"What our clients say"

Testimonials

The following are some of the testimonials we have received, from clients and from our professional partners.

Mrs H – Client

Both Arnold and I were always so pleased that we found Ken. It is thanks to him that we are so financially secure. I cannot thank him enough for that. He is always so patient with me when discussing the ins and outs of our portfolio.

I count him as a friend after all the years that we have known one another……roughly 24 years. It was lovely to have you join us for lunch, there is always plenty to talk about! Can I also thank Kellands for providing the atmosphere and awareness to create such good service from both Ken and the other members of the team.

Mr R – Client 

I am pleased to have Ian Boasman from Kellands as my financial adviser. Ian keeps me fully up to date with my investments, and will make recommendations to enhance the performance of my investments. I value Ian’s advice and recommendations.

Mr E – Professional Connection

Kellands are a most diligent Company, who act with the utmost integrity and professionalism. They have supported our company and our 35 employees with all aspects of the Pension changes and administration thereon and continue to support us in whatever way we require at any time.

They are able to communicate to personnel at whatever skill level, and have obtained the trust of all our staff.

Mr B – Client

Our Financial Adviser is Dave Garrett who transferred to Kellands a number of years ago and has been very reliable and diligent in all aspects of investment and money issues in his time at the company.

Whether it is pension, investment or mortgage issues, Dave and the team at Kellands have been there to lend support but the main reasons for recommendation is the way things are put over in layman’s’ terms in an ever-changing financial world so we have a better understanding. Kellands are also a very reliable company in terms of keeping appointments and getting work done when they say it will be and they are always available for advice at the drop of a hat.

Mr W – Client

The team at Kellands, and Ian Boasman in particular, have provided me with fantastic guidance since I started to work with them around 4 years ago. I’d actually call it more of a partnership as they are as invested in me as I am in them.

After muddling through for many years on my own, making undoubtedly, instinctive and uninformed decisions, I was advised by a friend to talk to Kellands. From the first meeting, I felt assured that they wanted the best for me, and more importantly that they could help – providing practical advice with openness and candidness – balancing potential gains with the risks that I could be undertaking – everybody does that right? Well perhaps, but the style in which the messages were delivered and backed up with data was hugely helpful. The thought-through options, and most importantly the recommendations to guide my decision-making gave me confidence that these were the right steps to take – their ongoing support was the icing on the cake – a clear line of sight to success!

With my and my family’s future livelihood at stake, there has been high expectation of what I needed from Kellands – so far, so very good. Thank you, Ian, and the Kellands team.

Mr L – Professional Connection

We have worked with Kellands (Hale) for many years. Their advice has been invaluable. Our clients are all very impressed by the care shown by Guy and his team and their reading of the markets.

The biggest issue to us when recommending advisers is that they have the same ethos of client care as we do and that they give good advice. Kellands always meet these needs. We would not hesitate to recommend them

Mr C – Client

My financial adviser, Guy Kelland has been working with me for many years, decades actually. It has been a complete pleasure from start to finish.

Thanks to his years of help, his advice and knowledge of all things financial, I am happy to say I am looking forward to a more financially secure and happy retirement than I could ever have imagined. Couldn’t ask for more!

Mr S – Professional Connection

We would not hesitate to recommend Kellands. As the Managing Partner of a law firm I have recommended Kellands to many clients successfully. They have a high level of technical expertise combined with a good common sense and practical approach. Perhaps the most positive evidence of our trust in Kellands is that as well as recommending them to clients we also use them for our own personal pension and investment decisions.

Mr G – Client

Chris Bull, our personal adviser at Kellands, always fills us with confidence that we are doing all that we can to ensure our savings are invested in the most effective way possible.

Chris is always professional but pleasant and makes what might normally be very dry information seem relevant and interesting.

He was particularly helpful in guiding us through the encashment of a bond that had ceased to be the optimum investment for us and ensured that the actual encashment went as smoothly as it could.

Mr B – Client

Ken McNab has been my personal financial adviser for more than twenty years. I have developed a good relationship with him during that time, and always feel that any advice I have been given has been with my best interests at heart.

I have been very pleased with the outcomes of any investments Ken has recommended.   He has a most reassuring manner, one in which I feel that he cares about me as a person, rather than as a business opportunity.

Mr P – Client

We have been clients of Kellands of Hale for 20 years +. Mr Ken McNab has advised and guided myself and my Wife through a difficult and worrying period regarding our Endowment Mortgage with sound advice and a very satisfactory outcome. Ken has over the years become a very trusted and welcome visitor to our family home. He comes to update us twice a year and is always available by phone to guide us on our Investments and Pensions, he makes everything very clear and my wife and myself value and TRUST Ken’s advice.

Mr M – Client

Kellands provide excellent and personalised service for me and my family. I always feel like we are in good hands and that our Advisor, Ian strive to give us the best possible advice. I truly believe that Kellands are very trust worthy and that it is not only about making money for the company but also to make sure clients are comfortable and secure in the service and products provided by Kellands and the joint ventures.
For me it is important that i get a good overview of my investments and that i trust the advice given by Kellands. For me personally, i would struggle to let a person i don’t like or trust take care of my investments.
Before I chose Kellands to be my financial advisor, I looked around and spoke to other financial advisors. I spoke to colleagues who used Kellands and they only had good things to say about Ian and Kellands. I would be happy to pass on that same recommendation to others, if asked.

Mr C – Professional Connection

I first began working with Kellands around six years ago. I had worked with many different advisers in the past, but their approach appeared to be different. They were very warm and offered a very collaborative approach with the client focused at the centre.

Over the course of the past six years, I have referred a large number of clients to Kellands and I have always been very impressed with the high quality of service provided to my clients. Tellingly, I have always received glowing feedback about Kellands from my clients. I receive many different comments about what the clients liked the most, but comments consistently refer to the fact they are made to feel ‘part of the team’ and working with their adviser rather than simply being a client/service provider relationship.

