Corporate Advice
Independent advice for company directors
If your company holds more cash than it needs, or you want to plan your own retirement as a director, we can help. We work alongside your accountant so your business and personal finances fit together.
We're an independent financial planning firm led by a Chartered Financial Planner. We advise on how surplus company money and your own pensions and investments are invested. We can also arrange relevant life cover. Your accountant advises on tax, salary and dividends, and we work together on the bigger picture.
Your first meeting is free and there's no obligation to go further.
Advice for directors and business owners
Surplus company cash
Investing money the business doesn't need day to day, with the right balance of access, risk and return.
Directors' pensions
Advice on where your pension is invested, including any contributions your company makes for you.
Relevant life cover
Life cover for you as a director, paid for by your company in a tax-efficient way.
Personal investments
Investing money you've taken from the business, such as ISAs and general investment accounts.
Your retirement plan
Planning when you'll step back from the business and the income you'll need from your pensions and investments.
Working with your accountant
Keeping your accountant involved so tax planning and investment planning line up.
Three simple steps
Free first meeting
We talk about your business, the money it holds and your own plans for the future.
Your plan
Working alongside your accountant, we recommend how to invest, explained clearly in writing.
Invest and review
We put everything in place and review it with you at least once a year.
Making company money work
Investing surplus company cash
Every business needs enough cash in the bank to run day to day. But many companies hold more than they need, and cash in a low-interest account can lose value in real terms over time, particularly after tax.
Depending on when the money might be needed, alternatives can include higher-interest deposit accounts, money market funds, investment funds such as OEICs and unit trusts, and corporate investment bonds. The right choice depends on the company's time horizon, how much risk it can take and its tax position.
Worth knowing: holding significant investments inside a trading company can affect its tax position, including reliefs that may be available when you sell or pass on the business. That's why we always involve your accountant before the company invests.
Your pension as a director
Pensions are one of the most tax-efficient ways for a director to save for retirement. Your accountant will advise on the best mix of salary, dividends and company pension contributions. We then make sure your pension is invested in a way that suits your plans, and that it works alongside your other savings.
Relevant life cover
Relevant life cover is a life insurance policy that your company takes out and pays for, to provide a lump sum for your family if you die while you're a director or employee. It works in a similar way to death-in-service cover from a larger employer.
- The premiums are paid by the company and are usually an allowable business expense, provided they meet HMRC's rules.
- They aren't normally treated as a taxable benefit for you, so there's no extra income tax or National Insurance to pay.
- The policy is written in trust, so the payout goes directly to your family and is normally outside your estate for inheritance tax.
For many directors, this can be a more cost-effective way to arrange personal life cover than paying for it themselves from taxed income. We'll compare policies from across the market and check the rules with your accountant.
What does advice cost?
Your first meeting is free and there's no obligation. If you'd like us to go ahead, our initial fee is a percentage of the amount we advise on, and it reduces as the amount increases:
We'll confirm your fee in writing before any work starts. Read more about the cost of financial advice.
Common questions
Do you set up workplace pension schemes?
No. We don't advise on auto-enrolment or workplace pension schemes for employees. Our corporate advice focuses on investing company money and on directors' own pensions and investments.
Do you advise on salary and dividends?
No, that's best handled by your accountant. We work alongside them so that your tax planning and investment planning fit together.
Can my company pay into my pension?
Yes. Company pension contributions are often an allowable business expense, provided they meet HMRC's rules. Your accountant will confirm the right amount, and we'll advise on where the money is invested.
What is relevant life cover?
It's life insurance for a director or employee that the company pays for. The premiums are usually an allowable business expense and aren't normally treated as a taxable benefit, and the policy is written in trust so the payout goes directly to your family.
What is your initial fee?
Our initial advice charge is a percentage of the amount invested or transferred, and it reduces as the amount increases. For advice on £250,000 of pensions or investments our initial fee would be 1.65%, falling to 1.2% on £500,000 and 0.97% on £1 million. We'll always confirm your fee in writing before any work starts, and your first meeting is free.
Is there a minimum investment?
Yes. Our advice service is designed for people with £250,000 or more in pensions and investments, or who are planning to invest at least that amount. If that isn't you yet, MoneyHelper offers free, impartial guidance.
Do I have to meet in person?
No. Meetings are by appointment, either in person at one of our meeting locations in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Livingston or Stirling, at your home, or by video call.
Related services
Savings & Investments
Investing savings or a lump sum with a clear plan built around your goals.
Find out more →Review My Pension
A clear view of what you have, what it costs and whether it is still right for you.
Find out more →Life Cover
Protection that keeps your family secure, including cover for inheritance tax.
Find out more →Talk to us about your company money
Free first meeting, no obligation. Call 0330 223 1653 or book online.
The value of investments and pensions, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
