Case Studies
Background
Claire Stevens, Chief Officer at Voluntary Health Scotland
10 years with Ethical Futures
Advice service: Ongoing Annual Review
Claire Stevens has spent her career in the voluntary sector and is currently Chief Officer at Voluntary Health Scotland.
She originally approached Ethical Futures to assess her pensions and to help plan for the future. Following our initial advice process, Claire joined the annual review service to help ensure that she remains on-track for ultimate retirement.
Why did you think you needed a financial adviser? What were your expectations?
Working in the non-profit making sector is immensely rewarding, if less so in financial terms. Career advancement resulted in a scrappy portfolio of pension and savings plans. They didn’t amount to much and I couldn’t make sense of them. I decided it was time to review my affairs properly.
Why have you chosen EF?
I was looking for an adviser whose values and personal approach I felt comfortable with and whom I could trust to be financially competent and independent.
Ethical Futures helped me put a more realistic and coherent investment plan in place, aimed at funding for my future needs after my planned retirement.
Ethics
Why is ethical investment important to you?
I have strong values in relation to social, economic and environmental justice. I believe some businesses do outright harm to society and the world. I would prefer not to contribute to such businesses if possible.
What were your ethical criteria in choosing EF?
Ethical Futures specialise in ethical investment advice and only recommend financial services and products that are ethically screened or meet specified criteria.
Advice
How did EF help you tackle your financial problems/make financial decisions/simplify your life?
They helped me put a more realistic and coherent investment plan in place, aimed at funding my future needs after my planned retirement age.
Outcome
What benefits have you seen from using EF services?
Pensions can be confusing. So I value the annual financial review meeting with my advisor. The annual meeting ensures that I set aside time to understand my portfolio, ask questions, listen to advice and make any necessary decisions.
What were you able to achieve as a consequence of service provided by EF?
I have more peace of mind with EF as my advisers as I know my affairs are looked after.
How was your experience with EF?
I like the fact that I’m dealing with a small team and that my adviser knows me well and always tailors the advice and service to my particular needs.
Future
What further goals you wish to achieve in the future?
I envisage myself taking a new career direction at some point before I retire, to enable me to make space for some of the more personal goals that I’d like to achieve.
