The main purpose of this meeting will be to obtain as much information as possible relating to your financial circumstances and objectives.  It is therefore beneficial if you can have available any details of policies, schemes, investments, mortgages, outgoings, wills and interests in trust that you have. This information will normally be collated by your adviser on the financial planning questionnaire. This includes your basic personal details and an indication of your personal financial objectives. A key area that your adviser will wish to fully understand is your knowledge and experience of investments including your “Attitude to Risk” and your feelings towards any risks of losing money as this will impact significantly on the advice given.  The impact these areas will have on your objectives will be discussed and recorded.  We use a standard risk profiling questionnaire.

Anti-Money Laundering As we are required by anti-money laundering legislation to know who we are dealing with, please have available evidence of your identity and address.  This would normally include either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill in your name.  If these documents are not available please speak to your adviser who will confirm what alternatives will be acceptable.

Questions and Next Steps If you have any questions during the process, please do ask, as your adviser is happy to discuss any queries you may have. Your adviser will then explain the next steps in the advice process to you. If any fees are due at the outset these will be explained, together with any authority forms that may need to be signed so that we can act on your behalf, for example to obtain the current valuations of any existing investments.

Time line The initial meeting will typically last between one and two hours, depending on the complexity of your situation.  You may wish to include other parties such as spouse, children or other professional advisers.