FAQs
Do you offer independent financial advice?
Independence is particularly important, as it means we always work for you. It also allows us to regularly review the providers and investment solutions that we use for clients.
Does the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulate you?
Yes, we are an appointed representative of The On-Line Partnership Limited who are authorised and regulated by the FCA. You can find us on the FCA Register here.
Why are meetings only held remotely?
There are a few reasons. Firstly, it keeps costs down as we don’t have to travel to meet you. Secondly, whilst we have a lot of clients locally around Reading we do also work with clients throughout England and Wales. Clients are usually working themselves so remote video calls make meetings more convenient for both us and our clients. And finally, it ties in with our business values to have as little an impact on the planet as possible.
How do remote meetings work in practice?
Remote meetings are held via secure video calls on Microsoft Teams. When you book you’ll be sent a link in advance and can join via computer, tablet or phone. Both our financial planners are very experienced in them they’ve been running remote meetings since before the pandemic made them popular!
How long has Wholesome Financial Planning been providing financial advice?
Wholesome Financial Planning has been in business since March 2023, however its two advisers are very experienced. Matt has been working in the advice world since 2015 and been an adviser since November 2016. Lucy has been a qualified adviser since 2022.
Where are you based, and do you work with clients outside your local area?
We are based in Reading but work with clients across England and Wales.
Do you have any client reviews and where can I view them?
We have client reviews on Google and VouchedFor.
What makes your firm different from other financial advisers and planners?
We’re a purpose led firm that focussed on responsible financial planning, not just financial products. Each clients gets an ESG portfolio, transparent fixed fees and a plan backed up by independent financial advice that is tailored to their life. We also offset our carbon footprint, fund habitat restoration and plant trees for each client every year.
What is your FCA registration number?
Our FCA registration number is 995296.
What are the key cities, towns and areas you work with clients in?
Naturally we have a large number of clients in Reading. However, as we offer a remote service, we serve clients across England and Wales. For example, we have clients in Bristol, Sheffield and further afield.
How can I book an initial meeting?
The initial step is an introductory phone call, to see if we’ll be a good match, before moving onto a free familiarisation meeting. You can use the following link to book the first call in with the planner of your choosing: click here.
Do I have to pay for an initial meeting?
No, there is no cost for an initial meeting. We need to make sure that we will be able to work together moving forward – that goes both ways, of course!
What do I need to bring to an initial meeting?
If we decide to book our familiarisation meeting in, then there is nothing to bring to it. However, it would be useful to consider some questions such as:
- What is an ideal day for you?
- What would you fill your time with in an ideal world?
- Have you missed out on anything in the past that you regret and would like to rectify?
What happens in the first meeting?
The familiarisation meeting is an opportunity to discuss your goals and objectives as well as your relationship with money. We don’t be discussing products, investments or any other ‘hard facts’.
How long should I allow for an initial meeting?
The introductory phone call last 15 to 30 minutes and the familiarisation meeting lasts 45 to 60 minutes.
Do I have to sign up to your services at an initial meeting?
After the meeting, if you want to proceed, we will get the necessary next steps going. If you don’t, that’s equally okay, as this is an important decision for you. If you need some time to think, we’ll arrange a time to call you.
What happens after our first meeting?
After the familiarisation meeting we’ll give you space to decide if you would like to move forward. If you decide to proceed, we’ll issue a client agreement and begin gathering detailed information to form the basis of your financial plan. During this process we’ll move onto the next meeting, our knowledge meeting, where we’ll ensure you have a good understanding of relevant areas of finance for your goals.
How long does the financial planning process take?
The full financial planning process typically takes 8-10 weeks from the point we begin gathering information. This depends on response times from yourselves, from providers and diary availability. We’ll keep you informed throughout.
Can my partner or family join meetings?
Financial planning often involves shared goals, so we welcome partners or family members to join meeting if you’d like them involved. Having everybody on the same page can make planning more effective and meaningful. Just let us know in advance so we can make sure the meeting is set up accordingly.
Do you have a female adviser or planner I can work with?
Yes, whilst only 18% of financial planners are female, we are proud to have our founder Lucy – who is very highly rated on VouchedFor.
What happens if my financial planner is away on holiday?
As a smaller financial planning business, this is an important question. While we will always try to be on hand, we can only practice what we preach: enjoy your life while you can. This means we will occasionally completely switch off from the business. For our clients with a regular ongoing service, we will give plenty of notice ahead of these breaks.
How often will I hear from my financial adviser or planner?
With our ongoing advice service, you’ll hear from us multiple times a year. We’ll have at least one annual progress meeting, with many clients enjoying two. We’ll also be in touch each month with our newsletter with additional newsletters around the budget and statement each year. In addition, we’ll give you a full breakdown of any costs incurred by you in your financial products on an annual basis too.
Do you offer cashflow forecasting/planning as part of your service?
Cashflow forecasting forms the bedrock of our service. It enables us to assess if you are on track for your various goals and targets. With that information we can then work backwards to give you the best advice recommendations now.
What happens if my circumstances change?
