Trusted Financial Adviser
Looking for a financial adviser to solve a problem?
Ian Francis is a professional independent financial adviser with 30 years of experience working in the financial services world. He is highly qualified, passionate and loves nothing more than helping solve our clients' problems.
Whether you’ve been recommended or have found us independently, we’d like to thank you for reading this and hope the following pages explain how we can help you.
We support people who are looking to solve financial problems and gain comfort around their money.
We understand how money issues can lead to anxiety, confusion and distrust. So if you need someone who can explain what’s right for you, someone who’ll translate the jargon, clarify your options and help you to move forward, that’s what we do.
Our Difference
We use our experience and expertise to guide and advise our clients.
We provide personal finance advice, we're here to help you plan and secure the life you want to live.
We offer advice across all the financial areas you’d expect, as well as specialising in clients needing later life care.
Our real focus is you. We want to support you as your family grows and look ahead to opportunities on your financial horizon.
What Does Good Investment Advice Look Like?
We focus on spreading risk, making portfolios suitable for your unique situation.
We understand your objectives - the things you want out of life and when - and circumstances (being realistic).
As financial advisers, we focus on sensible balanced portfolios - not claiming that it will be sunny next year for an average of 4.5 hours a day.
I could give the logos of every FTSE100 company to my dog Farley and he could pick the winners by accidentally laying a paw on them - but the skill is doing this day in and day out for years ahead.
What Makes for the Best Mortgage Deals?
It's our role as independent financial advisers to find the best deal for you.
So we have to understand what you are looking for, what you can afford, what the market has to offer, and whether you would have a good chance of being accepted.
We have to understand your income, expenses, credit profile, deposit/equity.
Our search, across the mortgage market of 250 lenders, starts with your mortgage preferences, the cheapest deal, checking if you meet the lender's criteria (they each have their own criteria for who they are prepared to lend to, how much, and in what cases – which is my job to understand).
That gives you the confidence to know you have the best deal available and saves you time & trouble searching.
What Does Good Pension Advice Look Like?
The decisions you make whilst planning and approaching your retirement will be some of the most significant in your lifetime.
Should I take my tax-free cash? Do I need a secure income for life? Can I access my pension when I need to?
We’ll answer your questions and explain all the options available to you.
It might be the best advice to consolidate pensions if you have several of them, but we can't advise that until we know what you have - how well invested they are, how long before you are due to retire, what charges are taken, and whether the investment funds themselves are right for you.
Our value as independent financial advisers is to show you our expertise, professionalism, and frankly, trustworthiness.
Check Us Out...
Our Regulator, Our Professional Memberships, and Professional Listings
The Financial Conduct Authority
You can click here to see that Ian Francis is an approved person by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Click for the Financial Conduct Authority register (opens in a new window)
You can click here to see that Chestnut Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Click for the Financial Conduct Authority register (opens in a new window)
We are members of the Equity Release Council
We are listed on the Money Advice Service directory
Ian Francis is a fully qualified member of the Society of Mortgage Professionals, having built his expertise as an independent mortgage broker.
Ian is a fully qualified member of the Personal Finance Society, since 1994. He has built his expertise with numerous qualifications and professional development each year.
Click here to see the Society directory (opens in a new window)
Ian Francis is a fully qualified member of the Society of Later Life Advisers, having demonstrated his professionalism in giving advice for those clients looking to the future and undertaking professional qualifications, as an independent financial adviser.
Click here to see his SOLLA directory listing (opens in a new window)
Ian is also a fully qualified member of the Society of Later Life Advisers retirement advice standard. He has built his expertise with numerous qualifications and professional development each year.
Click here to see his SOLLA directory listing (opens in a new window)
“If you're using an adviser, always make sure it's an independent financial adviser”
“You should get the very best advice and products tailored just for you”
Money-Saving Expert
The Times VouchedFor’s 2021 Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide
I am humbled and honoured to be recognised by our clients. I am so grateful for the work I do every day and thank you to all who have supported me throughout this incredible journey so far. Our 5-star rating is something we are committed to retaining through high-quality advice and service to all our clients.
We’re on Unbiased
Unbiased is a database of top-rated professional independent financial advisers, mortgage brokers and accountants. Many parts of the government, such as the Money Advice Service as well as various consumer bodies, such as Which?, and leading investment and insurance companies, refer clients and readers to the Unbiased website, for regulated advice.
We’re on VouchedFor
VouchedFor is the UK’s leading independent review site for financial advisers, mortgage advisers, solicitors and accountants.
Click to see my ratings and read reviews left by my clients (opens in a new window)
Please Get In Touch
Main office address:
10 Newark Road,
Bassingham,
Lincoln, LN5 9HA
The guidance and/or advice contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore targeted at consumers based in the UK.
Chestnut Financial Services Limited. Registered in England no 9918363. Registered office: Commerce House, Carlton Boulevard, Lincoln, LN2 4WJ
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 840940