As a solicitor, what I particularly like at Kellands is the way they allocate an adviser to a client. Rather than just focussing on the financial aspects to match a client to an adviser, they also look at the personality of the client to ensure they get the right match. I have seen first-hand the difference this makes to our clients and I have seen clients go from being nervous about meeting a financial adviser to actively looking forward to their next meeting. It says a lot that many of my clients have become personal friends of the staff at Kellands.

We have also worked together to help clients resolve situations arising from poor advice they have received from other professionals. This is a particularly satisfying part of my work with Kellands as together we have helped clients out of some very difficult and stressful situations. Their technical abilities are second to none, and they have a habit of always being able to provide the right answer at the right time.

In addition to providing advice to my clients, I have worked together with Kellands on a number of joint projects. They have always been very supportive of our goals and have been integral to helping our clients understand complicated matters such as tax planning.

Above all else, I have always had a sense that Kellands are there for both me and my clients. Even when they are very busy, they are always able to find time to offer advice or help with a query. I had one client who was very worried by a financial article she had read in a newspaper and she called her adviser at Kellands to discuss it. He told her it wasn’t anything to worry about because it didn’t apply to her and she said it was a great relief as she knew that if her adviser said something was true, it was true. She had absolute faith in him as a professional but also as a person of utmost integrity.

Kellands and the team have always given the impression that they are care deeply about what they do and the service they provide. They really are a standout business.

Mr B – Professional Connection

I have been tremendously impressed with the advice, effort and honesty shown by Kellands from the moment i started to work alongside. Always available to both listen and provide options Kellands have been invaluable- Long may it continue.

Mr W – Client

I have been a client of Kellands for approximately 15 years. Throughout that time Matthew Dawson has been my adviser. I have found Matthew to be a great help in guiding me through the minefield of investments, tax planning and inheritance planning.

Matthew has always accepted my limited risk approach given my age (72) and at no time has allowed me to leave my comfort zone. He has offered a close personal service happy to come to my home to discuss matters calmly and where necessary explaining and advising matters where appropriate to my wife, also a client.

We meet on a regular basis to consider updated valuations and review strategy together.
I am glad to report that over the years my portfolio, subject to the vagaries of the stock market, has performed well and to my satisfaction.

I am more than happy to provide this testimonial to the team at Kellands who have served me well and been more than instrumental in providing me with a sense of financial security in my retirement

Mrs S – Client

My financial advice has come from Kellands for over 20 years now and I have been entirely satisfied with the service I have received.

Early on in that period I had three or four advisors as they have moved on or retired and each one has given the same quality of service, which is a credit to both the firm and the individuals themselves. There has never been any difficulty when my account has been transferred to a new advisor, who has clearly been fully briefed and prepared, to give continuity of care.

Ken McNab has been my advisor for around twenty years and has always been extremely helpful. He is always fully prepared with information and charts which he explains in great detail, answering any questions I may have. So I feel very confident in the advice he gives. He makes sure our appointments are at a time convenient to me and is always prompt. I feel that his advice is appropriate to my personal circumstances, which I feel happy to share with him. He is always friendly, cheerful and patient, so that his visits are a pleasure rather than a chore.

Mr W – Client

We have tried several different financial advisers over the years and found all of them to be unsatisfactory in one way or another. The most common reason for our dissatisfaction was the inability to contact someone in a reasonably short time. Many of our needs for help were time-limited and it proved very difficult to make this clear. This resulted in us making poor decisions about our investments which have taken some time to recoup. The worst of these was my wife’s bank which led to her losing money from her retirement lump sum. We were recommended to try Kellands by two friends, quite independently of each other and we have been very happy with their accessibility and sound investment advice. We have since passed this on to other friends who still remain our friends!

Mrs H – Client

Alan Rushden, and others from Kellands have looked after my husband and I for the last 5 years. From pensions to savings and to finding us mortgages they have always provided an honest and frank approach to advice and service. Being practical about when we should be saving and when we should be paying off our mortgage, they have made a big difference to our pension pot and our short-term savings. I feel much more prepared for the future financial requirements.

Mr R – Professional Connection

I have worked with the Kellands team since 2011 and have watched their business develop into the highly professional, well qualified team it is today.

Quilter Cheviot manage Discretionary Portfolios for a number of Kellands clients and in doing so have worked closely with their team, thereby seeing the rigorous process they have undertaken to ensure a good service for their clients. The Kellands management have worked hard to ensure there is a high-quality investment option available at multiple pricing points for clients. They have utilised platform solutions to offer Model Portfolio Services and for more sophisticated planning, they access DFM services directly for clients.

They have utilised hard and soft criteria to create a panel of DFMs and then understand which offering is most suitable for each client. They monitor performance with 3rd party data from ARC and comparisons with their in-house solutions, to ensure we continue to deliver value to clients. By working with the Kellands team we have ensured we can offer a consistent approach to managing their clients’ money, regardless of how they access our services.

As part of their own quality control processes, Quilter Cheviot have been asked to attend Investment Committee meetings and give our overview on their procedures.

We have also experienced first-hand the structured approach to on-boarding new staff. As Quilter Cheviot are on the Kellands CIP panel, we are given access to new joiners, prior to them interacting with clients, to bring them up to speed with the service we provide. This ensure that advisers and paraplanner staff are fully conversant with the choices available to clients.

The business has also taken on staff to fulfil roles that all too often are bolted on to advisers’ workloads. This covers areas such as Business Development and Marketing, allowing people with the right skill sets to cover these valuable roles.

Anon

Having chosen Kellands to look after my financial interests I can say that I have been very pleased not only with the results of my investments but also with the service provided by my Financial Advisor and the staff at Kellands. Any questions I have had with my portfolio I always get a quick and concise response, always explained in simple terms for me to always be able to follow. I would not hesitate to recommend Kellands to anyone needing financial advice.

Anon

I have been a client of Kellands now for over 10 years. Kellands was introduced to me via my employer and after having retired I continued with their services as a valued financial adviser.
The advice and service provided is impartial and unbiased. Reliable and always available whenever I need to contact my advisor for any reason whatsoever.

No pressure or any coercive tactics are used in order to achieve my goals. I would highly recommend Kellands for your financial needs.

Anon

Within the industry, Kellands are in a unique position of being a Chartered Financial Planning Practice. This is a title that Kellands should be extremely proud of and through my work with Kellands on their investment solutions, I see this high level of knowledge and skill reflected through their approach to investment advice.

To ensure that all clients receive a consistently high level of service and benefit from the combined knowledge at the firm, Kellands have adopted a robust team-based approach. On the investment side, this is evidenced through their in-house investment committee. Chaired by Guy Kelland, they are able to combine their wealth of investment experience and conduct extensive due diligence on investment products covering whole of market. Working for an investment management company, I have personally been through this rigorous process. Being selected for the Kellands core investment proposition is an ongoing process which doesn’t stop at selection. From my experience, most investment committees conduct due diligence quarterly or semi-annually. At Kellands they test the strength of their investment products at their team meetings monthly. Not only does this mean that their investment products are challenged on a timely manner, but it also encourages knowledge sharing. This team-based approach provides the growing team at Kellands the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s 25 years of experience in the market.

True holistic financial planning involves developing a deep understanding of a client’s complete financial situation. Advisers at Kellands go beyond the risk questionnaire to gain a better understanding of the multiple and sometimes contradictory objectives of a client. Kellands will source the best investment product for their client, even if this involves a complicated structure of several providers, platforms and combination of risk levels. Crucial to Kellands approach is ensuring the client’s total assets are in line with their overall objectives.

At Kellands it is a two-way relationship with clients. Providing clients with timely and transparent information on their investments can be problematic but at Kellands they have developed an innovative way of sharing information in real time with clients. In addition to annual reviews, Kellands provide clients with access to up-to-date information on all their investments through the Kellands Wealth Platform.

I believe that Kellands are a strong candidate for Investment Adviser of the year. Their focus on ensuring knowledge sharing across the group through a robust team-based approach and allowing clients clear, transparent and easy access to their investments ensures clients are always at the heart of their process.

Anon

Kellands has provided me with advice and managed my modest portfolio since 2008. Over these 21 years, there has been unfailing, timely and successful management coupled with a long-standing link to a named advisor who has built trust. The increase in statutory requirements and its complexities have been communicated at a level intelligible to this lay person.

The vagaries of the economic background have not been used to justify short term changes and, over time, the advice of Kellands has ensured satisfactory growth.

The company newsletter, well presented, is written in positive and helpful terms, on topics directly relevant to the interests of the private investor. I wish Kellands a deserved success.

Anon

Approaching retirement my husband and I wished to find a financial adviser to help us plan how best to fund our retirement. Kellands was recommended to us and we’ve been really pleased with the service we’ve had.

They are easy to do business with and very approachable / down to earth, especially for people like us who don’t have great wealth and have never used such a service before. Things have been explained to us in a simple down to earth way and risks and opportunities have been made clear. We are happy that our investments, tailored to our low risk appetite, are steadily growing

Charges and fees have always been clearly explained, so we’ve had no shocks. Kellands always answer our queries promptly and keep in touch with any developments and ensure we complete a thorough annual review. It’s great that we get our annual report in advance of the review meeting so we can use it to prepare for the meeting and raise any queries we might have

We are so pleased with Kellands and our advisor Ian, that we’ve recommended them to others

Anon

I approached Kellands in my capacity as a professional trustee of a trust with a substantial sum to invest. My contact has been with Chris Bull who was one of three investment advisers I approached for an initial proposal. In the event, with my co-trustees, we chose to use Chris and his company to advise the trust. I was impressed by the way Chris spent time really trying to get to grips with the issues facing the trust so that he could put forward the best possible recommendations. Unlike the other advisers we approached he provided the most sophisticated solution, which was a combination of three different approaches. This seemed to yield the most tax-efficient overall solution, while also being very cost-effective. Chris has worked closely with us since that date to put the solution in place. He is clearly supported by an efficient back-office function that is able to provide all the necessary paperwork without undue delay. Finally, he is friendly and approachable and nothing seems to be too much trouble.

Anon

Kellands provide proactive advice with all the ‘big firm’ qualities but with the personal touch that a small firm can offer. They think outside of the box about a client’s needs, for example considering wider issues such as tax/estate planning – not just investment advice. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to my clients.

Anon

Since moving from a previous financial advisor and their company with whom I had experienced very poor service and indeed advice or lack thereof it has been a pleasure to have David Wightman and his team at Kellands working on my behalf.

Over the past couple of years, they have helped set up a tax-efficient lifetime income for me, which enabled me to retire from my part time employment at the age of 80 and ensures I always have enough cash to meet my needs in retirement. Importantly they have also dealt with ensuring that my investments take advantage of my ISA and Capital Gains Tax allowances each year. This is something that my previous advisor and company had plainly not done as David informed me that the investments were heavily pregnant with capital gains which was a new term for me and when it was explained in everyday terms I finally understood. The latter has been consistent throughout all my dealings with David; I am very easily confused by numbers and terms and David during all his regular update meetings with me always takes the time to put things in layman’s terms which is really important to me.

I also had recourse to extracting monies from a number of investment vehicles this year and David and his team were extremely helpful in ensuring that that process was carried out in the most tax efficient way and they were very patient with all my phone calls, etc. Indeed David is always happy to take calls from me and answer questions I have when I receive letters from firms/funds that I don’t understand even when I may have asked the same question before.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Kellands to anyone looking for professional, knowledgeable and friendly advice.

Anon

I had always been suspicious of receiving financial advice – perhaps through arrogance, or an aversion to my father’s advice given freely, but more honestly through my own ignorance. So it was with some trepidation that I sought advice re consolidating and understanding my numerous pension pots. This was a daunting and complicated state of affairs with a mixture of corporate DC and DB pots, ostensibly with the same company but in reality, because of successive mergers, were entirely different schemes!

Dave from Kellands, made it clear from the start that there were many options available to me – advice given without bias or pressure. After many hours of discussion and through an understanding of my own risk profile, I made a well-informed decision based on his clear and sensible advice. The was backed up with a comprehensive report detailing all the options, clearly laid out, yet being acutely aware that there was considerable regulatory pressure with DB transfers. Kellands governance measures gave me a good sense of confidence that any decision made was fully supported at a higher level, and was mutually beneficial in protecting my best interests, and rightly so their own.

Subsequently, my employment circumstances changed dramatically and Kellands were again on hand with appropriate investment options at a difficult time, advising on and implementing a family investment portfolio which complemented our retirement plans.

The advertisement footnote comment, that investments can go up as well down, is perhaps obvious, yet I feel that my financial situation is now well structured to benefit from the ups yet protected to some degree from the downs! I am sure that Kellands ensure that happens through constant reappraisal, investment and reinvestment for every single customer, but ultimately I still feel special, and that they are going that extra mile just for me.

I have been very impressed with the professional service, attention to detail, the speed of response by the whole outfit, and value for money in terms of visible and reasonable charges, but most of all, are friendly, understanding and available. On this basis I have recommended them to my own family, friends and colleagues – even my father!

I cannot praise them highly enough and they would be worthy recipients of any such prestigious accolade. (And yes, my portfolios have done extremely well since I moved everything under their aegis, but am aware this has been helped by a long bull run!)

Anon

I have been a client of Kellands’ since retiring in 1998. My financial adviser has always been Ken McNab. He has kept in touch during this time with twice yearly visits plus frequent communication by telephone and or by e-mails. His personal approach coupled with sound advice has kept my investments in good order by showing a steady increase in value over the years.

Anon

I have personally known the Kellands group for over 22 years, including both the managing founders and many of their investment advisers. The independent nature of the business, high personal and professional integrity of the group and the strong relationship it has with providers, platforms and most importantly its clients attest to the durability of this business in what are ever rapidly changing financial market conditions. What really impresses me is their connectivity with their clients and the partnership connections they have to ultimately provide the best and most relevant solutions for their clients, which inevitably transcend investment and tax issues. Working in partnership with really good financial services business across the whole spectrum is a standout.

We as a business deal with a very substantial number of different financial advice businesses and their personnel and over the course of time, these businesses come and go, get acquired and change. Not the case with Kellands! Kellands put the client’s interest first and foremost and their continuing development and integration offers clients a stable organisation in which they can trust and depend on. Client trust in their advice process is vital and my experiences with Kellands – my sister is a client of Kellands and needed quite complex tax planning advice – as well as linking the investment solutions with tax issues together with my own business interactions with the group is very supportive of this recommendation.

Anon

From the start it was clear that Kellands (Hale) were able to understand our needs and clearly set out the options available to us to help us plan for our financial future. From our first meeting, when they opened the office over the Christmas holidays, they have always been approachable, and Ian, our primary adviser has been available at all times to help us ensure our portfolio continues to meet our needs as our circumstances change. When we raised queries about charges and fund switches, Ian was very helpful and made sure any questions were answered fully and in a very timely manner. He has also always been happy to provide help and advice when asked regarding products not directly supported by Kellands, such as company pension schemes. Overall, we are very happy with the service we have received and would be happy to recommend Kellands to anyone looking for personal financial advice.

Anon

David Garrett of Kellands is our Independent Financial Planner. He is friendly and professional when guiding us through the options. He always ensures our decisions are based on complete and accurate information and are appropriate to our attitude to risk and our future requirements.

Since working with David and Kellands, and because of our confidence in their advice and guidance, we have not only expanded our portfolio but have introduced another family member who’s investments are now managed by them.

We would certainly recommend Kellands and David Garrett and look forward to many years of continued high standard of service and support.

Anon

My husband and I have been clients of Kellands-Hale for many years and have built up a rapport with our Adviser, Ken McNab who has given us solid advice which has always been in our best interest.   His visits have been as regular as we would wish, nothing has been too much trouble for him, and he has encouraged a friendly and informal approach. Together with his team we have been led through any form filling and document signing with the greatest of ease.   While the worry of our investments has been taken from us, at no time have we felt out of control of our money.   Now that I am widowed, I continue to feel that I have a friend in Ken who will continue to provide the same quality of care, always explaining new products and recapping when necessary.

Mr C – Client

Kellands have been my financial adviser for the past 8/9 years. Initially introduced via my employer and then continued on a personal basis. The unwavering and unbiased advice and personal mentoring on a regular basis has ensured that my pension ‘pot’ was managed in the best possible way and enabled me to take up early retirement with the assurance that my funds were well looked after. Kellands have always exercised professionalism and dedication even during turbulent times steering me to the right path when required to do so. I would unhesitatingly recommend Kellands for ongoing financial advice and management.

Mr B – Client

Sometimes people (because they are the company) do a basic job/role and expect first class feedback on a job well done. To me that’s just average and below the expectations that I want from a financial services company. So it was with great delight that approx. 6 years ago I was introduced to Kellands (Hale) whilst within a different job role for my ex employer. What I found was that Kellands surprised me not with their expertise or professionalism within their advice , which was to be expected, but their overall service, package and individual attention was detail was outstanding So much so that I stayed with Kellands upon leaving my previous role and have since recommended to family members , who themselves have utilised their services   Having previously worked within a financial services background, the work ,effort and overall service provided by Kellands is worthy of high praise

Mr R – Provider

We have worked closely with Kellands (Hale) for a number of years now and have always been impressed with the quality and professionalism of their work and the business they introduce to our firm.     Importantly, they take the time to engage with us so that we are able to help them understand our investment proposition and how it is evolving in response to market developments.   This engaged approach means that we can be confident that our solutions are being used in the most appropriate way with clients, which is very important to us as an investment provider. In short, Kellands (Hale) are precisely the type and calibre of firm we seek to partner with.

Mr W – Client

I was introduced to David Garrett of Kellands, by a colleague of mine, I’d had a change of circumstances in my life, following redundancy, a new job, and marriage on the horizon. Dave met me shortly afterwards, a consummate professional, but in addition someone who had time to listen, understand, and recognise what I was looking for. He later met me and my intended at our home, having travelled on a Bank Holiday Monday to be with us early the following morning. Nothing has been left to chance, and all have been documented and communicated in a way we can both fully understand, which is important when you’re discussing your financial well-being for the rest of your life. We warmed to David from the start, whilst asking lots of questions, they felt unobtrusive, and we got to learn a lot about him too, which helped the process. We have found David and his colleagues at Kellands to be excellent and I have already shared his details with colleagues of mine, a Testimonial in that way can only evidence how good I consider the service received to have been.

Mr P – Client

Financial and personal pension planning can be daunting; therefore we are extremely fortunate to have David Garrett as our Independent Financial Planner. His relaxed but professional approach is always appreciated, especially when providing guidance through the myriad of options available. He always ensures that any decisions made are properly considered and are appropriate to our general attitude to risk before instigating any instructions on our behalf.   Such is our faith in David’s abilities we have not only expanded our portfolio over the years, but also have another family member who’s investments are now managed through Kellands with David providing the usual high standard of service and support.   We can certainly recommend Kellands but in particular David Garrett and look forward to his continued annual visits for many years to come.

Mr R – Provider

I have worked with Guy and the team at Kellands (Hale) for nearing on 10 years now. Their client centric approach, underpinned by delivering bespoke advice and high class service set them apart from many. Guy’s approach to building the business is anchored around ensuring clients’ interests are at the very centre of their advice process, being creative in designing solutions to individual clients’ needs.   An example of their approach can be found in their adoption and investment in technology to improve the client experience whilst at the same time adding strength, depth and increased risk management to their business. As part of this, they have also created a Centralised Investment Process, working closely with a stable of investment managers to ensure their clients’ needs are delivered on. Their CIP includes sensible initial and ongoing DD of the managers to ensure the managers remain fit for purpose.   In short, Guy has led Kellands Hale to remain relevant to customers through evolving regulatory landscape; obvious measure to highlight this include client & adviser retention as well as growth in both.

Mr D – Client

I have used Kellands for 6 years since my retirement and have dealt with the same financial adviser throughout. This has led inevitably to a great bond of mutual trust, close contact and approachability. I have always found that there is meticulous attention to detail with great customer service. The advice received has always been delivered on a one to one basis ensuring a special client relationship. Matters are dealt with promptly and efficiently and I have always found advice informative and helpful.  I personally would have no hesitation in recommending Kellands for their excellent service, their professionalism and expertise.

Mr Jones – Client

Loretta Mooney of Kellands has transformed our investments from a moribund portfolio to a hugely successful fund – she, and her team, are amazing. The regular meetings and suggestions have been immensely helpful in ensuring we meet our investment targets regarding our pension funds.

Mr M – Client

Having once experienced poor quality advice on investments I spent some time looking for better quality advice from a trustworthy source.   I found this from Kellands and have continued to use them for more than ten years. In all this time they have been professional, friendly and have never been shy to move investments from one provider to another when the returns fail to match their expectations.   I have also encouraged other friends and acquaintances to use Kellands and they also have found them to be solid and reliable.   Once per year I have a formal review of all the investments and will listen to their advice on any proposed changes to improve the returns which were expected. My adviser is brilliant at explaining all the pros and cons of each investment and why a particular provider is seen to be favoured.   Kellands have never let me down in any way and their investment strategies have been in keeping with my expectations.

Mr R – Client

The decision to retire and to make significant changes to the way our pensions were managed was huge and intimidating. Loretta, Andy and Noreen at Kellands (Hale) clearly recognised the magnitude of this decision for us and showed great patience and professionalism as they helped us explore our options. They did two key things which made all the difference for us: they demystified the world of pensions explaining our options in ways we could relate to, and, they gave us confidence to make changes that I don’t think we would have otherwise believed were possible. It is not overstating it to say that their support has been life changing.

Mr R – Client

David Garrett DipPFS, Independent Financial Planner at Kellands, was recommended to me by a work colleague in connection with considering moving our final salary pensions to a SIPP.   I contacted David and he arranged to meet my wife and at our house. David explained the various options to us and arranged to obtain illustrations for us. David was not pushy in any way and if anything, over cautious about us choosing and alternative to a final salary scheme.   David explained the positive and negative points for all options discussed. He was happy to leave us to consider the options and the illustrations provided, then explain them again / answer any questions we had, whether face to face, email or telephone.   Throughout the transfer process, we were kept up to date with progress by David and when a glitch occurred, with RBS valuations and transfers, David was quick to own the problem and look to resolve it quickly and thoroughly, which he did.   I have worked in the Financial Industry for 33 years and spent much of that managing Corporate Clients. The highest praise I can give to David Garrett and Kellands, is that they work almost exactly as I have done – clients come first and service is paramount.

