Dominic Thomas

I was fed up with meeting people that had been ripped off by "advisers" so back in 1999 I set up my own firm. I removed commission from all financial products that our clients took out, charging clear, transparent fees. That was 17 years ago and still goes far further than the rules the regulator brought in from 2012 (called RDR). Today I continue to look after clients and take on a few each year that want proper, impartial financial planning. It isn't for everyone - generally you would work with me because you know your finances are important but you are bored rigid by money and the jargon. You have little time, want to delegate but need someone you can trust that puts your interests first. If you don't meet our criteria for financial planning then we can either point you to someone else or you can go online and use our DIY low cost investment service (for those with less than £100,000). There is no getting around the trust issue when it comes to selecting an adviser - I believe it is the most important element of the relationship - and I am only interested in creating long-term client relationships. So I'm the wrong guy to simply "sort out" something and never see you again. However its pretty hard to figure this out early on. So I suggest looking at my blog - which I regularly update. It gives you a flavour of who I am, what I think is important, what inspires me and what really annoys me most about my industry/profession. I guess one indicator of how others view us is that we have been short-listed as the best financial planning firm in London by "Professional Adviser" (a publication for IFAs, financial planners, Solicitors and Accountants) for the last 3 years running - and were runners up for the last two years. Not something a firm of our size should really be doing here in London when you think about it. All good financial planning should be about you and your values - not about the value of your portfolio. Great financial planning also reveals what needs to be done, what real risks there might be and how to resolve these or come to terms with them. This sort of financial planning has many labels - holistic, lifestyle, values-based.. frankly its all jargon, but the best way to find out if it is for you is to have a look at our website, (the about you section) check out some of the testimonials and then, if it suits, arrange an introductory meeting at our offices near Wimbledon, simply to determine if we can help and if like each other enough to begin a long-term professional relationship. Any decent financial planner, not only adds value to what you have but also acts to ensure you don't make any daft mistakes - if you will your own guard or gatekeeper. Making sure that you keep true to your own plans and don't get tempted by the increasing sophistication of offers promising all that you know deep down is "too good to be true". My approach is, I believe, refreshingly honest - but it isn't for everyone. You will need to trust and to delegate, you will need to express your values and your aspirations, you will require patience, the ability to take action, make decisions and my approach requires discipline (which I help create). In short, you will need to be someone that takes their future seriously, but not obsessing over every detail... and remember, the best financial plan in the world is useless unless it is acted upon.