Ruth Sturkey

First impression from a user who is not yet a client

October, 2017

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ruth

Ruth was very helpful, honest and I feel that she would be very trustworthy. Unfortunately she was not able to help, but pointed me in the right direction of who I needed to speak to. Ruth made such a good impression from that phone call I would not hesitate to contact her in the future if my circumstances change.

Ruth's reply

Dear Denise Thank you very much indeed for your first impression! It was a pleasure to speak to you and I wish you and your family well with the house move. Best wishes Ruth

First impression from a user who is not yet a client

April, 2017

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ruth

We met with her colleague Rachel Coowar.

Ruth's reply

Thanks for the response Lovedip. I know Rachel is speaking to you about service options and fees. I trust we can find something that works for you and your family. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Best wishes Ruth

Review from verified client

August, 2016

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

Provide funds for retirement.

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Excellent advice and Ruth always listens to my thoughts and suggestions about planning for the future.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Very much so.

What could they have done better?

More client functions.

Ruth's reply

Hi David Thanks very much for leaving your review, it is much appreciated. Agree re Client Functions! As we discussed over lunch I am working on a few ideas...you will be at the top of our invitation list! Best wishes Ruth

Review from verified client

August, 2016

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

I have lived in Australia for the past 7 years, have dual UK/ Australian citizenship - and have UK assets, for which I required investment advice.

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Ruth and the Red House team have been very responsive throughout. Red House secured my Lifetime Allowance for UK pension purposes and advise on management of those proceeds through the Dimensional platform.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

Yes - definitely. Living on the other side of the world means that it's very important to me and my family that we have UK advisers with "safe hands". Red House provide these for us.

What could they have done better?

Nothing I can suggest to improve so far

Ruth's reply

Dear Stephen Thank you so much for your great review, we really appreciate it. It has been a good as well as an educational experience for me and The Red House team to work alongside you and collaborate with your Australian advisers, in particular Simon Gabbie in Brisbane, to achieve good planning outcomes for you and your family. Thanks for taking the time to write the review. Ruth

Review from verified client

November, 2015

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

bad experience previously.

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Straight forward quality advice with no sales agenda or hidden charges.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

My current situation is that I am 3 years or so away from retirement. Yes re outcome.

What could they have done better?

I am totally satisfied with advice from The Red House. Nothing could have been done better.

Review from verified client

September, 2015

What were the circumstances that caused you to initially look for an adviser?

The need for an IFA to assess family finances across three generations and plan for the long term.

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Ruth and her colleagues have provided excellent advice across a diverse range from pensions to school fee planning.

Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?

We are very pleased with the outcome to date and the on going advice received.

Ruth's reply

Nick, thank you very much for taking the time to leave this review. We really appreciate it and enjoy working with you and your family

First impression from a user who is not yet a client

April, 2015

Please provide a brief comment about your experience with Ruth

We had a preliminary chat that was so full and pleasant I had no idea it went on for two convivial hours. She and her team were clear, open, generous and curious about me, my needs, etc. A delightful experience which may well lead to more work together sh

Ruth's reply

John, thank you so much for your reply. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you. One of the privileges of our job is meeting and speaking with interesting people with fascinating lives. We do hope that once cross border matters are sorted out that we can work together. Regardless, it was great to meet you. Best wishes Ruth

Review from verified client

March, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Responsive, objective, pro-active, impartial and independent. My wife and I have been with TRH since its inception and with Ruth Sturkey for a while before that. She and her team have been exactly right for our particular circumstances and I can only imagine they would be for anyone who knows they need financial advice.

What could they have done better?

I can't think of anything!

Ruth's reply

Michael, thank you very much for your kind words, the team and I really appreciate it.

Review from verified client

March, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Ruth makes everything as painless as possible. She is 100% reliable to sort out exactly what is needed on time and her advice is very clear. You can just hand over your financial affairs to her if you want to

Ruth's reply

Thanks very much Claire for taking the time to leave a review. Your comments mirror our aim so great to hear that it is working!

Review from verified client

March, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Hugely professional,

Ruth's reply

Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a reply Chris, much appreciated. Our aim is professional yet relaxed (unless there is a deadline to meet!). Thank you.

Review from verified client

March, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

I had worked with Ruth Sturkey even before she and Gareth setup the Red House (TRH). But the relationship really developed after TRH was established. I love their model: independent advice for a fee with no commission and a deep belief in listening to the needs of the client - and minimising fees as a necessary element to ensure the best return. I now think of TRH as our family's outsourced family office. They have always been independent, accurate and very thoughtful in their work. Recently, when my job involved moving to the USA, I retained TRH to project manage all the financial aspects of the move - that saw them coordinate all the meetings with the other professionals we were using - our accountants and Lawyers. They are really trustworthy and have never let me down. And I am sure my pensions , mortgages and investments have all benefitted from their attention.

What could they have done better?

