Retirement planning, made clear
cStop putting off the retirement conversation that could give you clarity, confidence and more options.
The decisions you make in the next 2-3 years will shape the next 30.
Independent retirement advice for people aged 50+ in Gloucestershire and across the UK
No pressure. No obligation. Just plain-English guidance on your options.
This is for you if…
Most people who come to us wish they’d started this conversation 3–5 years earlier.
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
You deserve a retirement that feels secure, comfortable — and truly yours.
Slower mornings. Time to walk the dog. More moments with family. The trips you’ve been putting off for years — or even the freedom to finally sail the boat you’ve always dreamed of.
That’s not a fantasy. That’s what good, early planning makes possible.
That future is available to people who start planning at 50. It gets harder to reach at 62.
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.
▶ Watch the video above
Meet Steve Heathcote, your adviser
Before we talk about money, let’s talk about you.
You’ve worked hard your whole life. And somewhere along the way, the question quietly appeared: will it be enough?
You haven’t ignored it because you don’t care. You’ve ignored it because every time you think about sitting down to sort it out, it feels overwhelming.
There’s too much to untangle. Too many decisions that feel permanent. Too much risk of getting it wrong.
So you put it off. Again.
I understand that. I’ve sat across from thousands of people who felt exactly the same way. Smart people. Successful people. People who had built good lives and were terrified of making one bad decision that unravelled it.
“You don’t need to have it figured out before you call me. That’s what the call is for.”
I started this practice over 25 years ago because I kept meeting people who’d left it too late. Not because they were careless — because nobody had sat down with them early enough and shown them what was actually possible.
That’s all we do. No jargon. No products pushed at you. No call centre picking up the phone. Just Steve, his small team, your situation, and an honest, human conversation about what the next chapter of your life could actually look like.
We help you see how your money could work over time — not just today, but 10, 20, 30 years into the future. That means looking at your pensions, savings, income and property together, so you can understand what may be possible before making big decisions.
We start with your full picture — pensions, savings, income, property, goals and concerns.
We help you explore how different choices could affect your future income and flexibility.
You leave the conversation with a clearer view of your options and what to do next.
People often come to us feeling unsure, overwhelmed or worried they have left things too late. After talking it through, many tell us they feel clearer, calmer and more confident about what to do next.
Some discover they may have more options than they thought. Some finally understand how their pensions, savings, income and property could work together. Some simply feel relieved that someone has looked at the full picture properly.
It’s your money. It’s your future. Let’s make sure you can see what’s possible.
Your first call is free. Twenty minutes. No preparation needed — just show up and talk.
The window to build the retirement you want is still open. But it won’t be forever.
Book your free initial callSend us a message
We usually reply within a few hours.
No pressure. No obligation. You’ll speak to Steve or his small team — not a call centre.
Client feedback
What clients say about us
Real five-star feedback from clients who came to us for clear, personal financial advice.
Katie
“Our pensions made more money in two months than in twenty years.”
Read full review
After two Financial Advisors took on our new mortgage and failed to help us, we contacted Steve at Heathcote Chartered Financial Planning as he was local to us. The introduction and requests required were efficiently and painlessly dealt with in a friendly and understandable manner.
Despite the mortgage surveyor trying to be “super technical” and impossible to deal with, Steve interjected when required, and resolved each problem meticulously easily.
Our numerous pensions have both been resolved also and already made more money in two months than they had in twenty years! We would recommend Heathcote Chartered Financial Planning for all of your financial needs. Extremely good £ value also.
View on GoogleGary
“Great pensions advice clarifying my retirement options.”
Read full review
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.
View on GoogleSandra
“Steve helped us find lending into retirement when we needed it most.”
Read full review
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 don’t know what would have happened or where we would be now. Truly grateful for the help we were given in the situation.
View on GoogleShyam
“A safe pair of hands for pension advice.”
Read full review
Steve came recommended to me by Pension Wise so I knew he was reliable. I understand enough about the risks of trusting the wrong adviser and ending up losing your pension pot.
After an initial face-to-face meeting at his office I still needed more assurance that I could safely take his advice. 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. Thanks Steve!
View on GoogleMaria
“Whole-of-market financial advice tailored to our needs.”
Read full review
We needed to review our finances and our accountant recommended Steve, who has many years of experience in fact-finding, 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.
View on GoogleJason
“Clear and impartial advice on mortgages and financial matters.”
Read full review
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.
View on GoogleSina
“Quick responses and good knowledge on the products they offer.”
Read full review
They respond very quickly providing good knowledge on the products they offer. They also guide you through the process, would highly recommend.
View on GoogleAndreea
“Really professional team — helpful from mortgage to insurance.”
Read full review
Really professional team.
We were first time buyers and I cannot describe how helpful it was having such a good broker next to us. Steve was really understanding with our necessity and helped us find the best mortgage deal at that time.
He also prepared everything for us from mortgage, to solicitor, insurance, everything that was needed. He is really professional in what he is doing, always keeping us in touch with the latest offers and he explained everything until we understood.
He will make sure you won’t leave his office confused or unhappy. Definitely we will be back to him in future. Thank you, Steve!
View on TrustpilotHelen
“Steve found us a mortgage straight away.”
Read full review
We had a great experience with Steve. We’d 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.
View on TrustpilotReviews shown are from Google and Trustpilot. Each review displayed above is a 5-star review.
Join clients who’ve trusted Steve Heathcote and his team for clear, personal financial planning guidance.
Book your free initial callHow 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.