Yes; passionately independent. This means we have full access to all products, solutions and services. We are not bound to any provider or manufacturer which means we can build the best results with our clients. Simon is a Chartered Financial Planner & Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Simon also holds the STEP Certificate for Financial Services.

We are supported by our network provider Sense, who supply Compliance & Regulatory functions, oversight of the business, Training & Development, IT etc. We really welcome their involvement and supervision. Sense deliver us a safe working environment; for us and for our clients.

As part of the process, we have written our “bible” on how the business functions; this runs to 65 pages which Sense compliance team have signed off and agreed with.

This will be reviewed at least annually and reviewed by Sense compliance to ensure consistency of research & monitoring. We welcome this additional due diligence.

We are working with eParaplan who are providing full outsourced administration and para-planning service. They are our back-office support team with 15 team members supporting us all.

Zoe Dagless is Simon’s locum (Meliora Financial Planning) if needed (we have known each other for 15 years+, she is based in Hitchin and we share many of the same planning philosophies).

We also have a community of other advisors and professionals around us.

We have been working via our Limited company, Sammyco Ltd, since 2019. We are retaining this company (mostly due to ease, not needing new company registration or bank accounts etc. which are becoming tricky to open).

August Wealth is a trading style of Sammyco Limited. Claire and Simon are directors and equal 50% shareholders. Menzies in Stevenage are our accountants.

We are continuing with the Evidence based philosophy which we built in 2008. This is supported by academic research and history. We invest globally across a fully diverse range of assets and companies using investment funds from the likes of Vanguard and Dimensional.

We are also working with ebi (Evidence Based investing) as a specialist Investment partner. They provide additional research, support and due diligence. They have over £3 billion invested across their portfolios.

Clear and transparent, any new work (investment) attracts a 1% fee up to a maximum of £5,000. On going advice is charged at 0.85% of the assets we manage (so not charged on cash deposits etc. which we will help you with). We can also work on a time costed basis where appropriate.

This gives clients full access to Simon and the team with a full open-door policy to help and support you.

We will meet with anyone and if we can help; then we will. And if we cannot we will point them in the right direction.

1) Those at, around and approaching retirement

Looking to understand if their liquid asset base can support income for their future lifestyle. Looking to understand how to invest and save further for a planned retirement.

2) Clients who are retired and/or require income

Moving into or have moved into retirement and using their asset base for income. Will be looking to enjoy retirement with travel, hobbies, volunteering

3) Estate Planning

Continuing to use asset base to enjoy life, have access to capital for larger planned costs and income.

They will be traveling, enjoy hobbies but thinking over future health, living needs, soft care (gardener, taking taxi’s) covering any private health costs and thinking over the future of their asset base.

4) Trustees, Deputies & Attorneys

Most likely to be professionals (Solicitors & Private client lawyers) acting on behalf of vulnerable individuals or as Professional Trustees (individually or under Trustee Companies linked to solicitors)

A custom built shepherds hut Campbell Cottage, Little Heath, Gamlingay, SG19 3LL.

We have a meeting area, mini kitchen, refreshments, bathroom, work space and even a pull out bed…please do come and visit us.

Simon has access to meeting rooms in Stevenage and Cambridge; more than happy for clients to come to us or me to them.

Wealth management or financial planning is straightforward to us; it is our everyday job. We look at tax, risks, costs etc on a daily basis.

Our true skill is to understand our clients, explore hopes and fears. Then work alongside them for the long term to enjoy a life they deserve with the support of their money.

So, we use technology and solutions to achieve this. We have leading edge:

• Investment analysis software (risk, returns, costs, upside and downside)

• Cash flow modelling – how an asset base can support income and capital needs based on longevity, tax, inflation and investment returns

• Tax planning and reduction

• Working alongside and introduce you to other professional connections (Accountants, solicitors, banks, mortgage advisors, trustees etc)

• We only use fully researched, UK based and regulated investments and funds (some investments might be based out of Isle of Man for example such as an Offshore bond or use Dublin for administrating investments for tax planning reasons)

• We like investments that work, not “trendy” or the latest “hot scheme”. Our money is invested in the same strategies as our clients

• We don’t undertake anything risky or unusual work such as Final Salary Transfers, tax focused solutions etc.

• Our Centralised Advice Proposition document runs to 65 pages including due diligence on our core investment and product partners

We have worked with professional connections since 2008; references available on request (Private client solicitors and accountants.