Client Profile – Pensioner with limited income needing help to purchase a reliable car.

The Challenge: Replacing a 17-Year-Old Car

The client had relied on their 17-year-old car for over 15 years but recognised it was time for a replacement before it became unreliable. However, being on a limited income posed significant challenges:

• The cost of a new car exceeded their meagre savings.
• They faced the upsetting possibility of selling sentimental treasures, such as their late mother’s jewellery, to cover the expense.
• Using savings would deplete their emergency fund, which they relied on for unexpected expenses.

The financial and emotional strain was overwhelming, and the client needed a solution that avoided monthly repayments or incurring interest on the purchase price.

Why They Chose Astute Financial Planning

As a long-time client, the client trusted Sarah’s ability to navigate their financial concerns with empathy and expertise. They valued her for:

• Providing sound, trustworthy advice tailored to their needs.

• Being a sympathetic listener who truly understood their personal and financial circumstances.

• Bringing both professionalism and a personal touch to financial decision-making.

The Solution: A Stress-Free Financial Plan

Sarah approached the situation with care and reassurance, creating a solution that addressed both the client’s financial and emotional concerns. Key steps included:

• Reassuring the client that their situation was solvable without causing stress or negatively impacting their life.
• Organising the sale of a proportion of the client’s investment funds.
• Liaising directly with Fidelity Investments to ensure a quick, seamless transaction.

• Ensuring the funds were made available promptly to allow the client to purchase the car and clear their credit card balance by the end of the month.

The Outcome: A New Car and Renewed Confidence

The client successfully purchased a new car without financial stress, preserving their emergency savings and avoiding debt repayments. They described the experience as life-changing:

“It’s as though I’ve been gifted my lovely new car. I know it’s my money, but it’s made no difference to my daily life, and I have no debt repayment commitment.”

The result brought immense happiness and relief, transforming what once seemed like an insurmountable challenge into a rewarding and empowering experience.

Client Feedback

“I really enjoyed your calming, reassuring influence. From not thinking I could afford the purchase, you gave me the green light to go ahead with confidence. You lifted my spirits totally.”

The client praised Sarah’s ability to combine financial expertise with genuine care and understanding, turning a stressful situation into a positive and empowering experience.

Core Values in Action

Trust: The client felt completely confident in Sarah’s advice and guidance.

Compassion: Sarah’s calming and empathetic approach helped ease emotional strain.

Respect: By tailoring the solution to the client’s unique needs, Sarah demonstrated a deep respect for their personal and financial circumstances.

Learning: Sarah’s clear, jargon-free communication empowered the client to feel in control of their finances.

The value of investments, pensions and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.