Steven Martin CFP^CM IMC

Smart team

Managing Director

Steven is one of the highest qualified Financial Planners in the UK and is becoming an increasingly prominent and high profile member of the Financial Planning community. Regularly contributing to local and national press his forthright opinions on the future of Financial Planning and the standards and capabilities that clients should expect from their advisers, has been ruffling many an unqualified, inexperienced financial adviser's feathers.
Steve has, in his twelve year career, worked in Scotland for three firms, including running the Scottish office of Haines Watts Financial Services. Moving to England in 2003, he held senior management positions in two firms before establishing Smart in 2008. He has completed the Advance Financial Planning Certificate, Certified Financial Planning Certificate, the Investment Management Certificate in 2007 and is awaiting confirmation that he has added Chartered status to his résumé.

Certified Financial Planning licence

Steve obtained the Certified Financial Planning licence in 2005, which is undoubtedly the highest achievement in Financial Planning and is the internationally recognised standard of excellence. For further information about why you should use a Certified Financial Planner, click here….

Institute Of Financial Planning - Chairmen - Manchester Branch (incoming)

In July 2009 the Institute of Financial Planning announced that Steve would be their new Branch Chairman for Manchester. The Manchester branch is the second largest in the UK with over 250members and stretches from Cumbria in the North, Stoke in the South and as far West as North Wales. Steve took over on 1st January 2010 and has increase the attendance at meetings by more than 50%, had established a new branch for Chester and is in the process of creating a new branch for Preston. This will make a huge difference to the reach of financial planning in the North West and should help to improve the provision of Financial Planning (as opposed to 'product selling' as is done by most IFAs) in the communities of the North West.

Assessor

Since 2006, Steve has assisted the Institute of Financial Planning in the assessment of the Certified Financial Planning licence.  Smart Financial Planning benefits enormously from Steve's involvement with the Institute as he is constantly exposed to the thinking of other experienced professional planners. Steve has current suspended his marking activities due to his Branch chair responsibilities.

Writing

In 2008, the Institute of Financial Planning approached Steve to ask him to prepare new case studies for the Certified Financial Planning licence. Drawing on his experience with clients, he has prepared a true test of integrated Financial Planning skill which he enjoyed assessing throughout last year. In 2009 he prepared case study articles for the Institutes' magazines on using pensions (SIPP/SSAS) to purchase commercial property and on the options available to clients as they reach age 75.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Steve has been invited to assist the graduates in the Universities Financial Planning degree in the transition from academia to private practice.

Qualifications

As detailed already, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification is the pinnacle of the Financial Planning profession. Of the numerous other qualifications to his name, three are the most relevant in his client work.

• Investment Management Certificate

One of the most important areas of the Smart Financial Planning Process is the analysis of the client's tolerance of risk. The attainment of the Investment Management Certificate demonstrates that Steve is able to apply that tolerance and only select investments that are appropriate for our clients.

• Advance Pension Transfer Qualifications

A key part of any financial planning is the analysis of our clients existing and future pension arrangements. Steve is an expert in this field (see Smart Property for some examples) and is knowledgeable enough to guide clients along paths that help them achieve their goals irrespective of the assets that they have accumulated.

• Advanced Taxation and Trusts Qualifications

Alongside poor quality investment advice, Smart is forever coming across sub-standard taxation advice. Considering that the correct positioning of assets can save fortunes in tax, it is imperative that any Financial Planning company ensures that their Taxation and Trust knowledge is up to speed. As Steve obtained a distinction in this qualification, it is safe to say that Smart is accomplished in this field.

Charity

In 2010 Smart will be raising for Cancer Research UK.  Our first event will be our annual charity golf day and as all injuries appear to be behind him Steve will take part in some running / cycling events to raise additional funds.

Contact Steve on

DD:    0844 824 6990 | Skype: steven.martin100 | email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

-

@stevemartincfp