STEVEN COLES
CHARTERED FELLOW FSCI – FINANCIAL PLANNING
A lifetime of learning
about money
Earning a living, choosing how to spend our money,
and, most important of all, knowing what to do with what’s left over
can be a struggle. What’s more, as we go through life, the challenge
changes. Gradually it becomes a question of how best to manage
our money so we can live the life we want, not just now,
but in the years to come. If this is your experience, then we have
something in common. And maybe what I’ve learned along the way
can help you to achieve financial security and realise your goals.
If you are reading this then you are thinking of seeking advice.
So, I thought I’d share my story. Why?
Because you’ll see how certain principles and values have
become deeply ingrained in who I am.
Developing sound financial habits
at an early age
My first lessons in money management came as a child
watching my grandmother tip out the contents of her glass money vase
and count out the coins and notes for each bill she had to pay.
“The glass vase. Paying for essentials
and saving what’s left.”
She’d explain the principle of prioritising – why some essentials,
like utility bills, food and rent have to come first and why some
of the things we’d like to buy would have to wait. I’d help in the café,
where my grandmother was the cook. I would often run
errands for pennies. I couldn’t wait for Nan to take me to the
Post Office and add another Green Stamp to my savings book.
The first financial goal I ever set was to save
enough buy my first bike. The bike gave me freedom.
“My first goal. The importance of working
towards a reward.”
Mum – my inspiration for hard work
and having a clear focus
Mum was a character, with drive and a strong work ethic.
Very focused on the future, she was constantly talking to us about the life
she was working towards. Mum was determined to be financially secure.
She had a vision of a beautiful rectory in the country surrounded
by a walled garden for her flowers and vegetables. The likelihood of her
achieving this seemed remote – but what I learned from her is that
if we have vision and a plan, are willing to work hard and have self-belief,
we can accomplish amazing things.
“Wishes don’t come true without hard work.”
Mum taught my brother and I to “cut our coat according to our cloth”.
Save and wait for the things we want to buy. From her we learnt
good financial habits – work hard, live within our means and only buy
things that will genuinely enhance our lives.
My early work experiences
My first proper job was in a local dairy at weekends. During the summer
I also had a great job at Bristol Zoo. By the age of sixteen I had
saved £1500, over £20000 in today’s money.
“Save & Invest. Buy assets that will grow in value.”
It was the early 1970s, inflation and the rising cost of living made me think
about how I could do better with my money. Because of inflation,
my savings were going backwards. So, I kept a cash
float for my everyday needs and invested the remaining every
month in a UK unit trust, buying shares in blue-chip
British companies.
A big turning point in our
family’s fortunes
Mum spotted a gap in commercial cleaning and Spectrum was formed.
I was seventeen and gave her the money she needed to help
the business. Over time and coping with the challenges of running
a home and having a young family she became increasingly successful.
Mum achieved her dream. A beautiful country home and enough
capital to live her life the way she wanted.
“Goals & Strategy. Work is fun when you know
the why and the how.”
What was the secret to her success? The fact that she had clear goals
and a strategy for achieving them. Enthusiam – work for her was never
a chore but exciting and fun. My Mum inspired me to get
involved in business and I learnt so much from her about how
to take care of money and make the most of it.
Starting my career in finance
Starting at a UK clearing bank I will always remember
the manager’s first words – “Our customers have worked hard for
their money. We have a fiduciary duty to our customers”.
“Integrity & Trust. The foundation on which
all sustainable success is built.”
As well as the principle of integrity I was privileged to gain
insights into many interesting businesses. During the early 1980s
the bank tasked me with forming and managing a team
of financial advisers, a model they rolled out nationally.
It soon became apparent to me just how big a need there was
for this kind of advice. As part of my employee benefits, the bank took
care of my life insurance, paid me if I was sick, and provided
a pension. Only now did I become aware that most of the
population were not so fortunate.
“Make it personal. Understanding people comes
before giving them advice.”
After completing a Masters in Business Strategy I joined
a leading firm of Bristol financial advisers. I had no income,
two very young children and a mortgage to pay.
Knowing I had to make a living focused my mind!
My colleagues were a clever, varied and interesting group
of people. Their willingness to share the knowledge
and disciplines of setting daily goals, hard work way beyond
the normal 9 to 5 changed my work ethic and elevated my thinking
and vision of the possibilities. After seven years, one of the directors
helped me start my own firm, Operii Financial Planning LLP.
I still consult with him today for his experience
and to keep me motivated.
The person I am now
My journey has helped me become the adviser I am today.
My primary concern is to help my clients realise their financial goals.
Achieving financial security is not complicated as long as there
is a clear plan and an understanding of certain basic principles.
I am committed to sharing my learning and experience
in the efficient management of money with my clients.
Working always towards their financial priorities and helping
them realise their aspirations. Equally important are the qualities
of integrity, honesty and trust and fulfilling my fiduciary duties
for the benefit of my clients. I also hold a Fellowship from both
the Personal Finance Society and Chartered Institute
for Securities & Investment.
What our clients say
“He gave us a clear visual picture of our true financial position,
uncovered some discrepancies and obtained £28,000
in compensation from our insurers.”
Click for full story.
“My pension left me baffled. I was putting money in, but the value
seemed to be going backwards. It turned out that it was invested in a way
that was entirely unsuitable for my situation and age.
The changes Steven made had an immediate profitable impact
on the value of my pension and this has continued to go up
until this day.”
Click for full story.
“Prior to meeting Steven it seemed to be a simple question
of “How much income will our pension give us and will it be enough?”
The discussions with Steven made us realise that there were many
vital factors we hadn’t considered.”
Click for full story.
“Right from the start Steven allayed our fears, dealing with the facts
and swiftly getting a good grip on some complicated issues.
