Nicola Watts

About

WHO I HELP Individuals and couples, pre-retirees, retirees, families, wealthy clients and those planning for their future and legacy. HOW I HELP Financial planning, retirement planning, cashflow modelling, pension and investment planning, wealth management, goal and lifestyle planning legacy planning. “Encouraging my clients to live their best lives.” Nicola has worked in financial services since 2000, building extensive experience across financial advice and financial planning along the way. As a Chartered Financial Planner and Certified Financial Planner, she brings a wealth of technical knowledge and experience to her role but believes that good financial planning starts with understanding the person behind the numbers. Putting financial planning into practice Her approach is centred around helping clients define what they want life to look like for themselves and their families. Working with individuals and couples, often in the years leading up to retirement, Nicola helps clients bring together their pensions, investments and wider finances to understand how they can achieve their goals. A different approach to financial planning Financial planning has been part of Nicola’s life from an early age, having grown up around the industry through her mother’s financial advice firm. Over time, she helped develop the business from a traditional financial advice model into a more holistic financial planning service. It was this philosophy that shaped her own approach: starting with the client and what they want from life, rather than starting with a financial product. For Nicola, this means taking the time to really listen to clients, understand what matters to them and, where appropriate, challenge their thinking. Sometimes the most valuable role a Financial Planner can play is helping someone see their situation differently and understand what might actually be possible. Helping clients enjoy what they’ve built Many of Nicola’s clients have spent years focused on building and protecting their wealth. One of the challenges that can come with this is knowing when it’s okay to stop saving and start enjoying it. Through financial planning and cashflow modelling, Nicola helps clients understand what they can afford to spend, give away or invest while still protecting their longer-term financial security. The aim is to move clients from feeling uncertain or restricted to feeling organised, confident and in control. This can become particularly important as clients move through retirement and later life, when their priorities may shift towards family, experiences and legacy planning. Nicola works with clients over the long term, helping their financial plan adapt as their circumstances and ambitions change. Experience, perspective and collaboration One of the biggest lessons Nicola has learned throughout her career came from building and eventually selling their own financial planning business. It taught her that success isn’t about doing everything yourself, and that sometimes recognising when change is right for your clients, your team and yourself is an important part of moving forward. Nicola also believes that financial planning is about much more than technical knowledge. Clients need someone who will listen, simplify complicated information and give them the confidence to make decisions about their future. Making financial planning personal For Nicola, this is ultimately the difference between financial advice and true financial planning. Rather than beginning with a product or a particular financial decision, financial planning starts with the client’s life and works backwards to understand how their finances can help make that life possible. Looking ahead, Nicola is particularly interested in how technology and AI can be used to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary administration. The goal isn’t technology for technology’s sake, but to create more time for what matters most: building relationships with clients and delivering great financial planning.