Changing circumstances are more common than you may think – be it a new job or family member! If this happens during our initial planning simply let us know and we’ll factor that in. If you’ve joined our ongoing service part of its benefit is that we are here to advice how you should adapt your plans to changing circumstances. Simply let us know about any changes and we can arrange an ad-hoc meeting to discuss further, or if it appropriate at your next progress meeting.
Can you co-ordinate with my mortgage adviser if they need information from you?
Provided that there is a secure way to share information and you provide the relevant permission to do so, then yes.
What happens if my adviser leaves the firm?
At present this is quite unlikely, as a family firm the business is quite reliant on us! However, if either of us were to ever leave we would ensure a thorough handover is performed. This would cover your individual plans and needs, and we would aim to ensure you have a chance to meet them prior to any departure date to ensure a smooth handover.
Can I see an example of a financial plan?
We are able to provide an example of a financial plan; however, it won’t have quite the same ring to it as your own plan would! Please get in touch via our usual methods – the book a call button should be on the right hand side of this page.
Will I be able to see the value of my investments online?
You will have a couple of ways to view the value of your investments. The provider will have their own portal you can log into and in the majority of cases these will also feed into your online client portal provided by us. This client portal is also a way to share things securely with us.
Do you provide an online portal for clients to view their investments?
Yes, we have a secure client portal that you will be able to login to. These allows you to view investment values where feeds are provided by the product provider. It also provides a secure way to message us, send us document or update your information.
How often will I meet with my adviser or planner?
You will have at least one annual progress meeting. You may also opt for, or your circumstances may dictate that you need, an additional meeting per year as well. Some clients also add in two further quarterly lighter touch meetings.
What should I expect from working with Wholesome over the long term on an ongoing service?
Working with us means building a relationship that evolves with your life. We’ll meet at least once per year to review your progress, adapt your plan to changing circumstances and ensure your investments and financial decisions continue to align with your goals. You’ll receive clear updates, monthly newsletters and full transparency on fees and performance.
What’s the difference between financial advice and financial planning?
Financial advice typically focuses on specific products or decisions; for example, choosing a pension or investment. Financial planning, on the other hand, is a broader and more holistic process. It starts with understanding your goals, values, and lifestyle, and then builds a long-term strategy to help you achieve them. At Wholesome, we combine both: we provide independent financial advice within the context of a personalised financial plan that’s tailored to your life, not just your money.
What’s included in a financial plan?
Your financial plan will include traffic lights to show if you are on track for your goals and how you are doing in several key finance areas. It will also include detailed cash flow forecasts. A suitability report will then confirm the detailed financial product recommendations to support and improve your outlook.
Can you advise on mortgages?
No, that’s not a specialism of ours. However, we do have a trusted mortgage adviser that we can put you in touch with.
Can you advise on Equity Release?
No, we don’t advise in this specialist area. But we do have a trusted adviser that we can put you in touch with.
Can you advise on personal pensions?
Yes, we provide independent advice on personal pensions, SIPPs and other defined contribution pensions.
Can you advise on occupational pensions?
We do not provide advice on final salary or defined benefit pension transfers. These sorts of pensions are specialist and require specific regulatory permissions however, we do have a trusted partner to refer such advice to. However, we do factor any benefit into your overall financial plan and forecasts.
Can you help me consolidate multiple pensions?
We can help you consolidate multiple pensions; provide we believe it is a suitable action to take having assessed each pension individually.
Can you help me take my pension tax-efficiently?
Yes, we can help you take your pension tax-efficiently. This would form part of a wider financial plan considering all of your circumstances and goals.
Can you help with ethical or sustainable investing?
Yes, our key portfolios are ESG filtered and we also maintain a responsible ethos throughout Wholesome Financial Planning too.
Can you help me invest an inheritance I’ve received?
Yes, receiving an inheritance can be a life changing moment. We can help you understand what it could mean for your financial future and how best to use it for that. It could be paying off debts now, investing some into your pension or spending some!
Can you advise on Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs)?
We are able to provide independent advice on SIPPs.
Can you advise on Final Salary or Defined Benefit transfers?
We do not provide advice on final salary or defined benefit pension transfers; however, we do have a trusted partner to refer such advice to. It’s also important to know that we factor any such pension incomes into your cashflow forecasts.
Do you offer advice on long-term care or later-life planning?
We provide advice on long-term care fees planning with both of our advisers holding the specialist qualifications for this.
Can you help with Inheritance Tax planning or estate planning?
Yes, we can. As part of any financial plan, we consider Inheritance Tax and how you want your estate to be passed on. This could be via ensuring any gifting allowances are used or by using specialist products.
Can you advise on investments such as ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts)?
ISAs form a key part of almost every financial plan, and we provide independent advice on them.
Can you advise on protection such as life insurance, critical illness cover, and income replacement?
We provide advice on all of these and also have an established partner to refer to if cases become more complex or specialist to ensure you receive the best quality of advice possible.
Can you advise on my employer’s share scheme?
