INDEPENDENT ADVICE, MADE CLEAR
CLEAR ADVICE FOR RETIREMENT, PENSIONS AND INVESTMENTS
Thinking about retirement, how your pensions could provide income, or whether your investments still fit your plans? We help you understand your options, the costs and risks, and how everything fits together.
- FCA regulated
- Chartered & independent
- 3,000+ clients helped
- Read our Google reviews
START WITH WHAT MATTERS TO YOU
Why Heathcote Financial Planning
Your retirement is more than a pension.
Deciding when to retire is only part of the picture. How you take income from your pensions, what you keep invested, the savings you rely on and what you hope to leave behind can all influence one another.
At Heathcote Financial Planning, we look at your wider circumstances before exploring the options. That way, you can understand not just what a financial decision could achieve today, but what it might mean for the years ahead.
Your plans come first
We start with what you want to achieve and the financial decisions you face, not a particular product.
Understand the trade‑offs
We explain the options, costs, risks and potential long-term implications before you decide.
Independent advice
We consider your circumstances and objectives, then explain the options that may be suitable.
More than 25 years’ experience
Experience helping people with retirement, pensions, investments and wider financial decisions.
A place to start
This is for you if…
You’re approaching retirement, reviewing your finances or facing an important decision, and want to understand your options before deciding what to do.
- You’re thinking about retirement and wondering what income your pensions and savings could provide.
- You have pensions from different employers and aren’t sure how they fit together.
- You want to know whether your investments still suit your plans for the future.
- You’re considering a property, inheritance or family-finance decision and want an independent perspective.
When could I afford to retire?
Explore how your pensions, State Pension, savings and other income sources might support your plans.
Do my pensions and investments still fit my plans?
Understand the choices, costs and risks involved in managing your money as your circumstances change.
What else could my decisions affect?
Consider how your retirement plans connect with your home, family commitments and what you may want to leave behind.
Meet Steve Heathcote, your adviser
Before we talk about money, let’s talk about you.
Thinking about retirement, pensions or investments can bring up questions that feel personal, not just financial.
Steve starts by listening. You can talk about the future you’re planning, what you’re unsure about and the decisions on your mind. There’s no need to arrive with everything worked out — the first conversation is a chance to explore whether independent advice could help.
“You do not need to have it figured out before you call. That is what the conversation is for.”
Talk about what matters to you, not just numbers on a statement.
Ask about retirement income, pensions or investments — even if you’re not sure where to begin.
The initial call is a chance to see whether further advice would be useful, with no obligation to proceed.
Your first conversation is free, takes around 20 minutes and comes with no obligation.
Client experiences
What our clients say about working with us
From exploring pension options to planning for retirement and making important financial decisions, these are some of the experiences clients have shared.
Gary
“Great pensions advice clarifying my options especially regarding risk and returns at retirement.”
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Great pensions advice clarifying my options especially regarding risk and returns at retirement.
Given the wide range of options and providers available, I found it extremely helpful talking to an independent whole-of-market financial adviser.
Read reviews on GoogleKaren
“Their expertise, professionalism, and dedication have been invaluable in helping us manage existing pensions”
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Heathcote Chartered Financial Planning has provided us with exceptional service for many years, and we could not be more pleased with the support and guidance we have received throughout that time.
Their expertise, professionalism, and dedication have been invaluable in helping us manage existing pensions, liaise with previous workplace pension trustees, and ensure we always achieve the best possible financial outcomes.
We would highly recommend Heathcote Chartered Financial Planning to anyone seeking trustworthy, knowledgeable, and highly personalised financial advice.
Read reviews on GoogleMaria
“the most suitable, cost-efficient whole-of-market financial solution tailored to our needs.”
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We needed to review our finances and our accountant recommended Steve, who has many years of experience in fact-finding and looking for the most suitable, cost-efficient whole-of-market financial solution tailored to our needs.
He always found time to keep us informed on how the application progressed, and we would highly recommend him to friends and family.
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Sandra
“we had to find a mortgage that would allow lending into retirement.”
