How this works
How Wealth Management Works in Newcastle
Enquiry, discovery call, written summary, regulated-adviser referral where needed, and an ongoing review framework you can run yourself or hand off. No drip emails, no sales pressure, no commission on referrals.
The six steps
Every wealth planning enquiry from a Newcastle household follows the same five-step framework. The names rarely change; the durations vary with the complexity of the household and the speed at which you want to move. What follows is the working framework we plan around, not a sales process. Where a step typically runs faster or slower depending on the question, we say so. Where the answer is that no further step is needed because the existing arrangements are already sensible, we say that too.
Step 01
Enquiry and triage
Typical timing: Same day to 24 hours
You send us a short summary of the question. What you already hold (in broad terms), what you are trying to achieve, and what is prompting the enquiry right now. We come back inside the working day to confirm whether the question is best handled with information, with regulated advice, or with a combination of the two.
Triage saves time on both sides. Some enquiries are squarely regulated-advice questions from the first message (a defined-benefit transfer worth £150,000, for example), and we refer those directly to an appropriate FCA-authorised firm without a discovery call. Other enquiries are information questions (how does the ISA allowance work, what is the residence nil-rate band, should I be paying more into my workplace pension) where a written response or a short call is the right next step.
Step 02
Discovery call
Typical timing: 30 to 45 minutes, scheduled inside 48 hours
A no-cost call, by phone or video, to understand the household balance sheet and the questions driving the enquiry. We cover: pensions held (provider, balance, monthly contribution), ISAs and general investment accounts, cash savings, mortgage and property position, expected retirement age, dependants and any specific upcoming decisions (sale of a business, inheritance received, retirement inside the next 5 years).
The call is information-gathering and orientation. We do not recommend products, we do not ask for documents at this stage, and we do not pressure for any commitment. By the end of the call both sides are clear on what was discussed and what the next step looks like.
Step 03
Written summary and recommended next step
Typical timing: 3 to 5 working days after the call
Within a working week we send a short written summary of the discovery call: what you currently hold (as described), what was discussed, what the open questions are, and a clear recommended next step. The next step is one of three: more information from us on a specific area, a referral to an FCA-authorised adviser for regulated advice on a specific question, or no further action because the existing arrangements are well-organised and sensible.
The summary is yours to keep. It is not a recommendation. It is a written record of the conversation, useful in its own right because most households have never had their position summarised in one document. Where we have suggested regulated advice on a specific question, we set out which type of firm is appropriate (chartered financial planner, specialist pension transfer adviser, IHT specialist) and why.
Step 04
Implementation with an FCA-authorised adviser
Typical timing: Variable, typically 4 to 12 weeks for a full advice case
Where the next step is regulated advice, we refer you to one or more firms in the network. The regulated firm carries out the formal fact-find, presents a written recommendation in line with FCA rules, and implements the recommendation if you accept it. Their fees apply (typically 1% to 3% initial and 0.5% to 1.0% ongoing per year on advised assets, or a fixed fee on specific work) and are disclosed in writing before any work starts.
We do not receive any commission, referral fee or revenue share from the regulated firms in the network. That separation matters: it means our recommended next step is based on what fits the household, not on which firm pays the highest introducer fee. You are free to use any FCA-authorised firm you choose; the network is a starting point, not an exclusive list.
Step 05
Ongoing review
Typical timing: Annual, lighter touch quarterly
Once the household is organised, the work is mostly maintenance: an annual check that ISA and pension allowances have been used efficiently, that the investment mix still reflects the household's risk tolerance and time horizon, that the tax position has been reviewed against any changes in the household (income, family, property), and that the IHT picture has been refreshed where the estate is in scope.
Most households can run the annual review themselves with a simple checklist, particularly where the regulated adviser provides one as part of their ongoing service. Where the household prefers a hands-off arrangement, the regulated firm holds the review responsibility and charges their ongoing fee. Either model works. The key is that the review actually happens, because unused allowances and uncoordinated decisions are where most households lose value over time.
After completion
What is not on this list.
We do not write recommendation letters, we do not implement pension transfers, we do not handle client money, and we do not earn commission on product sales. All of those activities are regulated by the FCA and are carried out by the authorised firms we refer to.
We also do not sell ongoing membership, monthly retainers, or coaching packages. The discovery call and written summary are no-cost. Where you want more help, we are happy to have a follow-up conversation, but the default expectation is that you take the summary and decide what to do with it. Most households need information and orientation, not an ongoing relationship.
Next step
Send us a short summary. We will triage inside the working day.
Discovery call slot inside 48 hours, written summary within a working week. Information only; where regulated advice is needed we refer to an FCA-authorised adviser appropriate to the question.