Our independence makes you a top priority

Gee & Watson is an independent financial adviser (IFA) authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Our aim is to provide clients with bespoke financial solutions which combine strategic planning with carefully selected products from the whole of the financial marketplace.

As an IFA we are obliged to put our clients' interests first. Using our knowledge of the leading providers of investment funds, insurance contracts and pension plans, we attempt to create a financial package designed to meet a client's individual financial objectives.

We maintain regular contact with clients, keeping them abreast of how their affairs are progressing and pointing out further opportunities as they arise.

Most of our clients come to us via a personal referral, from a solicitor, an accountant, a colleague or a relative; many of them have been with us for decades. We work with individuals and families and with businesses, striving in every case to tailor our services to meet our clients' needs and ambitions.

Remember: not all financial advisers are independent. Some are only able to represent a single product provider; others have a limited 'panel' from which to recommend products and services.

With an independent adviser such as Gee & Watson, clients have the comfort of knowing that we will never try to 'shoe-horn' them into a particular product merely because that is all we have available. We will always use our independent status for our clients' benefit, maximising the potential for success.

How we work

We have been advising clients for over thirty years and we understand that everybody's financial circumstances are different and that everyone's needs and aspirations vary

We appreciate that not everyone is a financial expert. (After all, that is why we are here.) So we see it as a large part of our role to guide our clients through the various planning opportunities that are open to them

This takes time. In fact, when it comes to financial planning, the investment you make of your time is the most important one of all.

The first step is to set up a meeting, either at our offices or, if you prefer, in your home or office. This is a free, no obligation consultation during which we will analyse your current financial situation and begin to develop a feel for what you require in terms of advice, strategy and products.

We will consider every aspect of your financial situation, whether it be your current family responsibilities and objectives, your hopes and ambitions for the future or your plans regarding your business. We will outline the broad options open to you and explain how our advice and expertise can help you achieve your financial goals efficiently and cost effectively.

With the core elements of a financial strategy in place, we will maintain regular contact with you to ensure that your objectives are being met. Alterations, should they be required, will of course be discussed with you beforehand.

We are also delighted to hear from you at any stage if you have questions regarding your affairs or if there is a change in your circumstances.

The more information we have, the better our services will be.

How we are remunerated

Most of our clients are content for Gee & Watson to receive commission earned on the sale of financial products. However, because we are independent financial advisers, you can choose to pay us a fee for our services.

The building blocks of financial security

Every financial strategy has a number of core components. Gee & Watson will ensure that the essentials are in place to give you peace of mind and the potential to achieve your objectives.

Cash & savings

Everyone needs to keep some cash in reserve - the classic 'rainy day' fund. We normally suggest that an amount appropriate to a client's individual circumstances be retained in a bank or building society account with easy access and a competitive rate of return. We can advise you on the right home for this portion of your assets.

You may also wish to make regular savings in a building society account. Once again, we can advise on the accounts which meet your requirements pointing out any tax breaks that may be available.

Family protection

Life insurance is essential, not just for breadwinners, but for anyone who contributes to the smooth running of the household. If you have dependants, you need cover, and we can guide you to the right policy at the right price. We can also install appropriate protection plans for those worried about the effect of a serious illness or prolonged incapacity on their family's well-being.

Mortgages

If you need a mortgage to fund a house purchase, or to raise money on your existing property, we can help. Although we do not arrange mortgages ourselves, we can introduce you to tried and trusted independent specialists who can advise you on all aspects of mortgage finance.

Investment

There is a bewildering range of investment funds on the market, spanning relatively safe funds invested in UK gilts and fixed interest stocks, to highly speculative funds offering high potential returns but with increased risk of capital loss. Whether you require spendable income, capital growth or a combination of both, talking to us will help you gauge your appetite for risk and help us to whittle down all the available investment options until we identify the right ones for you.

Tax planning

No one likes paying more tax than is strictly necessary. We can often identify well-established legitimate ways to reduce your tax liabilities, thus enabling you to retain more of your hard-earned money.

Pensions

Pensions are simply long-term savings plans which include attractive tax advantages. Anyone concerned in building a financially secure future for themselves or their children and grandchildren needs to explore retirement planning and the use of pensions. We also advise those clients who wish to explore the different ways of drawing retirement benefits from their accumulated pension funds.

Estate planning

Most people naturally wish to pass on their assets, accumulated over a lifetime, to their children and grandchildren. Yet the inheritance tax laws means that this is not always straightforward and expert advice is essential. We can explain and arrange suitable inheritance tax mitigation plans and recommend how your beneficiaries can be put in a position to pay any tax due after your death.

Corporate financial planning

We advise on suitable pension arrangements and protection plans for business people and their staff. We can arrange insurance cover for a company's key employees and put in place partnership or co-shareholder protection plans, which will ensure that a business can survive the death or incapacity of a partner or shareholder.

We can also arrange pre-retirement or pre-redundancy courses for groups of employees on a one-off or regular basis.

About Gee & Watson

Gee & Watson, established in 1974, is a specialist financial adviser serving clients on the Wirral, in Merseyside, throughout Cheshire and beyond.

We are completely independent, which means that we research the whole marketplace for the products and services that will help to meet your financial objectives.

Our experience and expertise are at your disposal whether you are a private individual looking to preserve your family wealth, an ex-employee seeking a secure home for a redundancy payment or a company director managing the needs of your colleagues and staff.

We specialise in providing advice on capital investments, regular savings, pension plans, personal insurances and tax mitigation arrangements.

If you want to secure your financial future, we are here to help.

David Beck

David has worked in financial services since 1978 and has been a principal of Gee & Watson since 1982. His specialist areas are investment and savings. He is a First Class Honours Graduate of Liverpool University and is an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII).

Adrian Cleator

Adrian began his career in financial services in 1978. Since then he has worked for household names including Norwich Union and Standard Life. He joined Gee & Watson in 1988 and became a director the following year. He specialises in both personal and corporate pensions.

Where we are

Gee & Watson Investment and Pensions Ltd, 58 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 0AG.
Tel: 0151 342 6496   Fax: 0151 342 7379
Email: advice@geeandwatson.com

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The Financial Services Authority cannot regulate tax advice. Registered in England & Wales No. 1862969