12 Jun 2024
At Ardent, our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We always strive to give the best possible service to everybody we work with, ensuring that their financial goals and aspirations guide every decision.
That’s why we get such excellent feedback from all our clients. We currently have 57 Google reviews and every single one of them is five-star. Additionally, we have 246 VouchedFor reviews with an average score of 4.9 out of 5.
These ratings give an indication of the overall quality of service we offer to our clients. Yet, the individual comments they leave us can give more insight into the distinct benefits we provide.
Read on for five pieces of client feedback that demonstrate the benefits of working with Ardent.
1. “I have been a client of Mark’s for many years. He has assisted me with my financial planning. This started while I was working and carried through to my retirement.”
Some clients approach us because they need guidance on one specific issue, and we’re happy to offer support on a one-off basis. That said, we understand that holistic financial planning is an ongoing journey. That’s why we aim to create lasting relationships with clients and support them through various life stages.
We often begin working with clients earlier in life and take them through the transition into retirement. We support them while they’re building savings, investing, and working towards other financial goals such as paying off their mortgage.
Later in life, when they move into retirement, we help them draw from their savings in a sustainable way and plan for unexpected expenses such as care costs. We might also help with estate planning and passing wealth to their loved ones.
Having a lasting relationship that spans across different stages of life means that we develop a deep understanding of our clients’ priorities. Ultimately, this means we are better placed to help them to achieve their financial aims.
2. “An excellent service and a down-to-earth team who don’t complicate matters with financial jargon.”
Financial literacy is a significant problem for many people in the UK and this can make it daunting to engage with a financial planner. Indeed, according to Statista, in March 2024, only 38% of people said they were “well informed about their financial situation”.
Often, people have difficulty understanding financial topics because they’re not explained in an accessible way. The feedback we receive from clients is that we convey information in a relatable way and don’t “complicate matters with financial jargon”.
This ensures that clients clearly understand their current position and all options available to them, meaning they can make informed decisions. Building their knowledge may also give clients a greater sense of control over their finances.
3. “Gary has provided an excellent and professional service and his and the team’s clear communications equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to retire at the right time.”
As the cost of living and the price of care continue to rise, many people are apprehensive about how they will afford to retire. A poll by YouGov found that only 41% of non-retired people believed they can or will eventually be able to afford to retire. Additionally, 61% of people are “not confident” they have enough saved to pay for care costs.
Yet, our clients report having the “knowledge and confidence to retire at the right time”. This is because we consider their desired lifestyle in retirement and look at their current situation. We can then explain how much they need to save to achieve this lifestyle and help them meet this target.
With a robust plan in place, our clients feel confident that they’ll be able to retire how and when they want to.
4. “We have worked closely through some recent testing times like Covid, Ukraine and the cost of living crisis.”
The last few years have been challenging for people across the world. The Covid-19 pandemic left many people out of work and lots of clients may have lost loved ones too. The war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis also put additional pressure on many people’s finances.
During times of turmoil, clients may need to adjust their financial plan to account for increased expenses or changes to the economic landscape. Support from the experienced team at Ardent can make these difficult periods much more manageable for clients.
Most importantly, we can ensure that they’re still able to work towards their financial goals, despite any short-term uncertainty.
5. “We know that Ruth is there if we need advice. We often get worried about our income and long-term needs. Ruth has been very supportive with these issues.”
Clients typically come to us for practical advice about areas of their finances such as pensions or investments. They benefit from our expert knowledge, and we can help them develop a financial plan that allows them to achieve their goals.
However, people often underestimate the emotional benefits of working with a financial planner. We can offer reassurance to clients when they’re concerned about issues including their income, their ability to meet their long-term goals, or periods of market volatility.
In fact, a survey by Royal London found that 61% of advisers believed their main role in the cost of living crisis was to provide reassurance to their clients. Additionally, only 21% of advisers say their clients are anxious about the cost of living. In comparison, 46% of the wider population reported anxiety over rising costs.
This demonstrates that professional advice could drastically reduce the emotional distress caused by financial challenges.
Get in touch
We are here to support you in achieving your financial goals.
Please contact us at hello@ardentuk.com or call 01904 655 330. As an award-winning financial advice company with advisers included in the 2024 VouchedFor Top Rated guide, you can be sure that we’re a bona fide company providing excellent advice and high-quality service.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circ*mstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circ*mstances.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate estate planning.
