Financial Advisers (Independent) in Reading

Mark Wilkin is the Senior Partner in Alexander Rowan and has been an Independent Financial Adviser for over 25 years, prior to which he was in banking.

Marks experience is wide and varied, as indeed are his clients, some of whom have been with him for over 20 years.

Becoming saddened at the bad publicity given over to pensions in the press, Mark now focuses his financial advice on pension performance, using a combination of technology, experience, bespoke software and up to date valuations, along with the clients requirements, to make sure that your pension(s) is working as hard as it can for your secured future.

Why not take a look at some of his clients comments on our testimonials page or contact us on 01189 341105 where we will be happy to talk further.

Why are we encouraged to save money? From childhood most of us are told to put away money to save for the future - perhaps for something special? Or perhaps to be sure that when we really need something we have the funds to acquire it, without taking on debt? Whether you place your money in a piggy bank, or in a multinational investment house, our aims are broadly the same; to provide for our future needs, and to protect ourselves against unexpected causes of expenditure.

When planning your finances, it is important to distinguish the difference between savings and investments. Savings are generally funds that you set aside, but can be accessed relatively quickly. These savings are often for a specific need or purchase, like a holiday or a new car. The most common way of saving is into a bank account where the money can be accessed in an emergency, and for every £1 you put in, you will get £1 back (short of a bank collapse!), and possibly some interest.

Investments are designed to be held for a longer term, usually at least 5 years. You need to be comfortable with tying up this money for a period of time, and should not consider investments unless you have some savings in place. Most investments are not guaranteed to return your money in full, although do offer the prospect of potentially higher returns than deposit accounts. Returns, risk and volatility are the factors that will determine a suitable place for your savings.

Savings and Investment products range from a simple current account, which allows a small amount of interest, but facilitates regular payments and withdrawals without detriment to your savings. At the opposite end of the scale would be company shares, where you invest money in a company, with the prospect that the company will prosper and the shares will increase in value over time. Whilst the benefits are potentially high, the risks are also much greater.

We will be able to explain risk in more detail.

If you go to your high street bank you may be greeted by a financial adviser, but they could well be tied to recommending and promoting the products of the bank, or a single insurance/investment company to which the bank has an allegiance. So why do we need independent advisers, and how can customers be sure they are getting a fair deal?

The guidance and/or advice contained within the website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted to customers in the UK.

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