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We needed to review our finances because the mortgage lender wanted their money back and we had to find a mortgage that would allow lending into retirement.
Great product knowledge and excellent customer service. Highly recommend. Without Stephen’s help, I do not know what would have happened.
Read reviews on GoogleLucy
“Recommended by a friend, I was glad to find Steve friendly and professional.”
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Steve at Heathcote Financial Planning worked exceptionally hard to find me a lender who would approve a mortgage for me, due to my age and work circumstances. He did it!
Recommended by a friend, I was glad to find Steve friendly and professional. I will certainly be a returning client in the future. I am most grateful. Thank you!
Read reviews on GoogleJason
“I found his advice to be very clear and impartial.”
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I have sought advice from Steve on multiple occasions regarding mortgages and other financial matters. I found his advice to be very clear and impartial.
I would certainly recommend his services to friends and family.
Read reviews on GoogleSina
“They also guide you through the process.”
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They respond very quickly, providing good knowledge on the products they offer. They also guide you through the process. Would highly recommend.
Read reviews on GoogleHelen
“We had a great experience with Steve.”
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We had a great experience with Steve. We had been told by a broker no one would lend to us until the new tax year, in three months’ time.
He found us a mortgage straight away. Steve’s knowledge and experience is at a different level. We are so grateful to him.
Read reviews on TrustpilotReg
“From the outset, Stephen took the time to explain my options and was always available to answer questions.”
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Stephen was outstanding in supporting me through both my original mortgage and remortgage. His expertise, guidance, and consistently proactive approach made each stage of the process feel clear and well managed.
From the outset, Stephen took the time to explain my options and was always available to answer questions. His depth of knowledge was evident throughout, and he combined this with a forward-thinking view.
I would highly recommend Stephen and very much look forward to continuing to work with him in the future!
Read reviews on GoogleThese are individual clients’ experiences. The links lead to public Google or Trustpilot review pages.
A straightforward first conversation
What happens when you get in touch
Your first conversation is free and usually takes around 20 minutes. Whether you’re thinking about retirement, pensions, investments or another financial decision, you can start by telling us what’s on your mind. No preparation is needed.
We listen
Tell us what you’re planning, what concerns you and what you’d like to understand.
We explain
We’ll outline how we may be able to help, what further information might be needed and how the advice process works.
You decide
If you’d like to explore further advice, we’ll explain the next steps and any fees before you commit. There’s no obligation to proceed.
Questions about retirement and financial advice
Whether you’re approaching retirement, reviewing your pensions or considering independent financial advice, here are answers to some common questions.
Can you help me understand when I could afford to retire?
Yes. Retirement planning can involve reviewing your pensions, State Pension, savings, investments and expected spending. We can help you explore when retirement might be affordable and what could affect your plans.
How can my pensions and savings provide income in retirement?
There are different ways to draw retirement income, each with costs, risks and tax considerations. Which approach may suit you depends on your circumstances, income needs and longer-term plans.
I have pensions from previous employers. Can you help me review them?
Yes. We can help you understand your existing pensions and how they might fit into your retirement plans. Combining pensions is not always appropriate, especially if valuable benefits or guarantees could be lost.
Do you provide independent financial advice?
Yes. Heathcote Financial Planning provides independent financial advice. We consider your circumstances and objectives when assessing suitable options. The scope of any mortgage or specialist property-finance service will be explained separately.
How much does financial advice cost?
Your initial conversation is free. The cost of any further advice depends on the service and work involved. We explain the applicable fees before you agree to proceed.
What happens during the free initial conversation?
The first conversation usually takes around 20 minutes. You can explain what you are considering and ask questions. We will discuss whether we may be able to help and what the next steps could involve, with no obligation to proceed.
Your next step
Ready to talk about your retirement plans?
Thinking about when you could retire, how your pensions might provide income, or whether your investments still fit your plans for the future? Whether you’re planning for retirement or facing another important financial decision, an initial conversation is a straightforward place to start.
Your first conversation is free, takes around 20 minutes and comes with no obligation.