Retirement planning, made clear
Understand your retirement income before making life-changing decisions
Independent retirement planning for people aged 50+ who want clear advice on pensions, savings and retirement options in plain English.
What are you trying to work out?
Start with the question that feels closest to where you are now.
This is for you if…
Many people who come to us wish they had started the conversation earlier.
What you’ll get from your free initial call
Ready to talk it through?
Book your free initial callThis is not about rushing you into a product. It’s about helping you understand your full financial picture before you make any decisions.
Picture your retirement
Retirement should feel clear, comfortable and truly yours.
More time with family. The freedom to travel. Slower mornings. A life with fewer financial unknowns.
Good planning helps you understand what may be possible — before you make big decisions about pensions, savings, property or income.
The earlier you understand your options, the more room you usually have to plan properly.
That future is possible. What determines whether you get there is what happens in the next few years.
The thing nobody tells you
The window to build that retirement is smaller than you think.
Most people know they should sort their pension and retirement income — they just keep putting it off. And every year they wait, the options quietly narrow. The income they could have had gets smaller. The choices get harder.
It’s not that the boat goes away. It’s that at some point, the years to fund it run out.
Your first call is free. Twenty minutes. No preparation needed.
Book your free initial call Send us a messageWe usually reply within a few hours.
No pressure. No obligation. You’ll speak to Steve or his small team — not a call centre.
Meet Steve Heathcote, your adviser
Before we talk about money, let’s talk about you.
You’ve worked hard your whole life. Now you may be wondering: will it be enough?
Pensions, savings, income, property and retirement choices can feel overwhelming when you try to look at them alone. That is exactly why the first conversation exists.
“You don’t need to have it figured out before you call me. That’s what the call is for.”
Steve has spent more than 25 years helping people understand their financial position, explore their options and make decisions with more clarity and confidence.
We look at the full picture — your pensions, savings, income, property, family and future plans — so you can understand what may be possible before making big decisions.
We start with your full picture, not just one product or one pension.
We help you explore your options before you make major decisions.
You leave with a clearer view of your next step.
People often come to us feeling unsure, overwhelmed or worried they have left things too late. After talking it through, many feel clearer, calmer and more confident.
It’s your money. It’s your future. Let’s make sure you can see what’s possible.
Client feedback
What clients say about us
Real five-star feedback from clients who came to us for clear, personal financial advice.
Karen
“Exceptional service, trustworthy advice and highly personalised financial guidance.”
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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.
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Katie
“Our pensions made more money in two months than in twenty years.”
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The introduction and requests required were efficiently and painlessly dealt with in a friendly and understandable manner.
Our numerous pensions have both been resolved also and already made more money in two months than they had in twenty years.
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Gary
“Great pensions advice clarifying my retirement options.”
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Given the wide range of options and providers available, I found it extremely helpful talking to an independent whole-of-market financial adviser.
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Shyam
“A safe pair of hands for pension advice.”
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My funds have been growing steadily with regular updates on opportunities and risks from Steve.
I think he has been a safe pair of hands for me.
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Maria
“Whole-of-market financial advice tailored to our needs.”
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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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Jason
“Clear and impartial advice on mortgages and financial matters.”
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I would certainly recommend his services to friends and family.
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Sina
“Quick responses and good knowledge on the products they offer.”
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Sandra
“Steve helped us find lending into retirement when we needed it most.”
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Great product knowledge and excellent customer service. Highly recommend. Without Stephen’s help, I don’t know what would have happened.
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Helen
“Steve found us a mortgage straight away.”
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He found us a mortgage straight away. Steve’s knowledge and experience is at a different level. We are so grateful to him.
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Book your free initial call
How we help
We help you make confident financial decisions for the future.
Financial planning is rarely about one decision in isolation. Your retirement, your home, your savings, your investments and your family protection can all be connected. We help you understand the full picture, so you can make decisions with more clarity and confidence.
What if I retire — and later realise I should have planned differently?
We help you understand your pensions, retirement income and future choices before you make decisions that are hard to reverse.
Explore retirement planningIs using the value in my home a smart move — or a risky one?
We help you weigh up equity release, later-life lending and other options, so you understand the impact before moving forward.
Explore equity releaseIf something happened to me, would the people I love be financially secure?
We help you plan for the unexpected, from protecting your income to supporting your family if life changes suddenly.
Explore financial protectionIs my money quietly working for my future — or standing still?
We help you make sense of savings and investments, so your money has a clearer purpose and a plan behind it.
Explore savings and investmentsNot sure where to start? Book your free initial call today — it takes 20 minutes and costs nothing →
What happens when you call
One conversation. No pressure. No jargon.
You don’t need to have figured anything out before you speak to us. That’s what the call is for.
We listen
Tell us where you are now, what you’re concerned about, and what you want retirement to look like. No preparation needed.
We explain
We talk you through your pensions, retirement income, property and later-life options in plain English, so you can understand what matters.
You decide
You choose what happens next, in your own time. No pressure. No obligation. Just clear guidance before any major decision.
Knowledge centre
Not ready to call yet? Start here.
Free guides written in plain English — so you can understand your options before you make any decisions. No email required, no strings attached.
Retirement income
Will your money last as long as you do?
The key questions to ask before making decisions about pensions, savings and income.
Read guide →Property wealth
Equity release: is it right for you?
What it is, how it works, what it costs — and the alternatives worth considering first.
Read guide →Pensions
What happens to your pension when you retire?
Drawdown, annuities and income options — explained simply.
Read guide →Planning ahead
When should you start planning for retirement?
The honest answer — and why the window matters more than most people realise.
Read guide →Read a guide first, or skip straight to a conversation — your call.
No pressure, no obligation — just a clear place to start.
The moment to move
Ten years from now, you could be
enjoying the life you planned for.
Or still wondering why you waited.
The difference between those two futures is rarely dramatic. It’s usually one conversation, taken at the right time, that sets everything in motion.
Your first call with us is free, takes 20 minutes, and costs you nothing but time.
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.
Book it today. Your future self will thank you.
We usually reply within a few hours.
Questions you may have before speaking to us
We understand that speaking to a financial adviser for the first time can feel like a big step. Here are some of the questions people often ask before booking their initial call.
Is the initial call really free?
Yes. Your initial 20-minute call is free and there is no obligation to proceed. It is simply an opportunity to ask questions, explain your situation and understand whether we may be able to help.
Will I be pressured into a product?
No. The first conversation is about understanding your situation and explaining your options in plain English. You will not be expected to make a decision on the call.
Do I need to know exactly what I need before I call?
No. You do not need to have everything figured out. The first call is simply a conversation about where you are now, what you are concerned about, and what you would like your future to look like.
What if I feel embarrassed because I have left retirement planning too late?
Please do not worry. Many people speak to us because they have been putting things off or feel unsure where to start. The first step is simply to understand your current position, your options, and what may still be possible.
Can a family member join the call or meeting?
Yes. If you would like your partner, adult child, or another trusted person to join the conversation, that is absolutely fine. Retirement and financial decisions can affect the wider family, so it can be helpful to have someone you trust with you.
How long does the process take?
It depends on your situation and what you need help with. The first call is only 20 minutes and is designed to understand where you are now. If we can help, we will explain the next steps clearly, including what information may be needed, what happens next, and the likely timescales.