Mark

“Their advice gave me clarity and confidence in my decisions.”

Hello. My name is Mark Richardson. I’ve been with Paul Dovey for about 12 years. I’m delighted that he’s joined New Path and look forward to working with him in the future. 

When I was retiring, part of my pension was coming as a lump sum, and I wanted to invest it in a way that protected the money, earned some interest, and remained accessible as and when I needed it. So, rather than doing that myself, I thought, “I need a financial adviser”.

I first came into contact with Paul because he inherited me from a previous financial adviser who worked at the same firm but moved on. So, we got to know Paul, and he got to know us. I was pleased with the way that he gave advice; it was very clear. I knew a bit about finances, but I needed an expert, and he put things across in a straightforward way that my wife and I could understand. From then on, we’ve never had any hesitation in listening to what he has to say, because it’s worthwhile.

I feel reassured working with Paul. It’s a fair amount of money that he looks after for us, and he knows what we’re looking for, and he delivers. He does it promptly, quickly, efficiently, and is always available as and when I need him. 

Looking to the future, I’m relieved in the knowledge that the money is there, and it’s working for us and for the family. I can talk through any changes in our circumstances with Paul, and he will, I’m sure, be able to respond appropriately.

How would I describe Paul in three words? Competent, friendly, and reassuring.

I think one of the best things that both my wife and I have found about working with Paul is that we have our conversation about finances, but we also talk about our families – his and ours – and what we’ve all got planned for the future. And these discussions are factored into the advice he gives us regarding how we achieve those future plans and adapt to the changing circumstances we all face.

In the time we’ve been working with Paul, one of the best pieces of advice he gave us, which is sometimes hard to follow, is that we’re not spending enough. He told us off for that, which seemed strange for a financial adviser, and he encouraged us to do things such as have a big family holiday. We could afford it, the money was sitting there, and we should get on with it. The only problem is, one of our kids heard it, and immediately, I was on the hook!

Would I recommend Paul and New Path? Definitely. Over the years, he’s treated me right. I’ve heard from others how their financial adviser sometimes promises a lot but doesn’t deliver. I’ve never had that problem with Paul, and I’d be very confident that if I referred anybody to him, he would look after them.