With his help we were able to get a full clear picture of our financial situation.
We were then able to make informed decisions and avoid a costly mistake.
Had I not spoken with Steven I would have lost £69,000!”
Click for full story.
A lifetime of learning
about money
Earning a living, choosing how to spend our money, and, most important of all, knowing what to do with what’s left over can be a struggle. What’s more, as we go through life, the challenge changes. Gradually it becomes a question of how best to manage our money so we can live the life we want, not just now, but in the years to come. If this is your experience, then we have something in common. And maybe what I’ve learned along the way can help you to achieve financial security and realise your goals. If you are reading this then you are thinking of seeking advice. So, I thought I’d share my story. Why? Because you’ll see how certain principles and values have become deeply ingrained in who I am.
Developing sound financial
habits at an early age
My first lessons in money management came as a child watching my grandmother tip out the contents of her glass money vase and count out the coins and notes for each bill she had to pay.
“The glass vase. Paying for essentials and saving what’s left.”
She’d explain the principle of prioritising – why some essentials, like utility bills, food and rent have to come first and why some of the things we’d like to buy would have to wait. I’d help in the café, where my grandmother was the cook. I would often run errands for pennies. I couldn’t wait for Nan to take me to the Post Office and add another Green Stamp to my savings book. The first financial goal I ever set was to save enough buy my first bike. The bike gave me freedom.
“My first goal. The importance of working towards a reward.”
Mum – my inspiration for hard
work and having a clear focus
Mum was a character, with drive and a strong work ethic. Very focused on the future, she was constantly talking to us about the life she was working towards. Mum was determined to be financially secure. She had a vision of a beautiful rectory in the country surrounded by a walled garden for her flowers and vegetables. The likelihood of her achieving this seemed remote – but what I learned from her is that if we have vision and a plan, are willing to work hard and have self-belief, we can accomplish amazing things.
“Wishes don’t come true without hard work.”
Mum taught my brother and I to “cut our coat according to our cloth”. Save and wait for the things we want to buy. From her we learnt good financial habits – work hard, live within our means and only buy things that will genuinely enhance our lives.
My early work experiences
My first proper job was in a local dairy at weekends. During the summer I also had a great job at Bristol Zoo. By the age of sixteen I had saved £1500, over £20000 in today’s money.
“Save & Invest. Buy assets that will grow in value.”
It was the early 1970s, inflation and the rising cost of living made me think about how I could do better with my money. Because of inflation, my savings were going backwards. So, I kept a cash float for my everyday needs and invested the remaining every month in a UK unit trust, buying shares in blue-chip British companies.
A big turning point in our
family’s fortunes
Mum spotted a gap in commercial cleaning and Spectrum was formed. I was seventeen and gave her the money she needed to help the business. Over time and coping with the challenges of running a home and having a young family she became increasingly successful. Mum achieved her dream. A beautiful country home and enough capital to live her life the way she wanted.
“Goals & Strategy. Work is fun when you know the why and the how.”
What was the secret to her success? The fact that she had clear goals and a strategy for achieving them. Enthusiam – work for her was never a chore but exciting and fun. My Mum inspired me to get involved in business and I learnt so much from her about how to take care of money and make the most of it.
Starting my career in finance
Starting at a UK clearing bank I will always remember the manager’s first words – “Our customers have worked hard for their money. We have a fiduciary duty to our customers”.
“Integrity & Trust. The foundation on which all sustainable success is built.”
As well as the principle of integrity I was privileged to gain insights into many interesting businesses. During the early 1980s the bank tasked me with forming and managing a team of financial advisers, a model they rolled out nationally. It soon became apparent to me just how big a need there was for this kind of advice. As part of my employee benefits, the bank took care of my life insurance, paid me if I was sick, and provided a pension. Only now did I become aware that most of the population were not so fortunate.
“Make it personal. Understanding people comes before giving them advice.”
After completing a Masters in Business Strategy I joined a leading firm of Bristol financial advisers. I had no income, two very young children and a mortgage to pay. Knowing I had to make a living focused my mind! My colleagues were a clever, varied and interesting group of people. Their willingness to share the knowledge and disciplines of setting daily goals, hard work way beyond the normal 9 to 5 changed my work ethic and elevated my thinking and vision of the possibilities. After seven years, one of the directors helped me start my own firm, Operii Financial Planning LLP. I still consult with him today for his experience and to keep me motivated.
The person I am now
My journey has helped me become the adviser I am today. My primary concern is to help my clients realise their financial goals. Achieving financial security is not complicated as long as there is a clear plan and an understanding of certain basic principles. I am committed to sharing my learning and experience in the efficient management of money with my clients. Working always towards their financial priorities and helping them realise their aspirations. Equally important are the qualities of integrity, honesty and trust and fulfilling my fiduciary duties for the benefit of my clients. I also hold a Fellowship from both the Personal Finance Society and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
What our clients say
“He gave us a clear visual picture of our true financial position, uncovered some discrepancies and obtained £28,000 in compensation from our insurers.”
Click for full story.
“My pension left me baffled. I was putting money in, but the value seemed to be going backwards. It turned out that it was invested in a way that was entirely unsuitable for my situation and age. The changes Steven made had an immediate profitable impact on the value of my pension and this has continued to go up until this day.”
Click for full story.
“Prior to meeting Steven it seemed to be a simple question of “How much income will our pension give us and will it be enough?” The discussions with Steven made us realise that there were many vital factors we hadn’t considered.”
Click for full story.
“Right from the start Steven allayed our fears, dealing with the facts and swiftly getting a good grip on some complicated issues. With his help we were able to get a full clear picture of our financial situation. We were then able to make informed decisions and avoid a costly mistake. Had I not spoken with Steven I would have lost £69,000!”
Click for full story.
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