Anon – Provider

Within the industry, Kellands are in a unique position of being a Chartered Financial Planning Practice. This is a title that Kellands should be extremely proud of and through my work with Kellands on their investment solutions, I see this high level of knowledge and skill reflected through their approach to investment advice.     To ensure that all clients receive a consistently high level of service and benefit from the combined knowledge at the firm, Kellands have adopted a robust team based approach. On the investment side, this is evidenced through their in-house investment committee. Chaired by Guy Kelland, they are able to combine their wealth of investment experience and conduct extensive due diligence on investment products covering whole of market. Working for an investment management company, I have personally been through this rigorous process. Being selected for the Kellands core investment proposition is an ongoing process which doesn’t stop at selection. From my experience, most investment committees conduct due diligence quarterly or semi-annually. At Kellands they test the strength of their investment products at their team meetings monthly. Not only does this mean that their investment products are challenged on a timely manner, but it also encourages knowledge sharing. This team based approach provides the growing team at Kellands the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s 25 years of experience in the market.     True holistic financial planning involves developing a deep understanding of a client’s complete financial situation. Advisers at Kellands go beyond the risk questionnaire to gain a better understanding of the multiple and sometimes contradictory objectives of a client. Kellands will source the best investment product for their client, even if this involves a complicated structure of several providers, platforms and combination of risk levels. Crucial to Kellands approach is ensuring the client’s total assets are in line with their overall objectives.     At Kellands it is a two way relationship with clients. Providing clients with timely and transparent information on their investments can be problematic but at Kellands they have developed an innovative way of sharing information in real time with clients. In addition to annual reviews, Kellands provide clients with access to up-to-date information on all their investments through the Kellands Wealth Platform.

Lawyer Mr C – Professional Connection

When working alongside financial advisers, I do not just look for technical expertise (although it is important). I also look at the approach they take to providing the advice, their approachability, openness and also their willingness to engage with the clients on a personal level. Trusting the adviser to provide the right advice is very important as ultimately my reputation (as the referrer) is affected if things do not go to plan.

I have worked alongside Kellands for several years and have dealt with Guy Kelland personally but also other advisers such as Loretta Mooney, David Garrett and Chris Bull. As a business, Kellands have made a real effort to understand what we do and how we help clients. This is not just limited to ‘high level’ staff but applies to staff at all levels of their business; every one of their team has made an effort to engage with us. This has included spending time with us at our office to learn how we approach our work on a day to day basis and how we identify areas of risk for our clients. These sessions have allowed them to move beyond the standard approach provided by many other IFAs whereby they simply ask clients if they have Wills or LPAs in place and if they say ‘yes’ skip over it and move on. Instead, Kellands offer a more detailed approach to try and fully understand the clients position and long term objectives. By making an effort to understand our business, they are able to identify areas of potential risk for the clients and direct them to seek advice before the risk is realised. Although it is more time intensive, it really does benefit the clients long term and protect their position.

As well as making an effort to understand our business and what we do, they have also hosted training sessions for us at their offices to explain what they do, how they set up their files and how they help their clients. By sharing their knowledge and experience they have helped us identify risks for our own clients. The collaborative approach employed by Kellands has had an enormous benefit for both of our businesses but more importantly, it has benefited clients by allowing their advisers, whether legal or financial, to see the big picture and avoid missing any pieces of the puzzle.

The main benefit of working with Kellands is the approach they take to building relationships and finding the right adviser for the client. Rather than having one adviser that deals with all of our client referrals, they actually match the adviser to the needs of the client. An example of this occurred recently. My firm acted as a court appointed deputy for a client that had recently received a multimillion pound pay out following a legal case. We were required to obtain financial advice before making investment decisions and decided to approach Kellands. The person we acted for was a very young disabled person and their money had to managed for the remainder of their life. Although we are the final decision makers, we try to involve the client in the process as far as possible. Rather than the usual cookie cutter approach, Kellands matched the client with an adviser that could meet their particular needs. For example, they matched the client to an adviser that was experienced in dealing with large investments over a long time horizon. As well as looking at the technical skills required, they also took into account the clients personal circumstances. They matched them with one of the younger advisers as it was felt the client would have a better rapport with them and this would help establish a trusting relationship.

The client had limited understanding of how financial matters worked and it was very difficult to explain complicated matters to them. However, Kellands pitched the level of the meeting at a level where the client could obtain an understanding of the main points and objectives of financial planning. This approach helped them feel involved in the process (even though we were making the final decision) and helped them understand the goal that was trying to be achieved, which in this case was to help the client live as ‘normal’ a life as possible. A simplified report was produced to review with the client and a more detailed report prepared for us as deputies. This approach is an example of the bespoke approach taken by Kellands.

As mentioned above, Kellands match their adviser’s skills with the client’s needs. This has resulted in their advisers having particular specialities, for example they regularly advise medical professionals or solicitors. By specialising in this way, it allows them to have a deeper understanding of the issues faced by clients in those particular professions. Our clients have really benefited from this approach as it has provided them with high quality, specialist advice which fits their particular requirements.

Although I have built a very good professional relationship with Kellands, I always ask for feedback from every client that I refer to third parties. The feedback I have received about Kellands has always, without exception, been excellent. The specialist advice provided by Kellands is often praised by clients but they also highlight the personal service they receive. Kellands culture exudes openness and honesty. They are not afraid to tell clients ‘no’ or ‘that is not possible’ and always deliver what they promise. Kellands approach is to find out what the clients want to achieve in their life, whether that includes retiring at an early age or travelling the world, and build their financial plan around helping the client achieve those goals rather than just setting the objective as ending up with as much money as possible. This client focussed approach and dedication to helping clients achieve their life goals through financial planning is very rare. I couldn’t ask for more when referring clients to them. They would be a very deserving winner of the award.

Accountant Mr L – Professional Connection

We have used Kellands for many years and have always appreciated their strong technical knowledge as well as their understanding of the clients needs and position. Estate planning is often complex both from a technical basis and from dealing with the clients hopes , aspirations and family dynamics. Kellands have shown great aptitude for both these facets and we are always confident they will approach any case in a professional and sympathetic way. They always take the time to understand the client’s needs both financial and personal. They are great to work with !

Mrs H – Client

I am supporting Kellands (Hale) because they have supported my late husband and myself over the last 21 years as their clients.

