Yes, we are authorised and regulated through our regulatory arrangement and follow FCA requirements. You can also check our registration details on the FCA Register.

Yes, you can choose either a face-to-face meeting or a video call. We aim to work in the way that feels most comfortable and practical for you.

Face-to-face meetings are usually held at our office in Chelmsford city centre. If we agree another arrangement with you, we will confirm that before the meeting.

We do not have parking at our office. There are several nearby car parks and a Park and Ride stop outside. Bus and train stations are only a short walk away.

Solus Financial Planning has been trading since May 2022. Gavin Johnson has worked in financial services for more than 30 years, so you benefit from established experience as well as a newer firm.

We are based in Chelmsford city centre. We mainly work with clients across Essex and along the A12 corridor, and we can also work with clients further afield by video call.

Yes, Gavin Johnson is both Chartered and Certified, and he is also a Fellow of his professional bodies. That reflects a high level of technical study and professional commitment.

Yes, our firm holds Accredited status from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. That sits alongside our wider financial planning approach and standards.

Yes, we have client reviews and testimonials on our website. You can also view feedback through our VouchedFor profile.

We specialise in helping people who find themselves on their own, whether through divorce, bereavement, a loved one moving into care, or personal choice. Our approach is built around clear planning, compassion, and helping you feel more in control of your future.

Our FCA registration number is 972111. You can check our details and authorisation on the FCA Register.

Many of our clients are based along the A12 corridor, including areas between Brentwood and Shenfield in the south and Colchester in the north. We also work with some clients outside that area by video call.

No, there is no charge for an initial meeting. It is a chance for us to understand what you need and for you to decide whether we are the right fit.

We usually ask you to bring details of your income, spending, savings, pensions, investments, policies, and any loans or mortgages, along with identification and proof of address. A simple note or spreadsheet can be very helpful, as it lets us spend more time talking things through and less time gathering basic information.

The first meeting is a conversation about you, what prompted you to get in touch, and what you want life to look like financially. We also begin to understand your circumstances, goals, and the areas where you may need help.

Most initial meetings last around one hour and 15 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes. We want to allow enough time for a proper conversation without rushing you.

No, there is no obligation to sign up at the first meeting. We want you to have time to understand the process and decide whether you would like to work with us.

If Gavin is away and you have an urgent advice matter, a locum can help. For day-to-day support, our administrator would usually be your first point of contact.

At a minimum, we hold a planning meeting with you each year. You will also receive regular updates such as our monthly newsletter and commentary around key events like the Budget and Autumn Statement. On top of that, you will have any extra contact you require.

Yes, cashflow planning is an integral part of what we do. It helps bring your financial plan to life by showing how decisions today may affect your future, although any projection depends on assumptions and actual outcomes can differ.

If your circumstances change, we update your plan to reflect that. Financial planning is not static, so we adjust things as your life changes.

Yes, we can work alongside your accountant or solicitor. Coordinating with other professionals can help keep your planning joined up and practical.

Yes, we can work with your mortgage adviser and share relevant information where needed. We would only do that with your written consent.

Yes, you will be able to view the value of your investments online. This can make it easier to keep track of your arrangements between meetings.

Yes, we can produce an anonymous example to show you the rough outline of what your plan will include.

Yes, we provide an online portal for clients.

We will meet with you at least once a year as part of our ongoing service. Some clients need more contact than that, depending on what is happening in their lives and finances.

No, we do not advise on equity release. Where this is relevant, we can help you understand how it fits into your wider planning and work alongside other specialists if appropriate.

Yes, we advise on personal pensions. We can help you understand your existing arrangements and your options, but any recommendation depends on your circumstances.

No, we do not advise on occupational pensions as a separate advice area. Where an occupational pension forms part of your wider finances, we can still help you understand how it fits into your overall planning.

Yes, we can help you review whether consolidating pensions may be appropriate. This is not right for everyone, so we would consider benefits, charges, guarantees, and the risks before making any recommendation.

Yes, we can help you plan how to take pension benefits in a tax-efficient way. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and can change in future.

Yes, we can help if ethical or sustainable investing matters to you. We would discuss your preferences and explain the options, while keeping in mind that investments can go down as well as up.

Yes, we can help you decide how an inheritance might fit into your wider financial plan. Any investment recommendation would depend on your goals, timescale, and attitude to risk, and investments can go down as well as up.

Yes, we can advise on SIPPs. Whether a SIPP is suitable depends on your needs, investment choices, charges, and the level of flexibility you require.

No, we do not advise on final salary or defined benefit pension transfers. If this is relevant to you, we would be clear about that from the outset.

Yes, we advise on long-term care and later-life planning. This can include planning around care costs, family decisions, and how your money may need to support you in later life.

Yes, we can help with general Inheritance Tax and estate planning. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and the rules can change, so any recommendation would be based on your own position.

Yes, we advise on investments such as ISAs. We would recommend investments only after understanding your goals, timescale, and tolerance for risk, and investments can go down as well as up.

Yes, we can advise on protection products such as life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection. The aim is to help you understand what cover may be worth considering and how it fits with your wider plan.

We charge for the work carried out by each member of the team rather than simply basing the cost on the amount of money involved. That means the fee reflects the time and complexity involved in the work we do for you.

We will explain expected costs clearly before any chargeable work begins. Examples of our fees are available on our website.

The cost of a financial plan depends on the complexity of the work and the time involved. Our website includes examples of typical planning costs, so you can see how fees may vary from one case to another.

For initial work, our fees are based on the work carried out by the team. For ongoing service, we charge 1% a year on the value of your portfolio.

We charge a minimum fee of £590. This is usually offset by commission on protection products. We only receive commission on protection products. For investment and planning work, we charge fees rather than relying on commission.

Usually, no, where we are arranging or implementing a financial product our fees are generally exempt from VAT. If there is no intention to take out a financial product, VAT may apply.

We think it is sensible to compare advisers and ask questions about how they charge. What matters most is understanding the service you are getting, the work involved, and whether the advice is right for you.

For clients with investible assets above £250,000, our fees are often competitive because our initial planning charges are based on the work involved rather than rising with the size of your portfolio. We will always explain our charges clearly so you can compare them properly.

You can find examples of our fees on our website and in our Service Charter. We also explain charges during the planning process, so you know what to expect before moving forward.

Yes, retirement planning is a core part of what we do. We help you understand your options, how your money may support the life you want, and the decisions that may affect your long-term security.

We often work with people who are divorced, widowed, preparing for retirement, or already in retirement. Many of our clients come to us during times of change and want clear, steady support.

Yes, we also work with younger clients who are still building wealth. Good financial planning can be valuable well before retirement, especially when life or work is changing.

Yes, we work with company directors and self-employed clients. We take account of the way your income, business interests, and personal planning may overlap.

Yes, we work with clients who are approaching retirement and those who are already retired. This often includes decisions about pensions, income, investments, and longer-term planning.

Yes, we help clients who have inherited money. We can help you decide how that money may support your wider goals, while recognising that investments can go down as well as up.

Yes, we can help clients who have sold a business or are preparing for a sale. This usually involves coordinating planning around tax, investments, retirement, and what you want the next stage of life to look like.

Yes, this is one of the main areas we help with. We support clients who are dealing with bereavement and need clear, practical financial planning at a time when decisions can feel overwhelming.

Yes, we often work with business owners, retirees, and professionals, particularly where they are navigating a major life change. We also specialise in supporting people who find themselves on their own.

No, we do not currently offer financial advice for expats or non-UK residents. Our service is designed primarily for clients in the UK.

Yes, we can review existing pensions and investments you already hold elsewhere. We will look at how those arrangements fit with your wider plan before recommending any changes.

In most cases, our minimum level of investable assets is £250,000. If your situation is different, we can still decide early on whether we are likely to be the right fit for the work involved.

If something goes wrong, you can raise a complaint through the formal complaints process. We will explain how that works; as an appointed representative, complaints are handled through Best Practice.

We store client information within a secure back-office system. We also follow data protection requirements when handling your personal information.

Yes, we are insured to carry out regulated financial advice. This forms part of the professional and regulatory protections that support our work.

You can check our registration and authorisation on the FCA Register. We are happy for you to verify our details independently before deciding whether to work with us.

Yes, we have client stories and case studies on our website. They can give you a sense of the kinds of situations we help with and how our planning process works in practice.

We measure client satisfaction through surveys, including one sent after each annual planning meeting. We also review client feedback more broadly to understand what is working well and where we can improve.

Yes, we are featured on VouchedFor. Gavin has also been included in the VouchedFor Top Rated Guide, which is based on client reviews.