Clients Tanya and Graeme are no strangers to the world of finance, both having had long careers in banking and business.
“We both worked at the Grey Street branch of Lloyds Bank in Newcastle” says Graeme
That’s where we met in our 20s, and we got married in 1998”
Originally from the North East, the couple’s careers took them around the UK before settling in Yorkshire where they stayed for 22 years.
“We lived in a lovely village – our children grew up there and we were happy – but Graeme and I always knew that we wanted to be back by the sea. When the kids both went off to Uni (one in London and one in Warwick) we decided it was our time” says Tanya
The family regularly holidayed in Northumberland, so the couple knew they wanted to be back in the area. After a lot of searching, they found their perfect home.
“It’s a private house in a village with the beach right at the end of the road!” says Tanya
Graeme continues “We’re in a village called Beadnell, but we are very close to Alnwick where we have found a lovely church and a lot of new friends. Coming back here is a dream scenario – right people, right beaches, right location”
Four years ago, the couple approached Active Chartered Financial Planners’ Andrew Gilmore, who was recommended by a good friend.
“We are both quite financially savvy. We had a plan including a 35 year cash flow mapped out but we wanted someone to give us some reassurance” says Graeme “Andrew is very thoughtful – he listened and really got to know us and understand what our ideal retirement, and the plan for our family, looked like. He did a lot of work in the background before we even signed up. Thanks to careful planning – and Andrew’s expertise and reassurance – we were able to get here and retire as we had planned”
“It’s lovely to have the extra time and the flexibility to travel so much more. Since retiring 1.5 years ago, I think we have visited 8 new countries” says Graeme
We have travelled with the kids, been away just the 2 of us and I’ve also had a couple of interrailing trips on my own”
“We are off to the Isle of Skye, interrailing in Europe and Canada/Alaska next year” says Tanya
Tanya who is still working part time for a coffee company in HR and Recruitment, is also studying for a degree in History, which has been a life-long dream. And although fully retired, Graeme is putting his skills in business to good use as a charity Trustee.
And the secret to a long and happy marriage? Having respect for each other, being independent and having your own interests.
We really enjoy sharing real stories from our clients, whether that be about how Active Chartered Financial Planners has supported them over the years, or how their lives have been impacted by becoming financially secure. If you have a story to tell, please do get in touch with your adviser, or:
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