In early 2019, married couple Paul and Elizabeth were both working four days a week, living comfortably but without a clear long-term financial plan. 

That summer, their world changed when Paul was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that the doctors told them would be difficult to treat. Looking back on that news, Elizabeth remembers being at a complete loss, “We didn’t know what we were going to do.”

With an uncertain future ahead of them, Elizabeth wanted to step away from work so she could care for Paul when the time came for him to need it. They both hoped to make the most of their time together, create lasting memories, and ensure their finances were in order. 

Paul was also determined to make sure Elizabeth would be secure once he was gone. He didn’t want to leave her with any debts and wanted to be sure that her retirement income would be sufficient. 

That’s when they decided to meet with a financial planner.

Finding the right financial planner took a few attempts

In 2020, Paul and Elizabeth met with several financial planners before choosing James from Focused Financial. 

They found James to be patient, understanding, and easy to talk to. 

On meeting him for the first time, Elizabeth says, “He spoke our language. I never felt I didn’t understand, and anything I needed explaining he patiently did.”

James explained everything clearly, without any jargon, and he took the time to listen and understand the complexity of their situation and exactly what it was they wanted. 

His calm and reassuring approach made them feel at ease during an incredibly difficult time, and after an initial consultation, they knew they’d found the right financial planner for them. 

James helped them realise they could retire and live out their dreams

The couple knew that Paul had multiple pensions. However, they weren’t sure how to access them or whether they could afford for Elizabeth to stop working. 

James helped them consolidate Paul’s pension pots and assess their overall financial position. He took into account their savings, the Carer’s Allowance Elizabeth was entitled to, and other benefits available to Paul due to his illness.

Thanks to James’s help, they realised they could both retire without too much financial stress and that Elizabeth’s future wouldn’t be compromised by leaving work early. This gave them the freedom to focus on what truly mattered, such as seeing their family and spending quality time together.

One of the first things Paul and Elizabeth did was sell their old Volkswagen camper van and upgrade to a bigger, newer motorhome. This allowed them to travel with greater comfort and gave them the flexibility to explore and be self-sufficient. This was especially valuable during the Covid-19 lockdowns as Paul was particularly vulnerable to the virus given his health condition.

Without James, Paul and Elizabeth wouldn’t have realised they had the financial security to retire, let alone the resources to enable them to upgrade their van and enjoy a final adventure together.

Elizabeth said, “It was a huge privilege not to have to work, and […] James gave us the confidence that we could do it.”

Elizabeth has continued to work with James 

Paul sadly passed away in 2023, but Elizabeth has continued working with James to adjust her financial plan. He has helped her update her will, register a Lasting Power of Attorney, and set up trust funds for her family.

Elizabeth is now approaching the State Pension Age and is embracing a new chapter of her life. She recently sold the camper van she and Paul had shared, but in a fitting tribute to their love of travel, she bought a new one so she can create new memories with her granddaughter.

Reflecting on working with James and how invaluable his advice was and continues to be, Elizabeth said, “I honestly don’t know where we’d have been without him”. She went on, “We’ve been so lucky, and that’s all down to James”. 

And if anyone else thinks they could benefit from working James, Elizabeth says, “Just ring him, he’ll always talk to you to see whether he can help.”