What working with a financial planner actually looks like
Published 8 October 2026
A lot of women tell me they have put off speaking to a financial planner because they are not sure what actually happens in that first conversation, or whether they even have enough going on financially to make it worthwhile. If this sounds like you, this is written to take some of the mystery out of it.
You do not need to have it all figured out first
I often meet women who have delayed getting in touch because they feel they should tidy up their finances before speaking to someone, as though there is a level of organisation required before it is worth having the conversation. In practice, the opposite is usually true. Part of what I help with is exactly that, making sense of a picture that currently feels scattered or unclear.
The first conversation
I offer an initial fifteen minute call, with no obligation, simply to understand your situation and what you are hoping to get help with. This is not a sales conversation, it is a chance for both of us to work out whether working together makes sense, and for you to ask any questions you have about how I work.
What is a Money Map
For clients who want a clearer picture of their finances without necessarily committing to ongoing advice straight away, I offer a Money Map, a standalone piece of work that brings together your current financial position, income, savings, pensions, and goals, into a single clear picture. For some clients, this is a helpful stepping stone before deciding whether ongoing advice is right for them. For others, it is exactly what they needed and nothing more.
Ongoing advice
For clients who want continued support, ongoing advice means regularly reviewing your financial plan as your circumstances and goals change, rather than putting a plan in place once and leaving it. Markets move, life circumstances change, and tax rules are updated, so a plan that made sense two years ago may need adjusting today. Ongoing advice is about keeping your plan working for you as things evolve, not simply setting and forgetting.
Who I work with
I specialise in working with women across England, at every life stage, from those in their thirties and forties building financial confidence for the first time, to women navigating widowhood, divorce, inheritance, or the sale of a business. I am based in Liverpool and increasingly work with clients across the Wirral, Cheshire, and further afield across England in Manchester, London and Birmingham. The tax rules I know apply to England specifically rather than the UK as a whole, since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different legislation and tax rules.
There is no pressure and no assumption
Whatever stage you are at, whether you are dealing with something significant or simply want a clearer picture of where you stand, there is no assumption that you need to commit to anything by getting in touch. Many of my clients start with a single conversation and decide from there what, if anything, they want to do next.
If you would like to understand what working with a financial planner could look like for you, I would be glad to hear from you.
SJP approved 24/09/2026
Other resources you may be interested in:
