Compass Independent Financial Services Ltd

08/03/2026

This International Women's Day, we’re celebrating the brilliant women who make our office what it is.

From teamwork and resilience to compassion and expertise, we’re proud to work alongside such a supportive and inspiring group.

Here’s to strong women — in our workplace, in our community, and everywhere. 💜

03/03/2026

💭 Could financial biases be affecting your estate plan? 💭

When we think about financial bias, investing often comes to mind. But subconscious tendencies can influence other important areas too — including your estate planning.

An estate plan sets out how your assets are managed during your lifetime and distributed after your death. It may include a will or a trust to protect young children. Yet emotional and behavioural biases can sometimes stand in the way.

Here are three common ways bias could affect your estate plan:

1️⃣ Putting it off
Many people know having a will is important — yet more than half still don’t have one. Difficult conversations or overconfidence (“I’m too young” or “I’ll sort it later”) can lead to delays. But life is unpredictable, and postponing plans could leave your loved ones vulnerable.

2️⃣ Under or overvaluing assets
Anchoring to outdated values — such as what you originally paid for your home or investments — could distort how your estate is divided. This may unintentionally create unequal inheritances or unexpected Inheritance Tax liabilities.

3️⃣ Loss aversion
Parting with assets during your lifetime can feel uncomfortable, even if gifting could help loved ones now. Worrying about “what if” scenarios may stop you from taking action — even when it makes financial sense.

Estate planning can feel daunting, but it’s ultimately about taking control and protecting those you care about. With the right guidance, you can approach it with clarity and confidence.

📩 If you’d like to review your estate plan or put one in place, please get in touch to arrange a meeting.

19/02/2026

Phasing into retirement can offer greater flexibility — but it can also make your finances more complex.

If you’re thinking about gradually reducing your working hours rather than stopping work completely, here are five key considerations to keep in mind:

🔹 Will you need to supplement your income?
A reduced salary may not be enough to maintain your current lifestyle. You might need to draw from your pension or savings — but it’s important to understand the tax implications of doing so.

🔹 Should you continue contributing to your pension?
Ongoing contributions could help support a more comfortable retirement. However, accessing your pension flexibly may trigger the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA), which can limit how much you’re able to pay in moving forward.

🔹 When should you claim your State Pension?
You don’t have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach eligibility age. Deferring could increase the income you receive later and may also offer tax planning benefits.

🔹 Are your investments still suitable?
If your retirement timeline has changed, your current investment strategy may no longer be appropriate — especially if your pension will remain invested for longer than originally planned.

🔹 Have you mapped out your long-term income needs?
Understanding how your income needs may change throughout retirement is key. Cashflow modelling can help you visualise how your pension and other assets might support you over time.

A tailored financial plan can help you understand your options now — and how your finances may change as you gradually move towards full retirement.

If you’d like to discuss your retirement plans, please feel free to get in touch.

13/02/2026

📣 We’re Hiring! Join Our Team

We’re looking for an organised, proactive and experienced individual to join our growing team in a client support role within financial services. Full and part time considered.

What we’re looking for:
✔️ Experience in financial services in a similar role
✔️ Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise your own workload
✔️ Confident communicator – able to support colleagues, liaise with providers and deal professionally with clients
✔️ Knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering, TCF and compliance procedures
✔️ Competent IT skills, ideally with experience of Intelligent Office (or similar back-office systems)

The role will include:
• Preparing and submitting new business applications
• Providing ongoing admin support to existing client bank, including portfolio reports and review documentation
• Processing trades and responding to client queries
• Liaising with advisers and paraplanners
• Managing adviser diaries, booking appointments and supporting with emails
• Maintaining accurate back-office records and general office administration

What we offer:
✨ Competitive salary
✨ Supportive, family-run business environment
✨Ongoing professional development and exam support

If you’re looking to develop your career within a professional, friendly and forward-thinking firm, we’d love to hear from you.

Please send your CV to [email protected]

13/02/2026

Well done to Adele who has recently passed her FA2 pensions administration exam. A great achievement - congratulations 🥳

10/02/2026

The new tax year will start on 6 April 2026, and many of your important allowances and exemptions will reset. Checking whether you could use these valuable allowances before the end of the 2025/26 tax year on 5 April 2026 might help your money go further:

1. ISA allowance
2. Junior ISA allowance
3. Dividend Allowance
4. Capital Gains Tax Annual Exempt Amount
5. Marriage Allowance
6. Pension Annual Allowance
7. Inheritance Tax annual exemption

Before you make any decisions, ensure that you understand which allowances fit into your financial plan and suit your goals. If you have any questions, please contact us.

👉 More information is available in our client guide here:

The new tax year will start on 6 April 2026, and many of your important allowances and exemptions will reset. Checking whether you could use these valuable

09/02/2026

We’ve found our direction… straight into the caricature trend 🧭😄

Different look, same values, always guiding you the right way

12/01/2026

💳How To Improve Your Spending Behaviours 💳

Humans are programmed to act in certain ways, and these behavioural biases can affect your spending behaviours.

👉🏼 Read how you can improve your spending habits and ability to reach other goals.

Humans are programmed to act in certain ways. We have behavioural biases built into us, created over the history of mankind, to keep us safe in the face of

18/12/2025

💫 Christmas Opening Hours 💫

We will be closing at midday on Wednesday 24th December for our Christmas break. We will be reopening on Friday 2nd January 2026.

11/12/2025

🎅 Christmas Jumper Day 2025 🎅

09/12/2025

🎁 How to give gifts that could keep on giving – just like Christmas number ones 🎁

Savvy singers and songwriters can generate an annual income by putting out a Christmas hit. As you shop for loved ones, you might want to think about how you can give a gift that could keep on giving too.

👉🏼 Read our latest blog to find out more

Savvy singers and songwriters can generate an annual income by releasing a Christmas hit. As you shop for loved ones, consider giving a gift that will

02/12/2025

🎅🏼 How to turn your child’s Christmas gifts into a nest egg 🪺

This Christmas, if your child receives money, you might want to think about how you could use it to create a nest egg that helps them reach milestones later in life.

👉🏼 Discover the pros and cons of three key options here:

Christmas is a magical time of year, especially for young children who will be eager to see what Santa has left them under the tree. Along with their gifts,