Inside Business First - Spectrum Independent Financial Services

What do you do?

We are Independent Financial Advisers, based in Business First Liverpool.

We are Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FCA) and as a truly independent firm, we act on behalf of our clients and have no ties to any lenders, insurance companies or institutions when providing advice.

This means all our advice is unbiased and totally impartial and gives our clients the peace of mind in knowing that we are acting on their behalf.

Our advice covers all areas of financial planning, such as Mortgages, Equity Release, Pensions, Investments, Savings, Insurance and Estate Planning.

What makes your business different to competitors?

Established in South Liverpool since 2002, our principal been an adviser for 35 years and we aim not to complicate matters and has been awarded a Vouchedfor top rated adviser.

We are members of the Equity Release Council, and our Principal Wayne Slater is an Associate of the Society of Later Life Advisers, which is the Gold Standard in Financial advice for older people and their families.

Why did you decide to operate from Business First?

Our office was previously based on a high street in South Liverpool and parking and access was often an issue, so when considering a move, staying in the South Liverpool Location was important along with free car parking, modern facilities, competitive lease terms.

When did you first move into your office?

We moved in 2014

What benefits do you get from operating from Business First?

City centre and high street leases have increased substantially over the years, so being away from that environment means we can pass on cost savings and efficiency to clients.

Clients get free car parking; we get to operate from modern premises which don’t need us to pay for regular maintenance of a building and issues that come that with that. Having a serviced office also means there is a built-in reception and receptionist and built in IT options. I would recommend Business First for these reasons.

What’s next for your business?

Sceptics may ask ‘What’s the point of financial planning? What’s the point of any planning? We’ve just lived through the most turbulent, changeable 18 months in any of our lifetimes.’

What the last year and a half illustrates is not that there’s no point to financial planning: rather the reverse – that it is more important than ever. Pandemic or no pandemic, house sales continue, we still must save for our retirement and – with a hefty bill for Covid to pay – the Government is still going to tax us on our savings, investments, and our final estate.

The need for advice is greater now than ever, across all areas whether it’s Mortgage Advice, or Retirement Planning and looking at the best ways to save and invest and avoiding scams.

We have also just secured a slot on a local radio station LiverpoolLive Radio providing a financial planning section helping to give guidance and information on all money matters!

For more information, take a look at their website www.spectrum-ifs.co.uk