We Feel So Secure

Speaking to a financial adviser helped Govind Shahi plan for his financial future. He now has retirement sorted, his dream home and, most importantly, peace of mind

Govind Shahi says that speaking to a financial adviser has given him security, knowing that his retirement will be taken care of. He’s been working with Amit Mittal, principal financial planner at Expert Independent Financial Planning, to maximise his savings, ensure his money is well invested and that he and his wife are prepared for the future.

Govind says: “A few years ago, we realised we hadn’t adequately prepared for retirement with a solid financial plan, nor taken any formal advice to make the relevant decisions. That is when we decided to seek advice; I met Amit primarily to discuss tax planning, supported with pensions and investments.

“Our initial goal was to see if we were fully utilising the annual allowances given by HMRC and secondly, and most importantly, we wanted to plan for retiring while maintaining our current lifestyle.”

Amit advised that Govind should enhance his pension saving using salary sacrifice. He clearly explained the options and helped reduce the family’s tax liabilities – meaning the money they saved worked harder.

Govind says: “The money invested has grown much more than it would in a bank account. There are two clear benefits, both the monetary gains, but also our peace of mind knowing there is a pot set aside to take care of retirement years. The return on investment has delivered many multiples of what we paid in fees.

“There is no feeling like knowing you are financially better off and more secure than before. Of course, seeing your investments going up is a very happy situation, but in reality, it is the security you get which makes life seem simpler.”

As Amit explains: “Using financial planning tools, I showcased what was missing in their plan and how I could help them secure their retirement by investing tax efficiently.”

Amit also played a pivotal role in helping the Shahis secure their dream home. He helped them find not just the lowest mortgage offer, but the right one for their circumstances – doing the maths to highlight the benefits and pitfalls of every option. He also helped them negotiate a cheaper price in return for a quick sale.

Unfortunately, property deeds threw up unexpected challenges that needed to be rectified - but Amit negotiated an extension to the mortgage offer and the family were able to move last year.

Govind says: “Amit helped us secure a really good deal on our mortgage. When the property ran into challenges, he saved us the headache of calling up the bank – all that was done by him without any drama or delay.”

Next he’s working with Amit on the options for leveraging ISA benefits. Govind adds that finding the right adviser is critical: “Find someone who you can trust. A qualified, approachable adviser will not only save you time and money, but actually make your money work harder for you.”

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