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Sky Blue Financial Planners

Sky Blue Financial Planners

5.0(7 reviews)See reviews ↓·Reading

About the company

Skyblue Financial Planners is the trading name of Skyblue Planners Limited, an appointed representative of the On-Line Partnership Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Founding partner David O'Connor is an accredited member of the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA), and the firm has particular expertise in long term care planning. Doug Cowan is a Financial Planner with over 25 years of experience in financial planning, more than 30 years in the financial services and banking industry, and is studying towards Chartered Status with C.I.I. He is a qualified member of the Personal Finance Society and a member of the Society of Mortgage Professionals, advising on Equity Release for private and commercial clients.

Gary Winchester is a Mortgage & Protection Specialist with over 20 years in the insurance industry and joined the firm in October 2014, working towards his Diploma in Financial Services. Amy Barnes joined in January 2015 as a Personal Assistant/Office Administrator, having worked in the General Insurance industry for 6 years as an Administrator and Insurance Consultant for an Independent Broker. Services include wealth management, mortgage advice, pensions and retirement plans, long term care planning, inheritance tax planning and investments.

What customers say

Based on genuine customer reviews

Long-standing relationships and repeat business shape much of the feedback for this Reading firm, with clients returning across years for help with pensions, mortgages and insurance. Gary and Doug, the advisers named most often, are credited with personal attention and outcomes that match the needs of each household. One first-time buyer purchasing a new-build alone describes a process widely regarded as stressful becoming far easier through Gary's involvement, while a household that sought a second opinion on family finances reports a joint plan producing considerable monthly savings and greater flexibility for the future.

A point made in several accounts is the firm's willingness to introduce clients to other providers when that suits the arrangement. The work described spans mortgage brokerage, including cases involving self-employed and younger buyers, wealth management planning and general insurance advice, with dependability and expertise recurring across the accounts. Several customers note that the guidance has remained consistent through changes in their circumstances, covering first homes, family finances and cover arrangements alike.

Reviews

Reviews are taken from publicly available sources.

AS
Abdul Saleh27 November 2023

Sky Blue

KA
Kate Allen19 March 2020

My husband and I have worked with the team at Sky Blue for many years, we trust them with all our products, insurance, mortgages and pensions. Very trustworthy and knowledgeable

JP
Jade Pilley2 August 2019

I was recommended Gary through a friend who said he was excellent - and I cannot fault Gary one bit. He goes above and beyond expectations in order to provide the best customer care as well as the best customer outcome. I'm a first time buyer that is purchasing a new built on my own. I was told it was an extremely stressful process, however, this has been made 10x easier by Gary!! I would recommend him to anyone. Thank you Sky Blue Financial Planners!

AL
Abbeygate Locksmiths TV23 January 2019

Excellent company to work with

TM
Tara Morris9 November 2018

I have always been so driven and focussed on ensuring I would own my own house before 30, it has always been one of my goals! Myself and my husband have been saving for almost 4 years now and have always had from friends and relatives that we’re boring or that we should live a little and not be so tight with our money, despite this we pushed on! I always knew getting a Mortgage was going to be difficult being self employed, young and not high earners. We first engaged with a Financial Adviser over 2 years ago and we didn’t have enough deposit and I needed longer to build up my accounts. We revisited this at the beginning of this year and was all looking promising until discovering the business wasn’t quite in the right place to qualify. This then concluded that we would have to wait at least another year, but ideally two and everything came to a halt. I thought we were so close and felt hugely disheartened by this, then suddenly thought to run it past Gary on the off chance he may be able to give some advice. Within a month, Gary was able to secure us a Mortgage on a better rate then we had first thought, less deposit needed and with one of the key lenders! I couldn’t believe it, this means so much to me and something I have put everything into since setting up my business. Now, just before I turn 26, we have a Mortgage! Not only is it amazing that Gary has allowed us to achieve our goal, but the communication, the clear explanation and the way the team took the time to talk through each stage and accommodate our slightly complicated situation was amazing. I would, and have done so already, recommend Gary and Sky Blue to all that I know. Thank you!

PS
Paul Sampson2 May 2018

2 May 2018 Testimonial to Gary Winchester and Doug Cowan at SkyBlue IFA's I approached Gary and Doug for advice on rearranging our family finances, having consulted other IFA's I thought I should check out some of the advice they had given. I am so glad I did that. As a team Gary and Doug came up with a plan which generated substantial monthly savings and had more flexibility in the future. SkyBlue made introductions to other providers and implemented their plan very efficiently, with the help of the rest of their team (Amy in particular). I would have no hesitation in recommending SkyBlue as a team and will be using them in the future in this area of financial planning. Paul Sampson Director

JE
Jon Ewing4 January 2018

I have known Doug and Gary for about eight years and can cheerfully recommend Sky Blue for wealth management planning, mortgage brokerage services and general insurance advice - full marks!

Financial advisers in Reading compared

Ordered by rating, weighted by the number of reviews — businesses with only a handful of reviews do not jump to the top automatically. 6 businesses in this category in Reading are compared.

RankProviderRatingReviewsOpen Sat.
1Purley Financial Planning★ 5,056Yes
2RKP Wealth Management★ 5,029No
3Fox Payne Associates Ltd★ 5,019No
4Sky Blue Financial Planners (this page)★ 5,07No
5Assets Financial Services★ 5,01No
Contact
+441189582425skybluefp.co.uk178-180 Oxford Rd, Reading RG1 7PL
Working hours
Monday09:00–17:00
Tuesday09:00–17:00
Wednesday09:00–17:00
Thursday09:00–17:00
Friday09:00–17:00
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed