Mark is a Financial Planning Partner and is a ‘Certified Financial Planner’ (CFP) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (FCSI – Financial Planning), Chartered Wealth Manager, advising clients mainly in the South West but also has clients country wide.
Mark obtained the Chartered Insurance Institutes (CII) Advanced Financial Planning Certificate, passing exams in Trusts & Taxation, Personal Investment Planning, Savings and Investments, Mortgage Advice Qualification plus Pensions exams. Mark also has gained the important certificates in Long Term Care & Insurance Planning and Equity Release, allowing Mark to advise clients on care fees planning. Mark is an Associate Member of the CISI and is a member of the Association of Christian Financial Advisers (ACFA) which promote Biblical financial planning principles. Mark has spoken on the subject of money management and stewardship issues at seminars and other events for various organisations.
Mark mainly advises in the over 50’s marketplace due to his qualifications and 34 years experience in helping clients plan and prepare for later life. This includes ensuring a client’s assets, including pension arrangements, can be accessed in the most effective way to meet their needs for a, hopefully long and fruitful ‘retirement’.
Mark takes into account the important area of planning for a clients potential care costs as part of ‘later life’ planning, ensuring all State benefits are included in the analysis; bearing in mind that any person with even moderate financial assets (at present £23,500) will be classed as a ‘self funder’ for the payment of any care costs, under present legislation. Mark has the necessary qualifications to able to advise on Equity Release/Lifetime Mortgages should this solution be appropriate for a clients specific planning needs.
Tax planning is now a very important part of any clients financial planning in todays ever increasing complex tax regulatory landscape; Mark will ensure that a clients affairs are as tax effective as possible using approved HMRC tax planning methods and solutions.
Mark understands the complex issues that surround the design of a comprehensive financial strategy. Combining financial skills and knowledge with his experience of helping clients navigate through the many financial choices they face, Mark assists in bringing order and direction to the decision making process. He and his technical planning team know how to effectively translate personal and financial goals into workable, realistic and custom tailored plans.
Mark began his career in financial services in 1985. Initially in banking for the TSB Group advising clients on lending and investment. He then worked in various regional management roles for Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Hill Samuel Financial Services, Bishopsgate Plc, & Ronald Blue@ Co.(UK) Plc – the latter both national IFA’s. Mark joined Wiltshire Financial Services Ltd in 2001 as a Senior Financial Planner and, on the formation of King’s Court Financial Planning L.L.P. in November 2002, became Financial Planning Partner.
Mark also has particular experience in advising those within the medical profession, dealing with trust investments through professional connections such as solicitors and accountants, as well as charity trust investment. Being a business person Mark knows the issues around financial planning for SMEs and advices business owners on their financial planning needs. He also has experience of creating ‘ethical/sustainable investment’ portfolios for clients and trusts who wish to ensure their investments are investing for the greater good, as well as achieving a good investment return. Mark also advises clients wishing to explore ‘Social Impact’ investing and the tax reliefs available for this newer type of socially responsible investment strategy.
Mark is a keen sportsman playing hockey, enjoys cycling on his ‘e-bike’ and walking on as many wild, rugged spaces as possible. Mark is married to Anne, lives in Stroud, they have three grown up children and two grandchildren. Mark attends Stroud Christian Fellowship part of the family of churches under Salt & Light Ministries.
CFP™ Chartered FCSI (Financial Planning)