We have had only one advisor over this time, Ken McNab, allowing him to become both a welcome friend and helper. This continuity along with the confidence that he inspires is important to us. This comes from Ken’s deep knowledge of his sector and his ability to give clear explanations. Ken is a great asset to the company.

It also comes from the efficient way that he is supported by excellent background staff and resources. He always has the relevant and up to date information with him on his personal visits. Any communication we have with his office and Personal Assistant is always done in a friendly, efficient manner. Any changes to our portfolio have always been explained and agreed to our mutual satisfaction.

I do not hesitate to recommend both Kellands (Hale) and Ken McNab to others and have done so on numerous occasions.

Mrs B – Client

Five years ago I purchased a large retirement bungalow by the Moray Firth. In January 2017 I assisted my son financially to purchase an old farmhouse in the Spey Valley, a renovation project with adequate land for expansion. If Kellands had not advised me over the last 20 years these would not have been possible and we will both be forever grateful for the excellent advice received. The route has been complex but I will try to explain.

Back in 1997, or earlier, I had three small investments with a small FA when she either gave up her business or was incorporated into Kellands, but I cannot remember which. This resulted in my meeting Ken McNab of Kellands , who still advises me today, including flying up to visit me for annual reviews, despite my move from Greater Manchester to North Scotland. Looking back, that meeting was one of the luckiest days of my life. At that time I had a husband in work, our son was in his last year of his degree course and I had taken early retirement due to ill health.

Fast forward five years and life had changed drastically. I unexpectedly lost my husband in 1998, my elderly mother died in 2001, followed by a close friend in 2002. Life was not easy. My husband’s tied FA sorted out his finances for me then I received the two other legacies in 2002.

Ken McNab then reappraised my situation and we started again. My husband’s legacy investment had lost value over the five years it had been invested, so was withdrawn so Ken would now manage all my investments. A range of new investments were made with the cash available from all sources, aiming to be tax efficient and planning for the future for my son. Two of those made in 2003 were key to our current property situation while others, within ISA wrappers, provide a safety net for me in later life.

1 – An AXA (now friends Life) Investment Bond Plan, including Life Insurance for both my son and I, plus an added Inheritance Trust. This investment also provides a monthly income and provided for a “one off” cash withdrawal. As I did not need an extra income this was invested each month into an additional pension fund which matured when I was 75 years of age. This investment has been the key to both property purchases mentioned earlier.

When purchasing the Nairn property a cash withdrawal was made of part of the Friends Life investment, so I could purchase before selling my property in Greater Manchester but I continued to pay the full amount into my pension fund. A large proportion of the cash from the house sale was this year able to go towards my son’s Spey Valley purchase and the additional pension from this investment allows me to contribute to the repayments for the small mortgage he took out to finance renovations. Despite my continued monthly withdrawals the fund continues to increase in value.

2 – A Canada Life Estate Preservation Bond, from which there is an option to withdraw cash each year but we have been able to roll it over each time. This is now intended for my son’s pension fund, as he chose to concentrate on quality of life rather than a high salary, so has been unable to build a pension fund. We are very conscious that his father died young and his grandfather never reached pensionable age either.

I hope the above details explain why I feel strongly that Kellands (Hale) deserve to win the Tax and Estate Planner of the Year Award.

Mrs T – Client

I have always trusted Ken McNab of Kellands (Hale) who I believe has a high and well-earned qualification in Financial planning. Trust for me is a definite essential. Next comes assessment of my financial needs alongside knowledge and information of the financial markets. Ken has always without fail had a very good grasp of my personal financial position and acted with integrity regarding choices for what to do with my assets; whether to move monies or keep investments where they are. He has explained clearly various options open to me specifically around IHT. If Ken were to retire from Kellands (Hale), I would feel less secure financially.

Mr & Mrs C – Client

I, Mr C, and my wife have been very satisfied clients over the past 12 years or more a company very professional in the presentation of the informative documented financial reports.

Telephone communication with the office staff excellent, receptive and courteous in manner and dealing with any queries with satisfaction.

Home visits by our advisor Mr Ken McNab have always been concluded with satisfaction and understanding.

Mr McNab himself we find most attentive and trustworthy and conducts our business meeting in a relaxed and satisfactory manner.

The service and guidance received as clients as been exceptional as our financial situation is healthy with many thanks to Mr McNab and his colleagues.

Kellands we highly recommend.

Mr Q – Client

My wife and I have used the services of Kellands (Hale) for the past twenty years. We have been fortunate to have access to Ken McNab as a financial adviser, who has worked diligently, on our behalf, for the whole of that time. Ken’s knowledge of the financial service industry has been excellent, continually advising and suggesting ways to steer through the vagaries of a sometimes turbulent market, and secure good returns on our investments. He was the obvious choice to advise us when we became executors of a friend’s estate. This required management of the estate to provide an income for a relative whilst, at the same time, attempting to maintain the original global amount for distribution at a future date.
Obviously when choosing anyone to deal with any element of an individual’s finance, particularly one’s own, one would expect levels of trustworthiness, integrity, honesty and knowledge. Kellands, and in particular Ken McNabb, has always maintained such a high level of performance which inspires confidence, trust and faith in the delivery of accurate advice. We can both recommend this firm, without reservation, and would wish them continued success in their future endeavours.

Mr W – Client

We have been clients of Kellands for several years after they resolved poor investments made using advice from another company. They have consistently reviewed our portfolio to accurately reflect our circumstances and requirements. This has been achieved through regular personal contact with Mr McNab who has provided sympathetic support and thorough analysis through the hard times of a few years ago. The portfolio has recently shown a substantial increase entirely due to the detailed proposals that have been made and we are extremely happy with the current state of affairs. Additionally we have been given valuable advice regarding wills and property. In particular, advice concerning bequests and gifts both to and from relatives have enabled us to plan family matters in a much more satisfactory manner.

