VIEW FROM A CLIENT S PERSPECTIVE Darren has been my Adviser for many years now and in that time he has rationalised what was a complex set of investments, ensured that proper tax management is in place and helped me make suitable provision for my children. He has also given me access to specialist tax and trust advice when that was necessary. My affairs are now much simpler and better documented, and undoubtedly more fruitful as well. Throughout the period, and with the support of the St. James s Place back office, Darren has provided meticulous documentation and thorough analysis, giving me the confidence to know that my affairs are in good hands. It has also been a pleasure to deal with him and his team. Stuart Gillies, Retired The moment we met Darren we were put at ease. His professional approach was reassuring and his knowledge of wealth management was very impressive. It was the best move we have made in years and are very satisfied with the results. His staff are competent and well mannered and react very quickly when there is a rare problem. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to others. Phil & Julie Leslie, Director David has provided me with a total review of my financial circumstances. He provided me with clear, concise advice which has helped me to be happy and secure in my choices. I am also pleased that this will be kept under constant review. I cannot recommend David and Mercer & Associates any more highly. Linda Diskin, Veterinary Surgeon Mercer & Associates provide us with an exemplary service which is firmly focused on our best interests and long-term financial security. Their expertise is strongly supported by an efficient and thorough administration team. Our financial arrangements are constantly reviewed and communicated and we are kept up to date with any relevant changes. Outstanding all round service. James & Liz Wright, Directors Mercer & Associates have an excellent understanding of the investment world and associated tax implications. Vaughan Griffiths, Serial Entrepreneur
Mercer & Associates is based in Chester and aims to help clients achieve financial peace of mind through trusted, high quality advice. We strive to provide excellence in all aspects of our business with the commitment to develop long lasting relationships with all clients. Built on a foundation of strong family values, integrity, trusted meaningful relationships with our clients and many years of excellent service, we offer a face-to-face advisory service that aims to create bespoke planning strategies based on individual client circumstances and needs. The information within this brochure will demonstrate the quality standards that Mercer & Associates consistently delivers and the commitment to superior wealth management planning that accompanies it. We very much look forward to building a professional and valued relationship with you in the future. PAGE 3
Dynamic, lateral thinking, highly knowledgeable and focus on attention to detail. Chris Stanley, Private Client
ABOUT ST. JAMES S PLACE We are proud to be a Senior Partner Practice of St. James s Place Wealth Management, which offers a wide range of high-quality wealth management services to individuals, trustees and businesses. St. James s Place is an award-winning FTSE 100 business with funds under management in excess of 90 billion, and is well established as one of the UK s leading wealth management organisations. St. James s Place was founded in 1991 by the late Mike Wilson CBE, Sir Mark Weinberg and Lord Rothschild and today, through its Partnership, provides reliable and expert advice in all aspects of wealth management. Together we specialise in meeting the financial needs of people who have created significant capital, or who earn higher incomes and whose circumstances are therefore more complicated than most. Best Financial Adviser 2017/18 PAGE 5
Discovery/Review Meetings Agree ongoing review and service framework OUR ADVICE PROCESS Evaluation and Analysis Recommendations and Implementation Planning Meetings YOUR PERSONAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICE Initial meetings are provided without obligation. Expert evaluation and analysis of your circumstances helps us to identify areas in which we can assist you in achieving your goals or where we believe we can add value to your existing arrangements. Planning meetings will consider options and agree a strategy suited to your risk profile and objectives. Recommendations are always confirmed in writing and supported by personalised illustrations and key facts documentation. As future needs and objectives change over time, we believe that a fundamental part of effective wealth management is regular face-to-face reviews of your arrangements. Only in this way can we ensure that our recommendations and advice remain appropriate. PAGE 6
INVESTMENTS PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST INSURANCE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST & ESTATE PLANNING BUILDING & PRESERVING CAPITAL FINANCIAL PROTECTION AGAINST RISK LONG-TERM CARE HEALTH INSURANCE PENSIONS & PENSION ANNUITIES CASH SAVINGS MANAGING CASH & BORROWINGS MORTGAGES SPECIALIST LENDING LIFE ASSURANCE Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU We offer wealth management to private clients, trustees, business owners and entrepreneurs. Whether clients want to grow their wealth or receive a regular income, our aim is to help them to obtain the best possible returns on their money in relation to their tolerance to risk and investment objectives. Other services To complement and enhance our range of services, we also have access to carefully selected external providers. St. James s Place believes that these providers represent the best of breed in their respective fields and are capable of delivering the high standards of service you would expect. More information on these products and services is available from us on request. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The value of an investment with St. James s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. PAGE 7
David provided me with outstanding professional advice. He explained complexities in an easy to understand manner. I am glad he and Mercer & Associates are managing my finances. Michele Apollonio, Project Manager
DISTINCTIVE APPROACH TO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Successful investment, whether it is in the form of pension provision, capital creation or income maintenance, is critical to your future wellbeing, but it is a field which presents a unique challenge as future performance is unpredictable. Unlike most other financial services companies, St. James s Place does not employ in-house fund managers, believing that no single investment house has a monopoly of investment expertise. Instead, a number of respected external investment houses are carefully selected to look after our range of funds. The cornerstone of this approach is the Investment Committee, which is advised by Stamford Associates, Redington and other independent investment consultancies. The Investment Committee has the responsibility of selecting, monitoring and changing external fund managers. The Committee meets quarterly to review performance and consider detailed reports from each external firm. If a change in the marketplace calls for the addition of another firm, the Committee will select one. If the Committee loses confidence in the ability of an existing manager, it will replace them; without any tax implications or charges to the client. This approach provides the flexibility to respond to market conditions as they change, and the certainty that St. James s Place is employing the best fund managers. The value of an investment with St. James s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. PAGE 9
