Phil & Mel

Mel:

Hi, I’m Mel Smith, and this is my husband, Phil. We’ve been with Citygate for about 12 years, and Guy Skinner is our adviser.

Phil:

My financial circumstances were starting to get a little bit more complicated in terms of investments and things I wanted to do with my money. I thought I needed a bit more assistance and a bit more advice, and that’s why I turned to Citygate.

Ever since that first meeting, it’s just been a very trusting, friendly and comfortable relationship.

Mel:

We’re not from a financial background or anything. Guy has always made it very easy to understand; if there was anything that didn’t make sense, he fully explained it. Yes, it was just very easy to understand.

Phil:

Over the years, we’ve touched on a lot of bases, actually: borrowing money, mortgages, home mortgages, buy-to-let mortgages, ISAs, and other investment vehicles. We’ve discussed VCTs, and, unfortunately, as we age, pensions have become a top priority. We’ve really liked the forward financial planning report that looks well into the future and tells us the things we should be thinking about and the things we should be doing. Life insurance and critical illness cover ¬– we’ve touched all the bases.

Mel:

Working with Guy, I feel confident about our future. The money’s going to the right place, the planning is there, and we can start to think about retirement and what’s going to happen in the future.

Phil:

The best thing about working with Guy is his flexibility. He’s always available, and he’s happy to meet in person or online at our convenience. He’s always been there when we’ve had any significant financial queries, questions, or challenges. That level of reassurance that he always brings enables us to move forward with confidence.

Mel:

The three words I’d use to describe Guy would be friendly, reassuring and knowledgeable.

The best piece of advice that Guy’s been able to give us, I think, is the confidence that he’s given us. He’s said to go out and enjoy our lives, knowing that we’re supported and that we’ve got the planning in place.

Phil:

I would wholeheartedly recommend Guy and Citygate, and I have already made a couple of referrals, and I know they’re very happy with the service. I’ve been confident in recommending Guy to others because I know that the excellent service he provides to me will be reflected in the service he provides to others. I’ve got no qualms about that at all.