Frankly I had seen many other IFAs through earlier years and through my business colleagues. I don't have advice here beyond - "keep up your high standards TRH and stick to your values TRH: they are what set you apart". It's been fantastic to see such people as the administrator of my employer's pension fund (with many thousands of enrolled members) tell me that he was impressed by his encounter with TRH.

Ruth's reply

David, thank you very much for your review. For our part we very much enjoy working with you and your family. I can assure you we will keep up our standards! Best wishes Ruth

Review from verified client

March, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Also ahead of me, anticipating what I may need generally before I have to ask. That pro active approach goes to advising my children on mortgages and their financial position. The advice is never stuffy or over complicated, given clearly and succinctly, personally and professionally. Most importantly my wife and I like them as individuals and enjoy our time with them.

What could they have done better?

Nothing really

Review from verified client

February, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

Ruth and her team are precise, calm and yet inquistive and gently challenging. They offer sensible, long term planning and advice that over the seven years we have worked together has been much needed and always accurate.

What could they have done better?

It's the other way around! Ruth's constructive suggestions help my family...I wish I could help her more but she knows too much!

Review from verified client

February, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

It is a combination of many things. There is strong practical advice that has in some ways become a guide for our broader lives. This works well because it is mixed with easy to understand products that are appropriate and never really sold. The tools relating to risk and motivation are used in the right way but never in isolation and their is a focus on the required return rather than a higher and higher return. The other element that is key is that the service is consistent in a way that a bank , an accountant or even your solicitor often if not always fails to be. We want a view and advice that relates to that fact based judgement not trends or opinion and that is what we get. Finally it is a supportive and friendly relationship not a chummy over familiar one. Without putting too finer point on it , we had very little when we started with the Red House ,eight years on we are on track and we actually have a lot

What could they have done better?

This may sound contradictory but the broader team could offer a greater range of financial services within their umbrella. There are often things that they say you should or could do but on these occasions these actions often fall into a black hole and don't get actioned because live moves on and you simply never do it until they raise it with you again. This is less and less the case as the Red House gets more developed and sophisticated. When they have undertaken other work like this they have also given us great service at the right price

Review from verified client

February, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

The advice provided is 100% geared towards what you want to achieve, and what you need to do to achieve it. Before any advice is provided you fill in detailed questionnaires about your spending profile and your attitude to risk, and the results will inform the advice provided. If you are in good shape financially, you will be encouraged to get the balance right between continuing to save only what is needed to be saved, and spending the rest on nice things now. Finally, crucially, (for me) there is no pretence that the market can be predicted so your investments are placed with sensible investors who don't overcharge and who don't pretend they can do what other funds can't. The investments are made according to your own risk profile. This is how financial planning should be. For the first time ever I felt comfortable and confident, rather than slightly dubious as I had with different advisers. Thoroughly recommended.

What could they have done better?

It's hard to criticise. It really is so bespoke and so geared towards you that you will find it hard to fault. Of course this kind of advice costs but it's all up front and transparent, and you get what you pay for.

Review from verified client

January, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

The quality of advice is excellent. Ruth and her team produce in depth analysis, their recommendations are well thought through, and presented in an easy to understand manner. They are extremely personable and likeable people. There administration is also very efficient. I am very pleased with the performance of my pension fund over the years and I enjoy my relationship with them.

Review from verified client

January, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

I have found that the Red House Team have explained my investments and their strategy extremely clearly, been patient and understanding about my views and future wishes and anxieties. In addition know and respect my attitude to risk and have explained their charges and given me marvellous help at all times. I find The Red House staff helpful and polite and my enquiries and contact with them always responded to quickly.

What could they have done better?

To be truthful, I don't know what they could do better.

Review from verified client

January, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

A very professional service, delivered methodically and calmly. A real effort is made to understand the client and his/her needs and goals. The appetite for risk is looked at in the context of the client's goals. It sounds so obvious, but the fundamental question is how much do I need to have saved in order to live in the lifestyle I am assuming I will want to enjoy in retirement, and therefore what action to I need to take, and how much investment risk do I need to take on board? Am I comfortable with that? I had not encountered this approach before with previous advisers.

What could they have done better?

There is a very satisfied client here! The amount of contact and proactivity is just right, and the results are fully in line with expectations. Continuity of support staff is a minor issue, and it is not really a problem in practice for the client, as easy access to Ruth herself is always available.

Review from verified client

January, 2015

How has Ruth Sturkey helped you?

I was advised by Ruth when she was at a large consultancy before she set up TRH and when she left I followed her to TRH. She advised me while I was earning as to the best way of planning and investing for my retirement, and on the changeover from earning to retired and since then, for nearly ten years of retirement. Her advice has been absolutely correct in every particular - and I have been with her long enough for this to have been demonstrated. She has built up an excellent support team around her. As for the box in which I was requested to select her best quality, they all applied equally, good communicator, efficient, has integrity, understands ands anticipates my goals, conducts thorough research and applies reasonable charges. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

What could they have done better?

Nothing to add