INHERITANCE TAX AND ESTATE PLANNING We can create and implement highly effective tax-minimisation strategies, with a particular emphasis on reducing your estate s liability to Inheritance Tax. If you are deciding who is to benefit from your estate or are expecting an inheritance yourself, careful planning can prove of vital importance. Inheritance Tax affects an increasing number of families and therefore, effective use of the current exemptions should be made. We are able to offer a diverse and innovative approach to financial planning, using not only the products available through St. James s Place, but also a number of leading products by specialists in their field. These include: Specially tailored schemes for Inheritance Tax Suitable trusts (not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) Estate planning that can include the use of investment vehicles and protection plans
OUR SERVICE FOR PRIVATE CLIENTS We provide an extensive range of holistic financial planning solutions for the needs of private clients and cover all aspects. This includes making sure wealth is protected from tax and third party claims, maximises capital for growth or income within an appropriate risk tolerance, and ensures such solutions are tailored to clients precise needs. In simple terms, we help clients understand how most effectively to place their capital so they and their families enjoy the benefit of their hard earned wealth. We regularly collaborate with dedicated specialist support team to construct bespoke solutions when a more sophisticated and robust strategy is required. Some of the areas we specialise in are as follows: Investment planning for capital growth or income Tax mitigation strategies Trust planning Inheritance Tax and estate planning Inter-generational planning Pre and post retirement planning Mortgage planning Pension advice and management on divorce Tax specialist investments Protection planning Reviewing existing pension and investment assets Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The value of an investment with St. James s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances. PAGE 11
OUR SERVICE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS We specialise in advising business owners on a wide range of complex matters by adopting a strategic approach. A focused emphasis on tax planning ensures they have a structured financial plan for their business and for themselves as individuals. We regularly help clients to construct a portfolio of specialist financial products that complement each other as part of an overall plan designed to maximise tax reliefs. Some of the areas of planning we regularly advise on include the following: Succession & trust planning * Protecting your business and key people in it Tax efficient profit extraction strategies Aspects of exit planning Creating financial independence from your business The financial relationship between you and your business Corporate investments Tax specialist investments Maintaining business and agricultural relief Keeping the capital value of a business protected for your loved ones The value of an investment with St. James s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances. * Trusts are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
OUR SERVICE FOR TRUSTEES We have specialised for many years in providing bespoke solutions to trustees and therefore fully understand the complex world of trusts, including legislation. We adopt a pragmatic approach to help our clients understand the complexities of trusts in a simple, straightforward fashion, which enables clarity over many important decisions. In particular, we have a wealth of experience and expertise in dealing with recipients of personal injury awards and understand clearly all of the considerations and issues a client would need to take into account to protect them and their family.
OUR ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU Throughout this brochure we have talked about our desire to build a long-term relationship with you. From the moment that you decide to become a client, we will demonstrate the value of this relationship through the service that we deliver to you. Whatever the level of your investment, it is as important to us as it is to you. We will keep you informed of the way in which we are looking after your wealth by giving you access to online valuation services through our website, as well as an annual valuation report and net worth statement. We will also discuss the level of ongoing service you would like. Primarily this will involve holding regular review meetings, either face-to-face or via the telephone, to discuss your investments and personal circumstances, making sure that whatever decisions you have made remain appropriate and continue to meet your objectives. Whatever your ongoing requirements, we will do our best to satisfy them and will agree with you at the outset what you can expect and when. Whatever the agreed frequency of review meetings with us, you should feel free to contact us at any time to discuss any aspect of your investment. As we said earlier, putting you firmly at the centre of everything we do is core to our culture. At Mercer & Associates, your relationship with us starts, rather than ends, at the point you decide to invest. YOUR PERSONAL GUARANTEE St. James s Place guarantees the suitability of the advice given by Mercer & Associates Wealth Management when recommending any of the wealth management products and services available from companies in the group. This quite simply gives you reassurance and peace of mind when planning your financial future. PAGE 14
Mercer & Associates Wealth Management has been awarded the prestigious Chartered Financial Planners designation by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Chartered Status is the profession s gold standard for financial planners. This means you can be confident that you are dealing with one of the UK s leading firms that is wholly committed to providing you with the best possible advice, service and support.
HERITAGE PLACE, 1-2 GROSVENOR COURT, FOREGATE STREET, CHESTER, CH1 1HG T: 01244 409610 F: 01244 409611 E: mercerandassociates@sjpp.co.uk W: www.mercerandassociates.co.uk Mercer & Associates Wealth Management Ltd represents only St. James s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The St. James s Place Partnership and the titles Partner and Partner Practice are marketing terms used to describe St. James s Place representatives. H2SJP29766 08/18