Becoming mortgage free – Tony and Terry's story
I had two or three pensions from different jobs, and I was in a bit of a quandary about what to do with them. This was around 2012, and I’d recently had a cancer diagnosis, which was another reason I wanted to try and get everything sorted out. I’m fully recovered now, but it was a difficult time.
My wife Terry wanted her pension looking at as well; she’d just been made redundant and wanted to release some money as our daughter getting married.
So we knew we needed to speak to a financial adviser, but where to go? We really wanted a recommendation instead of going in somewhere ‘cold’. Financial advisers get a lot of bad press, especially when it comes to pensions, and it’s a lot of money you’re dealing with.
Fortunately, we were recommended Chris and we’ve never looked back!
Becoming mortgage free
Chris is such a nice bloke and puts you at ease straight away, but he’s also very professional.
At our initial meeting we presented him with about 200 pieces of paper that we’d accumulated over the years and just dumped it on him! He dealt with it all.
I’d reached my late 50s at this point and I knew I could access my pension but wasn’t aware of how much I would have. I’m a lorry driver and one of the few to benefit from a Final Salary Pension scheme. Over the years I’d also paid into it myself, but even though you receive statements, it’s never made clear how much it’s worth.
What I really wanted to be able to do was pay off the mortgage, but I had no idea if I’d actually be able to do it. So when Chris gave me the valuation I nearly fell over!
Now we’re completely mortgage free.
The process
Chris took time to explain all the options because a Final Salary Scheme is seen as being ‘gold plated’ and you have to consider whether transferring it is the right thing to do.
We went through in detail what I really wanted to do with the money and worked out that it would make financial sense. He gave me all the options but left me to make the decision rather than push me in any particular direction.
The whole process was absolutely effortless. Chris handled everything to the point where the money was paid straight into my account and I could simply go into the branch to access it!
Freedom in retirement
Becoming mortgage free is a huge weight off our shoulders. I can afford to retire now, but my wife hasn’t reached that age yet and I’m happy to work and fit enough to do so until she does. Then we can enjoy it.
We don’t have any major plans yet, but now we have the freedom to pick and choose what we do. This is where Chris is worth every cent – he’s just taken all the pressure off.
He’s professional, efficient and kind, but he’s also very approachable and accessible. You can always phone him directly, and if he can’t you then and there, he’ll always text back to let you know. If ever I have a question now about anything, instead of explaining how to do it, he does it all for you.
I’ve recommended two or three colleagues who’ve been in the same position as me and they’ve all had great results from Chris. I can’t recommend him enough.