FAQs

The fee depends on the complexity of your circumstances.

Our financial planning fees typically range from £1,500 for a relatively straightforward plan to £5,000 for more complex circumstances.

Our clients come from a wide range of backgrounds, including business owners, senior executives, corporate lawyers, banking professionals, sports professionals, and people approaching or already enjoying retirement.

What they tend to share is not a particular job title or portfolio size. It is that their finances have become genuinely complex, or the decisions ahead feel too important to navigate without proper support. They want a plan, not just a portfolio.

We work with people at different life stages and levels of wealth. What matters is that we believe we can add real value and that you are looking for the kind of thoughtful, ongoing financial planning we are built to provide.

Yes. Many clients come to us specifically because they are preparing for the transition into retirement and want clarity around what comes next.

Yes, although the answer depends on the lifestyle you want and the assets available to fund it.

We will not give you false hope, but we can help you build a realistic plan, explore different scenarios, and understand what may need to happen to move towards your goal.

Our fees are set out in our Client Agreement, which we provide before you engage us. More information is also available on our fees page here.

Headline percentages do not always provide a fair comparison because different firms include very different services.

Our ongoing fee is 1% on the first £1 million, reducing to 0.25% above that. This includes ongoing financial planning: understanding your goals, maintaining a strategy around your life and revisiting that strategy as circumstances change.

When comparing advisers, the important question is not simply what percentage they charge, but what that ongoing fee actually buys you.

Fees vary considerably across the profession, and headline percentages rarely tell the whole story.

A lower ongoing fee from a planner who offers limited contact or little genuine financial planning may represent worse value than a higher fee for a more comprehensive service.

We encourage you to compare like with like: not just what you pay, but what you receive. Our fees cover active financial planning, regular reviews, and advice that responds as your life changes, rather than simply investment management.

We are also happy to talk through our charges alongside another quote you have received.

Financial intermediation is currently exempt from VAT, so VAT is not normally added to our fees.

In most areas of financial planning, no. Commission on retail investment advice was largely removed across the profession in 2013, which is why advisers now generally charge fees directly.

The main exception is protection insurance, such as life cover, critical illness cover, and income protection. Insurers may pay commission when these policies are arranged. Where this applies, we will be transparent about it.

It depends on the work we are doing for you.

Our financial planning work is charged at a fixed fee, agreed upfront and based on the work involved rather than the value of your assets.

For implementing advice, we typically charge 1% of the amount invested, capped at £5,000.
Our ongoing advice fee is typically 1% a year on the first £1 million we look after, reducing to 0.25% on assets above £1 million.

We will explain exactly what this means for your circumstances before you commit.

Yes. Age is not a barrier.

If you want advice and we believe we can genuinely add value, we are happy to explore whether working together is the right fit.

Our minimum fee for financial planning is £1,500, while our minimum ongoing advice fee is also £1,500 a year.

Our fees generally fall into three stages:

• Financial planning fee: This covers the initial strategy work required to understand your circumstances, needs and goals, and build a financial plan around the life you and your family want.
• Implementation fee: This applies if you would like us to help put the recommendations arising from your financial plan into place.
• Ongoing advice fee: Most clients choose to retain us for ongoing financial planning, allowing us to review the original plan and adapt it as your circumstances, priorities and the wider world change.

You remain in control throughout. Some clients only require the initial planning work, while many go on to use our implementation and ongoing services.

Yes. Your first meeting is at our expense.

Yes. We can advise on protection designed to support you, your family or your business if something unexpected happens.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

No. In many cases, remaining within a Defined Benefit pension scheme may be the most appropriate course of action, and we have chosen not to provide transfer advice in this area.

There is no formal asset threshold, but our minimum ongoing fee is £1,500 a year. In practice, this means an ongoing relationship will often work best for clients with around £150,000 or more in investable assets.

