For Middlesbrough born client, Paul, family is very important.
In 1963, his parents made the bold decision to emigrate from England to Australia, taking Paul and his younger sister in search of a better life.
“Growing up in Australia is where my love for cricket truly began,” says Paul. “I played cricket, watched cricket, it’s such a big part of life there, with the great weather and an outdoors lifestyle that revolves around it.”
When the family returned to England in 1970, just as Paul was about to start senior school, his passion for cricket followed him home. So did his loyalty to Middlesbrough FC, a love passed down from his father, and one he now shares with his financial planner, Joe Carey.
Paul spent most of his working life with a national port owner and operating company based in his hometown of Middlesbrough. A later move with the company took him and his wife, Maureen, to Hull, and they settled nearby in Beverley for over a decade. During their time there, Paul, who had been politically active for a number of years, continued with his interest in politics, eventually leading him to become a councillor and later, the proud Mayor of Beverley, his adopted home.
As he moved towards retirement in 2018, Paul recognised the need for trusted financial advice.
“I approached Joe Carey in 2018 as I was coming up to retirement,” says Paul. “Trust was a huge thing for me when looking for a financial adviser – I have that trust with Joe.”
Paul admits he was initially sceptical of financial advisers. “Prior to this, I just didn’t have a positive view about financial advisers, but Joe and the team at Active Chartered Financial Planners have really helped to change my views, they are just really good people,” says Paul.
Faced with several retirement options, Paul knew he needed expert help. “I was offered several retirement options when finishing work, and I felt that I needed some specialist financial advice. The work that Joe has done with my pension I could not have done for myself. Now I have much more flexibility, I can take money out at quite short notice and I’m able to leave a lump sum for my stepson, which was very important to my wife and I.”
That flexibility has made a meaningful difference. With Joe’s ongoing support and regular reviews (which often include lively chats about the Boro), Paul is able to enjoy his retirement with confidence and freedom. “Joe keeps me updated on my investments at my regular reviews, but we do spend a large amount of the time discussing the Boro too,” says Paul.
“The way my pension is structured means I can access funds at short notice – something that I did last year when my wife, Maureen and I decided to take a trip to Barbados for the Cricket World Cup. Maureen isn’t a big fan of the sport, but she really enjoys the holidays that go along with it.”
Later this year, the couple will be heading back Down Under to join the Barmy Army for the Ashes. This one is more than just a cricket trip though, as Paul still has family in Australia, including cousins he hasn’t seen in years!
“I still have a lot of family out there as my aunt and uncle emigrated around the same time we did. I am really looking forward to seeing my cousins again, but we’ll always come back, Middlesbrough will always be my home.”
“Huge thanks to Joe for helping me structure my retirement as he has. We can genuinely tick boxes I never thought possible.”
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