Informed Choice

Retirement planning isn’t only about whether you’ll have enough money. It’s also about what you’ll do with your time, where you’ll find purpose and how you’ll create structure once work no longer shapes your week. For some, retirement means travel, hobbies or more time with family. For others, it brings volunteering, caring for grandchildren, joining community groups or trying something completely new. In her latest opinion piece for Money Marketing, our Managing Director, Shelley McCarthy, explores why good retirement planning should go beyond the numbers. Helping someone build financial security matters enormously. But helping them picture a retirement filled with purpose and fulfilment can be just as valuable. Read Shelley’s article: Retirement is about more than money. Link in the comments. #RetirementPlanning #FinancialPlanning #FinancialAdvice #LaterLifePlanning

We’re hiring! Informed Choice is looking for a talented Administrator to join our team in Cranleigh. This is a full-time role with a four-day working week, hybrid working, and a strong focus on work-life balance. You’ll support our Financial Planners with client queries, admin, processing business, and preparing valuations and review files. It is a varied role, so you need to be organised, detail-focused, and confident communicating with clients and providers. Ideally, you will have experience in a busy office, good working knowledge of MS Office, and some exposure to financial services. Experience with Intelliflo is a bonus. Salary is £25,000 to £32,000 depending on experience, with a bonus scheme, pension, private healthcare, income protection, and more. If you want to be part of a supportive, forward-thinking firm, we would love to hear from you. More details at https://lnkd.in/eyRJSXZt No agencies, please.

New column from our Managing Director, Shelley McCarthy, in Money Marketing: “Why tax-free cash is the last line of defence for pensions” For decades, pensions have been the backbone of retirement planning in the UK. But as Shelley argues, the steady erosion of benefits is reshaping the conversation. With the draft legislation on inheritance tax treatment, the rising minimum pension age, and now persistent rumours about removing tax-free cash, pensions risk losing their unique appeal as the long-term savings vehicle of choice. Shelley argues that if tax-free cash disappears, advisers and clients alike will need to pivot, not just in messaging, but in the very architecture of retirement planning. 👉 Read Shelley’s full column here: https://lnkd.in/eqmyh_Z9 #Pensions #FinancialPlanning #Retirement #MoneyMarketing #TaxFreeCash

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news. Informed Choice has been named one of the FT Adviser Top 50 Boutique Firms 2025, a new list celebrating smaller firms across the UK who are making a big impact for their clients and communities. We were ranked 7th out of the Top 50 firms, according to the independent research. Recognition in this list reflects the dedication of our whole team to providing trusted, professional financial planning advice at a time when uncertainty is driving more people to seek expert guidance. As our Managing Director, Shelley McCarthy, explains in the feature: “We see lots of reasons triggering new client enquiries including job changes, retirement, inherited funds and other life events. “Uncertainty in general — be that government, global political climate or personal circumstances, also drives enquiries. “Fear, or suspicion, of potential government changes to the taxation of accumulated wealth is on the increase, motivating people to seek professional financial planning advice, and we have certainly noted an increase in such enquiries.” We’re proud to be part of a profession that helps people navigate complex financial challenges and build secure futures, and delighted to be recognised alongside so many outstanding firms.