That said, asset value is not the only consideration. You may have less invested today but significant planning needs, perhaps because you are a younger professional with growing income and increasingly complex decisions.

We are always happy to have an initial conversation about whether the relationship is likely to be a good fit.

Yes. You can view our profile here.

Yes. We have been finalists in several awards and were proud to win The Pinnacle Award at the Northamptonshire Business Awards in 2024.

Several of our advisers have also appeared in the VouchedFor Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide, published in The Times.

We gather feedback through channels including VouchedFor and Google reviews.

Yes. You can watch client videos and testimonials on our homepage, as well as read reviews on Google and VouchedFor.

You can find O’Sullivan Financial Planning Ltd on the FCA Register by clicking here.

Yes. We hold Professional Indemnity Insurance covering the advice we provide.

We understand how sensitive the personal and financial information entrusted to us can be and take appropriate precautions to protect it.

We hope you will never need to complain, but mistakes can happen.

Our complaints procedure is explained in our Client Agreement, and a copy of our complaints policy is available on request.

Eligible investments and services may be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, subject to the scheme’s rules and limits.

Yes.

Yes. Many clients already have pensions and investments when they come to us.

We take time to understand what you already hold, how it fits with your wider circumstances and what foundation we are building from.

No. However, we have trusted professional partners we may be able to introduce you to.

We work with all three, and often with people moving between these stages, such as a business owner planning an exit or a senior professional approaching retirement.

Each brings different complexities. Business owners may need to connect personal and commercial planning, protect the business, extract value and prepare for an eventual exit. Senior professionals may need to coordinate bonuses, equity, partnership arrangements and benefits. People approaching or enjoying retirement face some of the most consequential financial decisions of their lives.

We do not restrict our service only to these groups, but they are areas where we have significant experience and where thoughtful financial planning can make a meaningful difference.

Yes. We understand this can be a difficult and emotional time, and we will work with care and at a pace that feels right for you.

Yes. We have supported clients through the process of building towards and planning a business exit, helping them explore their options and understand what the next stage of life could look like.

Yes. We understand that receiving an inheritance can be both financially significant and emotionally difficult.

We are happy to work at your pace, giving you time to understand your options before making important decisions.

Yes. Many clients come to us as they enter the final stretch before retirement, or after they have already stepped away from work.

We can help you understand and navigate the decisions available before and throughout retirement.

Yes. We work with many clients in this position and can consider both personal and business financial planning.

We are financial planners first and financial advisers second.

Many firms begin with products such as pensions or investments. We believe that comes too early. Before recommending any particular solution, we take time to understand where you are now, where you want to go and what matters most along the way.
Only once that journey is clear do we consider which financial solutions may help you get there.

Yes.

No. You will never be pressured to sign anything.

It is important that you feel comfortable before engaging our services, so you remain in control of whether and when you decide to move forward.

It varies depending on your circumstances, but an hour is usually enough.

We sometimes describe the first meeting as a little like a first date. It gives us the chance to understand you, what has brought you here, and how we may be able to help. Just as importantly, it gives you the opportunity to get to know us.

You might agree with everything we say but simply feel we are not the right fit, and that is completely fine. If we do our job well, we hope to build a long-term relationship, so it matters that you feel comfortable.

You remain in control of whether, when, and how quickly things progress.

Just yourself.

The first meeting is about understanding what has brought you to us, what you would like help with, and whether we are the right fit for one another.

No. Your initial meeting is at our expense.

You can use our Calendly link or contact form to choose a convenient time, both of which can be found at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, call our office on 01536 639 007 and we will be happy to help.

We work with clients across the UK, including Kettering, Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough, London, Manchester, York, Oxford, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Cambridgeshire.

Our FCA firm reference number is 951030. You can find O’Sullivan Financial Planning Ltd on the FCA Register by clicking here.

We work as a team. Each planner is supported by a Client Service Manager and a technical specialist, so there will usually be someone familiar with your circumstances who can help with day-to-day queries.

