About

We pride ourselves in giving unbiased honest financial advice

As independent financial advisers – we are able to provide unbiased financial and mortgage advice from the whole of the market. We are authorised to deal with many forms of financial services and specialise in giving advice to clients on a wide range of subjects to assist with personal and business financial planning.

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Our Story

For over 35 years I have worked in Financial Services in which time I have gained something that cannot be taught – Experience.


Acumen Associate Financial Services Ltd is a progressive and successful independent financial adviser firm with the objective of providing financial advice in this ever more competitive and regulated world with an adviser who shares your vision, principles and values.
Therefore, you will find that we are committed to providing impartial, informed and unbiased advice in the most professional way with total confidentiality. We have the experience of working with individuals, as well as small to medium size businesses.


Our aim is help you achieve your individual and or corporate financial objectives.

Advice

Our prime objective is to provide a personalised service to match client’s ongoing Independent Financial Advice requirements.

Flexible

Using technology, we can provide our services across the UK in a flexible, comprehensive and professional way face to face, via video or phone.

Independent

We provide bespoke independent financial advice and aspire to assist you to achieve your personal and or corporate financial objectives.

What We Offer

Personal & Business Financial Planning

Personal & Business Insurances

Mortgages & Equity Release

Retirement Planning – both Individual and Group

Savings & Investments

Long Term Care

Wealth Preservation/Tax Planning

In addition, we have links with a large number of other financial professionals including Accountants, Solicitors, Stockbrokers and contacts within commercial banking.

Our Advice Process

Many people have goals and dreams, but a goal without a plan is just a wish… an achievable goal is a dream with a deadline …
Here’s how we formulate the plan towards your goals

  • About You

    We meet together to discuss your personal circumstances and your current financial situation. We'll go into detail so that we can draw up a complete picture of where you are now, and where you want to arrive. We'll ask about you, your occupation, your savings & investments, your mortgage, your current liabilities and your tax position, and we'll explain how all of this information builds a profile which will help us to formulate our financial plan.

  • Your Goals & Ambitions

    Next, we discuss your objectives and your aspirations, as well as any concerns that may arise. We’ll discuss risk and reward and capacity for loss which together will result in determining your attitude towards investment risk, as this feedback from you will enable us to construct an investment portfolio which is a major part of the plan. You'll see as we move forward in our discussions how all this fits into place in your personal plan and agree the likely cost for our financial advice.

  • Analysis

    We'll discuss with you our analysis of your current financial position, and outline our initial thoughts for the plan. We'll present our recommendations and actions required for you to potentially achieve your goals.

  • How to get there

    So now we know where you are and where you want to be. In this phase we present your Personal Financial Plan which maps out the journey to your destination, and we establish the most suitable and most time efficient route to potentially get you there. We discuss with you your current income and expenditure, your assets and liabilities, and how your existing finances can be utilised towards the achievement of your financial goals. Your Personal Financial Plan will also agree the cost of achieving your objectives, and now we ask your approval and confirmation of the plan.

  • Implementation

    It's time to implement the plan. Every course of action we have recommended and agreed with you is now put into motion.

  • Review the Plan & Progress Updates

    If required, review dates will be agreed and can take place annually or more regularly if required or requested, ongoing fees will be agreed as to which service level is required. The purpose of regular monitoring of your Personal Financial Plan is to enable you to clearly see progress towards reaching your financial goals, and for us to make any course adjustments that may be required. Working closely with you we will explain overall how the plan is going and agree with you any modifications to keep it on track towards the achievement of your goals.

Meet The Team

Greg Vesey Spiller

Managing Director

Greg started providing clients with financial services advice in 1981 and since then, Greg has gained something that cannot be taught – Experience. This provides Greg with the ability to talk with clients and help them plan their financial future.

Previously working as the “Man from the Pru”, Greg became the Prudential’s top Senior Financial Consultant nationally, whilst achieving further prestigious accolades in the National Financial Adviser Awards held in the Millennium year. Greg was awarded the Silver Medal in this competition, which was sponsored by Money Marketing, a well-known company for providing premier financial services awards.

Becoming an Independent Financial Adviser in January 2001, Greg went on to establish Acumen Associate Financial Services Limited just three years later. Acumen is a progressive and successful independent financial adviser firm, directly authorised with the Financial Conduct Authority and focusing on sharing client’s visions, principles and values. Greg specialises in providing a bespoke, professional service, offering a personal financial plan to every client, tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.

Outside of Acumen, Greg regularly attends the local gym and swimming sessions. Remaining fit and healthy has always been an important part of Greg’s life. Before entering the world of financial services, Greg was a professional flat race jockey. Horse riding and racing is still a great passion for Greg, along with Formula 1, rugby and football. Spending time with family, friends, grandchildren and pet dog are equally important.

Greg is also an active member of a local business group – Pontyclun Business Community www.pontyclunbc.co.uk which delivers support and networking opportunities to businesses in the South Wales area. Greg remains very supportive of local businesses and restaurants in his local community.

Professional memberships include: The Personal Finance Society, the Institute of Financial Planning, the Society of Mortgage Professionals, and the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Nigel Ward

Operations Manager

After qualifying as a mechanical engineer and design draughtsman, Nigel decided to take a complete job change in 1981 to commence a career in financial services. Joining Prudential in 1981, Nigel started as a district agent and quickly rose through the ranks through promotions, taking up various management roles within the firm.

When Prudential withdrew from home service in 2000, Nigel went into retail financial services and joined Principality Building Society as an Investment Manager, before being promoted to Financial Services Area Manager.

Nigel then took a change in direction and spent the next 12 years in Training and Competence roles, supervising advisers in line with T&C scheme requirements and the regulatory framework set by the Financial Conduct Authority. Nigel supported advisers and adviser firms within his span of control in improving skills and knowledge through individual support and coaching and supporting growth within adviser businesses.

Nigel joined Acumen in 2018 as Operations Manager, to oversee systems and controls within the firm, including the production of GABRIEL reports for the Regulator and to conduct T&C supervision activities for advisers within the firm. Nigel also supports the advisers within the firm in helping them deliver a first-class service to their clients, supporting the advice process by preparing client research and reports in line with client’s aims and objectives.

Qualified to Diploma level, Nigel is also CEMAP qualified and has also passed H15, a CII advanced qualification in Supervision and Sales Management. Memberships include The Personal Finance Society (PFS), The Society of Mortgage Professionals and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Nigel is also a member of the Life & Pensions faculty.

In his spare time, Nigel enjoys spending time with his family, going on family holidays, walking the dog, watching his favourite football team (Manchester United), going to music concerts and going on motorcycle rides with his son into the Welsh countryside.