Century Plan podcast is back for 2025 with more enlightening ideas to help you achieve the financial future you deserve. Catch up on Season 4 by scanning the QR code or clicking on the link in the comments 🎧 #HappyNewYear #2025 #FinancialPlanning

💡Why work with a financial planner?💡 Whenever I’m asked this question, my response is always the same: would you rather work with someone who focuses on your money, or someone who focuses on you and your goals? If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take control of your financial future, it’s important to approach it the right way - by looking beyond quick fixes and focusing on the long term. Financial planning isn’t just about pensions or investments; it’s about understanding where you are now, defining what you want your future to look like, and building a roadmap to get you there. In my latest article, I explain how working with a financial planner can help you move beyond the numbers and take real steps towards achieving financial independence. 🎥 And if you'd rather watch than read, we made a short animated film to explain what happens when you work with a financial planner. You can scan the code below or click on the link in the comments.

A little holiday homework for you... I know my son has some to do, which he's not pleased about ("What's the point, Mum?"). But if he can find time, in-between "very necessary" gaming, to write a French essay, I reckon we can all manage at least one of the tasks on Dennis Hall's list. And the best thing is, there really is a point. If we want to achieve the best outcomes for our financial future - and retirement when it arrives - it's vital that we spend some time going through these steps. Which will you do? 🎄Merry Christmas!🎄

Sarah Steele asked me to outline 5 key steps we can take at Christmas to improve our financial situations. It might not immediately strike you as the most festive thing to do, but we tend to get a bit of downtime in the holidays, and that gives us opportunity for reflection. So, I have given it a go. Do you get a nagging feeling that you really ought to be addressing your financial planning? But something else always gets in the way? I promise, if you take at least one of these five steps (or preferably more) you'll ease that background feeling of stress you've been carrying around. Here's a link to my article: https://lnkd.in/dKstKY6m #FinancialPlanning #Budgeting #Pensions #Savings

A bit of a foodie theme for December's newsletter. But one that links well to our mission to help people live happier, healthier, financially sustainable retirements. In this edition: 💚 Financial Well-Being and Physical Health: a conversation with nutritional therapist, Claire Thomas, who gave us plenty to think about when it comes to changing small habits. 🎧An episode of our podcast, The Century Plan, on Purpose-Led Financial Planning with Katherine Waller 📈A link to our Budgeting Tool which would be a perfect exercise for the quieter moments in the upcoming holidays. 📗Book of the Month. Sticking to our theme of living healthily for longer, a great cookbook for healthier living, disease prevention, better performance, and a longer life. Have a read and let me know what you think. And if you enjoy the newsletter, please feel free to share ♻ #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #RetirementGoals #NutritionalTherapy

We’ve been thrilled with the feedback on our recent podcast episode, where we explored the connection between nutritional therapy and financial planning. Our guest, Claire Thomas, shared practical, achievable advice on how to take small, meaningful steps towards better health. Her philosophy aligns beautifully with financial planning: small, consistent changes can lead to big results over time. Claire's insights are particularly powerful because they come from personal experience. Having recovered from chronic fatigue, triggered by swine flu, she knows first-hand how transformative good nutrition can be in helping us regain energy and vitality. In this episode, Claire highlights the importance of investing in our health today to enjoy a longer, more active, and happier retirement. Just like with financial planning, it’s not about tackling everything all at once - it’s about starting where you can. These small steps create momentum, and before long, the benefits speak for themselves. If you’ve been putting off changes in your health or finances because it feels overwhelming, this is the episode for you. Start small, stay consistent, and watch the transformation unfold. #FinancialPlanning #NutritionalTherapy

Which is more important: looking after your future health or your future wealth? In this week’s episode of The Century Plan, we explore why the two are deeply interconnected. Whether it’s your health or your finances, working with a professional can offer invaluable guidance, support, and accountability. We’re joined by nutritional therapist Claire Thomas, who shares how she helps her clients achieve better health and well-being. Here's what we cover: Understanding nutrition's role in health and longevity Common nutritional issues and misconceptions The connection between nutrition and financial planning The importance of sleep and the impact of stress Behavioural changes and mindset Whether fasting can work for you Understanding epigenetics, gene expression and lifestyle choices Genetic testing: pros and cons The importance of expert guidance Barriers to health and nutrition awareness It's such a fascinating discussion. Don't miss it. I've popped a link in the comments below 🎧 #FinancialPlanning #NutritionalTherapy

🤨 Are you being completely honest with yourself? When it comes to self-analysis or data recording, it’s tempting to adjust the details to paint a more positive picture. But if you’re not honest, what’s the point of the exercise? When we start working with new clients, we ask them to complete an income and expenditure table - a budget, if you will. Writing it all down can be a revealing process, but it’s also incredibly valuable. Claire Thomas, a nutritional therapist (and tomorrow’s podcast guest), asks her clients to do something similar: keep a food diary. I’ve done it myself, and let me tell you, it was tempting to leave out the odd glass of wine - or to pretend I eat more fruit than I actually do (I’m more of a vegetable fan). But, really, what would have been the point? Claire couldn’t give me proper advice without the full story. The same goes for financial planning. Yes, the budgeting process can feel a little uncomfortable, but anyone who’s been through it tells us it’s one of the most useful financial exercises they’ve ever done. Claire joins me and Dennis Hall on tomorrow’s episode of The Century Plan to talk about the parallels between looking after your health and your finances. With longer retirements and increasing later-life costs, investing in your future self - financially and physically - has never been more important. I've popped a link in the comments for the podcast. And another one, for the income and expenditure exercise, if anyone wants to bite that financial bullet 😊 #FinancialPlanning #NurtritionalTherapy

Out on Tuesday!