If you need advice before your usual planner returns, we can arrange for another appropriately briefed planner to support you.

Yes. You can learn more about our clients’ experiences through our VouchedFor profile, Google reviews and video testimonials on our website, all of which can be found on our homepage.

Yes. 80% of our advisers are Chartered Financial Planners, and two, including our founder Conor O’Sullivan, also hold Certified Financial Planner status. In addition, 60% of our advisers are Fellows of the Personal Finance Society.

We are based in Kettering, Northamptonshire, but work with clients across the UK. Our clients stretch from Preston to Brighton and Norwich to Swansea, with plenty of places in between.

We have been providing independent financial advice since 2018.

Yes, parking is available for visitors.

Our office is located at 3 Brooklands Court, Kettering, NN15 6FD. Where appropriate, we may also be able to meet at your home or place of work.

Yes. We are happy to work around your preferences and can meet face to face, by phone, on Microsoft Teams, or via Zoom.

Yes, we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find O’Sullivan Financial Planning Ltd on the FCA Register by clicking here.

Yes. Our secure Client Portal allows you to view investment values, exchange messages with us and share documents safely.

Yes. We can help you understand your options and decide how the money may best support your wider plans.

Yes.

Yes. We can help you consider how and when to draw income from pensions alongside your wider financial position.

Yes, where consolidation is appropriate for your circumstances.

Yes, we can advise on occupational pensions, but we do not offer DB advice.

Yes.

Not directly. However, we can connect you with trusted professional partners who specialise in this area.

Although we are qualified mortgage advisers, we do not currently provide mortgage advice. However, we have trusted professional partners we can introduce you to.

Every client is different, so we adapt the frequency of meetings to your needs.

Some clients meet with us once a year, while others need more regular support. The level of contact may also change as life evolves. A particular year may involve a major decision or transition that requires more frequent conversations, and we will work with you accordingly.

Yes. As independent financial planners, we can consider solutions from across the whole market and make recommendations based on what is right for you.

Importantly, our independence goes beyond product selection; we also consider the wider choices available to you. For example, if you are a business owner, you might need to weigh up increasing pension contributions against reinvesting profits for future growth. In this instance, we help you explore the advantages and trade-offs before deciding what best suits your circumstances.

Yes. You will have access to our secure Client Portal, where you can view investment values, communicate with us securely, and share documents.

Many of the investment providers we use also offer their own online access, allowing you to view valuations directly.

Yes. You can watch our video walkthrough of an example financial plan here.

We would be doing you a disservice if we pretended this could never happen. People move on, and that is a reality of any professional relationship.

What we can tell you is that your relationship is with O’Sullivan Financial Planning, not just one individual. Client plans are developed and maintained collaboratively, with planners working alongside our client service and technical teams.

If your planner moves on, you will be introduced to another planner who can be properly briefed on your circumstances, goals and plan. The continuity of your financial planning should not depend on one person being here.

Yes. We know mortgage transactions can move quickly, so we treat these requests as a priority.

If your mortgage adviser needs information from us, such as confirmation of income, investment valuations, or pension details, we will work to provide it promptly so your application is not unnecessarily delayed.

Absolutely. We are happy to collaborate with your trusted professional advisers so everyone is working together towards the same objectives.

Life rarely follows a script. Relationships change, careers take unexpected turns, windfalls arrive, and plans that made perfect sense three years ago may need to be reconsidered. And that is exactly what we are here for.

When something significant changes, we look at what it means for your plan. Your goals may remain the same and simply require a different route, or your priorities may have changed completely. Either way, nothing is set in stone.
Your financial plan should fit your life, not the other way around.

Absolutely. Cashflow forecasting is central to our approach.

We do not believe we can recommend a suitable financial solution until we understand what your longer-term plan may look like. We spend significant time developing your financial roadmap and exploring possible scenarios using robust forecasting and planning software.