Chris Mead

Aim to maximise your cash savings

It might shock you to know that 28% of people hold their cash in interest-free savings accounts⁽¹⁾, receiving no return on their hard-earned money. Because under current rules a basic rate taxpayer can earn up to £1,000 in interest from their savings without paying tax, these people could be missing out on a significant financial boost that they could be enjoying.

This is even more relevant when you consider that the average person typically holds up to 25% of their available money on cash deposit⁽²⁾. So, by reviewing your cash and tackling any ‘lazy money’, you’ll be making a great start at getting your finances in shape and achieving longer-term financial security.

If your money isn’t working as hard as it could, I can help. By making it easy to access potentially better interest rates, I can help you to aim to maximise your cash savings – giving you more money to spend on the things you enjoy or helping you grow your money towards a longer-term goal.

¹ Building Societies Association Sept 2024
² The Lang Cat: Cash as an asset class survey June 2024

Cash on deposit advice is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

My career spans two disciplines that rarely sit in the same person. I am both a qualified Financial Adviser and an ACCA qualified Accountant with over a decade of commercial finance experience. That combination means I see your whole financial picture, not just the investments, but the tax, the structure, and the long-term strategy.

The reason I became a financial planner is personal. My own finances have been genuinely complex, and working through them led me to take my financial adviser exams, originally just to learn. I quickly realised that many people in similar situations had the means but lacked the confidence to act.

Who I work with
I work with people whose money could be working harder, but who haven’t quite got on top of it.

• High earners: Pension allowances, tax efficiency, and a strategy that aims to maximise what you keep and what you grow.
• Business owners and directors: Optimising wealth extraction, pension planning, and bringing order to finances that have too often come second to the business.
• Expats: Cross-border complexity is something I’ve navigated personally. I help overseas nationals and returning British nationals through the tax and pension complications.

Senior professionals and managers: Those with equity compensation, RSUs, options and LTIPs, where planning needs to reflect the full picture.

How I work
Every client starts with a proper conversation. I take the time to listen and understand your entire situation, asking the right questions to build a full picture before making any recommendations. I build plans that account for everything, not just the straightforward parts. And the relationship does not end there. I work with clients on an ongoing basis, because your plan should evolve as your life does.

Outside of work
I live in Bristol with my wife. We love travel — extended trips across South East Asia and South America, two years in Italy — as well as food, cooking, and the occasional well-crafted cocktail.