Whilst we can’t advise on whether to buy or sell specific shares, we can help you make the most of your employer’s share scheme. We will build it into your overall financial plan and create strategies to manage risk whilst maximising the benefit.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Our initial consultation, which we call our familiarisation meeting, is free.
How do you charge for financial advice?
We charge fixed advice fees based on the complexity of your particular circumstances.
What is your minimum fee?
Our fees for financial planning and advice begin at £3,350.00.
Do you offer one-off advice or only ongoing relationships?
We offer both one-off advice and ongoing relationships, depending on your needs. Our ongoing service is designed for clients who want regular reviews, updates and long-term professional support.
What do you typically charge for a financial plan?
There is no typical charge, it begins at £3,350 and could increase from there if you have multiple financial products to consider or additional complexities in your circumstances.
Do you charge fixed fees or a percentage of my investments?
We charge fixed fees. The reasons why and the fees themselves are disclosed here. We will be completely open and transparent with all our costs. Please get in touch if there is anything you don’t understand.
Do you get commission?
Commission isn’t paid to us for any investment solutions. The protection and insurance side of financial advice still runs on this basis, but we have decided to have a fixed fee for insurance advice too. This results in lower monthly premiums for you and removes any risk of bias.
Do you charge VAT?
VAT is not chargeable on advice fees. If you want a cash flow forecast only however this is subject to VAT.
How do I know if your fees are competitive?
We charge clear, fixed fees making comparisons to others easy. Many advisers charge a percentage of your investments, which could cost more or less over time. We’re happy to explain how our fees stack up for the service you’d receive to help you assess value for money.
How do your fees compare to other advisers/planners?
Our fees compare favourably. The main cost to consider is the ongoing fee which adds up over time. The majority of advisers charge a 1% fee for their ongoing service* as of November 2025 our average ongoing fee as a percentage is 0.43%.
We’ve written a guide to how financial advisers charge which you can read or listen to by clicking here.
*(The Lang Cat, (2025), State of the Advice Nation).
How can I find your fees?
Our fees are published in full on our website here.
Can you help me retire early?
Helping clients retire early is one of the most common goals we work to. Freeing up your time to do the things that matter most is a rewarding goal to aim for. It could also come in a slightly different form; you may want to aim for reducing your working days and we can build either into your plan.
Can you help me plan my retirement?
Absolutely, planning your retirement is part of the work we do. We don’t focus only on the numbers either, it’s important to consider what you will do with the time on your hands.
What type of clients do you typically work with?
Our typical clients are in their 30s to 40s and generally in the accumulation phase. We have a number of clients in their 50s too who are about to reach their retirement target or are on the path to it!
Do you work with younger clients who are still building wealth?
We do, and as younger advisers we are quite in tune with this area. In many cases it can be more complex than advising clients in retirement as there are more balls to juggle. You might be thinking not only about your own short- and long-term goals but also about children and their future as well.
What are the benefits of working with a younger financial planner?
Working with a younger financial planner can bring a fresh perspective and long-term continuity to your financial journey. We’re often more in tune with the challenges faced by younger clients because we’re navigating similar stages ourselves. We also tend to be more tech-savvy and focussed on long term relationships so that, ultimately, we won’t retire halfway through your financial plan!
Do you work with company directors or self-employed clients?
We work with both directors and self-employed clients. As a director or self-employed person, it can be particularly valuable to have a financial planner on side to remind you to build that future retirement pot.
Do you work with clients approaching retirement or already retired?
We do. As you move through life, you’ll go from the accumulation phase to the partial or full retirement phase. We’re qualified and experienced in advising on both.
Can you help clients who have inherited money?
Receiving a lump sum of money can be life changing. We’ll discuss your goals and objectives and factor it into your financial plan. This could involve using it to pay down debts or invest for the longer term.
Can you help clients manage their finances after a bereavement?
We have helped clients through this process previously and will be on hand to help throughout the process.
Do you offer financial advice for expats or non-UK residents?
No, we do not have permissions to offer advice to clients who are not in the UK.
Can you help if I already have existing investments or pensions elsewhere?
Yes, once we’ve worked out your goals and built your financial plan, we’ll then review your existing pensions or investments in order to optimise them for you and your future.
Are my investments protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)?
Yes, you can find full details of these on the FSCS website here.
What happens if something goes wrong or I have a complaint?
Please let us know immediately, you can do this by either calling us or writing to us. Alternatively you can contact our network directly, their contact details and the full complaints process is available if you click here.
Are you insured to give financial advice?
Yes, our network holds a Professional Indemnity Insurance policy.
How can I check your FCA registration and authorisation?
You can search for the business, or individual advisers, via the FCA register to confirm their status. You can view the business on the register here.
How do you measure client satisfaction?
We regularly ask all clients, both new and existing, to provide reviews via either Google or VouchedFor. Both of these are public facing, so any comments are available for any new clients considering our service to read.
Are you featured on VouchedFor?
Yes, you can find the business and both Matt & Lucy on the VouchedFor website where multiple reviews and ratings are available. Both have been regularly featured as Top Rated Advisers over the years.