Tom Brookes

I combine holistic financial planning with the mindset of an educator and the tools of a tech geek. I consider it my job to turn worry into confidence and confusion into clarity. I became a financial adviser after seeing people close to me suffer because of poor or absent advice. That experience made it personal. I didn’t just want to join the industry - I wanted to help change it. I founded Arboretum in 2025 so that I could deliver in-depth, holistic financial planning that starts with your goals and ends with a clear plan for how to get there. I use cashflow modelling as the backbone of everything I do, helping you see the long-term consequences of your decisions today. Whether you’re preparing for retirement, looking to protect your family, or thinking about inheritance and legacy, I work alongside you to create a plan that’s built around your life - not someone else’s idea of what it should look like. I hold both the CII's Level 6 Chartered Financial Planner and the CISI’s Level 7 Advanced Financial Planning qualifications, which underpins the technical side of what I do. But just as importantly, I believe in making financial planning accessible. I pride myself on being a good educator. My clients are never made to feel silly for asking questions. If something doesn’t make sense the first time, I’ll explain it differently until it does. I also embrace every bit of technology available to make planning clearer, quicker, and more interactive. If there's a tool that can make your financial journey smoother or more transparent, I’m probably already using it! I'm constantly looking for new ways to make the experience more engaging and insightful. You can expect: - Clear, honest explanations with no jargon - Transparent, up-front fees with no surprises - A pressure-free experience at every stage - Independent, whole-of-market advice, tailored to your goals - A sense of peace of mind, where you will have a full picture of your financial position and feel confident about your financial future Outside work, I try to live by the principles in the book "Die With Zero" by Bill Perkins (Which I recommend all of my clients read), focusing on making memories with my family now, while we have the health and freedom to enjoy them. For me, good planning isn’t just about the future. It’s about living well today, too. "Time is the only currency we spend without ever knowing our bank balance"