Anon

I am a solicitor dealing with wills, trusts and probate. I have referred a number of clients to Kellands and they have always been very pleased both with the quality of the advice they receive and the levels of service. When I need information from Kellands they are helpful and efficient.

Anon

I have always had excellent feedback from clients that I have referred to Kellands for planning advice. The clients quite often had particularly complex requirements and Kellands were able to look at their needs and objectives and give them detailed advice in a way which the clients could understand. They offer a highly professional service.

Anon

I have been dealing with Kellands for the last 20 years.

I have no hesitation in Kellands looking after my investments and keeping me up to date on all aspects of my investments.

I have regular visits from Ken Mcnab and when Ken is not available to speak to me on the telephone there is a very good team back at the office who can either help me with my query or arrange for Ken to ring me back.

All aspects of my dealings with Kellands have been handled with the utmost efficiency offering a very reliable service.

Anon

I have recently had reason to consult Kellands (Hale) to assist in my personal, future financial planning.

This has always been a multi faceted and complicated subject for me to grapple with but since meeting with Kellands, all has been explained to me in a clear, concise and informative manner which has enabled me to now make important decisions to ensure my future.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Kellands’ to other prospective clients as I am confident they would provide the same excellent and friendly service.

Anon

I retired in 1993, Kellands Hale has advised my wife and me on investment, tax and inheritance planning since 1999. Having one personal adviser who is familiar with our financial situation and aims has been a great benefit. and the advice has been proactive and consistently sound.
Over the years we have also been able to call on Kellands’ wide range of expertise for help on wills, mortgages, buy-to-let and investment for grand-children’s education.

I should have no hesitation in recommending their services to anyone.

Anon

Kellands (Hale) have been my personal financial planning advisor for many years. They have consistently provided a service which is friendly, efficient, well informed, financially smart, and is shaped to the individual needs of myself and my wife. What is particular about them is that they advise and don’t push; they always seek to find out about our changing circumstances, both current and anticipated and then orientate their advice specifically to our lives rather than their own interests. At the same time of course we want our assets protected and to grow and they want theirs to grow also. Somehow they achieve this whilst still giving us very good value for money. Our particular advisor, Loretta Mooney, embodies these qualities and skills in an outstanding way. We are very happy to nominate Kellands for this award.

Accountant Mr L – Professional Connection

We have used Kellands for many years and have always appreciated their strong technical knowledge as well as their understanding of the clients needs and position. Estate planning is often complex both from a technical basis and from dealing with the clients hopes , aspirations and family dynamics. Kellands have shown great aptitude for both these facets and we are always confident they will approach any case in a professional and sympathetic way. They always take the time to understand the client’s needs both financial and personal. They are great to work with !

Mrs C – Client

For over twenty years we have relied on financial guidance from Kellands, and in particular from our adviser Ken McNab. The guidance has been sound and reliable, taking full account of our personal circumstances and meaning we feel ‘involved’ in the decisions reached. Ken combines knowledge and experience with a pleasant and relaxed manner, so that we feel confident with the advice we receive. Kellands’ advice and proactive stance has provided us with a good return on investments and enhanced retirement income.

Mrs H – Client

I have received excellent financial advice from Ken McNab from Kellands (Hale) for many years. He is highly qualified and I have put my complete trust in following his advice, to good effect. His experience is at my disposal at any time, either via a query by telephone or on a home visit, giving confidential professional advice. He is totally reliable and punctual with his visits and calls. I thoroughly recommend him and the service.

Anon

I have always had excellent feedback from clients that I have referred to Kellands for planning advice. The clients quite often had particularly complex requirements and Kellands were able to look at their needs and objectives and give them detailed advice in a way which the clients could understand. They offer a highly professional service.

Anon

I have been dealing with Kellands for the last 20 years.

I have no hesitation in Kellands looking after my investments and keeping me up to date on all aspects of my investments.

I have regular visits from Ken Mcnab and when Ken is not available to speak to me on the telephone there is a very good team back at the office who can either help me with my query or arrange for Ken to ring me back.

All aspects of my dealings with Kellands have been handled with the utmost efficiency offering a very reliable service.

Anon

I retired in 1993, Kellands Hale has advised my wife and me on investment, tax and inheritance planning since 1999. Having one personal adviser who is familiar with our financial situation and aims has been a great benefit. and the advice has been proactive and consistently sound.
Over the years we have also been able to call on Kellands’ wide range of expertise for help on wills, mortgages, buy-to-let and investment for grand-children’s education.

I should have no hesitation in recommending their services to anyone.

Anon

Kellands (Hale) have been my personal financial planning advisor for many years. They have consistently provided a service which is friendly, efficient, well informed, financially smart, and is shaped to the individual needs of myself and my wife. What is particular about them is that they advise and don’t push; they always seek to find out about our changing circumstances, both current and anticipated and then orientate their advice specifically to our lives rather than their own interests. At the same time of course we want our assets protected and to grow and they want theirs to grow also. Somehow they achieve this whilst still giving us very good value for money. Our particular advisor, Loretta Mooney, embodies these qualities and skills in an outstanding way. We are very happy to nominate Kellands for this award.

Anon

Ken McNab of Kellands was our neighbour when he first became our F.A. over 20 years ago and although my wife and I are minor investors, his friendly, personal and thorough attention to detail have been a source of great satisfaction to us.

Over the years Ken has become increasingly highly qualified and Kellands have kept closely in touch with the many innovations within the Financial Services industry. We think that over the years their service has been excellent.

Perhaps most importantly, Ken’s ability and personal integrity give us the confidence to accept his advice implicitly.

News & Views

March 20, 2024

5 fascinating ways your finances are linked to your wellbeing, in celebration of the International Day of Happiness

The International Day of Happiness fell on 20 March – so in celebration of this day, read about 5 fascinating connections between your wealth and wellbeing
Read more