Testimonials

“My family and I want to thank you and Karen for providing excellent coverage of what's involved in being an Attorney for LPAs and Executor for Wills. All the family said how useful the session was and how it has opened their eyes to some issues that need to be addressed. We were not sure what to expect as the subject is very daunting but were very pleased that Chris handled it in such a way that we were able to easily assimilate the information.”

Our Daughter said:

“I found the session that Chris and Karen facilitated with my family to be extremely valuable. What he advocates for, and is so passionate about, is essential life lessons that everyone should experience. Creating the space to have these conversations is so important and is the kind thing to do as a family. Chris' approach is very direct and objective, which ensures the best outcome from the session. I would recommend this and hope that many more families get this opportunity so that they can be prepared for an inevitable experience.”

Our Son added:

“Chris explained things clearly and made us aware of what to do now and what to expect in the future. A very useful exercise and good investment of time.”

My Estate Briefing Meeting involving your Attorneys and your Executors

“Having been briefed by Chris to complete his various proformas anticipating our demise, (Later Life Documents,) we were not enthusiastic and somewhat negative. Planning our deaths was quite depressing.

Chris offered to meet with us and our daughters to introduce them to what lay ahead for them as owners of our Lasting Powers of Attorney and Executors.

Chris and his wife came to us and met my wife and I and our three grown-up daughters. 

Sat around the kitchen table, Chris led an enthusiastic discussion on the roles of Attorney and Executor. Chris’ wife brought her personal experience to the meeting to explain the amount of information required by persons with such duties and how difficult and time-consuming it was to gather and decipher.

The discussions were far-reaching and constructive for us all and they opened our eyes to the benefits of such planning thus making our daughter’s roles easier at a difficult time, and removing anxiety and potential guilt by unwittingly, ‘getting something wrong,’ in their eyes.

The meeting ended with us all feeling less daunted by the tasks ahead, (knowing that we could change, ‘our wishes,’ at any time.)  Preparing ahead removes the pressure and eases the grief of our daughters’ roles going forward.

Chris’ wife summed up the day with, ‘Attorneys are for the living and Executors are for the dead.’”

We have known Chris for some 30 years from when he arranged a first class mortgage for us in the early 90s. He has a real penchant for client service, unlike so many businesses these days where the client or customer comes last on the list. During the last 30 years he has provided excellent advice, we rarely disagree with his proposals or suggestions but always have a good, wide ranging discussion, which forms a key part of the decision-making process. Good old fashioned trust is the basis of our relationship. Sometimes I feel he knows me better than I do. We have a strong holistic relationship so nothing is off the table for discussion. Everything, as the Americans say, from, “soup to nuts,” is on the agenda. He has that rare ability to, “wear your clothes,” and so often it is the small things that matter such as remembering birthdays and enquiring about family members. He and Karen have become good friends and it is always a pleasure to meet up and chew the cud on a wide range of topics.

For over twenty years Chris has been a great friend to me. He has guided me through the sometimes difficult pathways required to achieve my goals. In doing so, he has shown great empathy, tolerance of my failures and understanding of my needs. When necessary he has also demonstrated considerable persistence, ensuring that I complete the tasks which I find so tedious but which are essential to ensure that my affairs are kept in order and that my estate will be dealt with as smoothly as possible following my death. All this has been accomplished with a constant focus on my desired life style and with unfailing good humour. I am deeply grateful to him and consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the benefit of his support throughout the years.

I retired over 17 years ago. Chris took on the task of setting up pensions for me and subsequently organising other personal finance investments and family trusts. During that time he provided a proactive and very responsive service. He also took time to take an interest in myself and family. All in all a very professional service.

I have had the benefit of knowing Chris for 25 years during which time he has successfully managed to provide sound financial advice whilst at the same time understanding the challenges of everyday family life. Meeting life objectives remain the priority and understanding that financial objectives are simply a means to achieve them. Thanks Chris.

Until we got involved with Christopher Mellor, our approach to financial matters was unstructured and we were simply jogging along without much thought or proper forward planning. As our IFA, Christopher taught us the value of thoughtful, informed, and relevant financial planning based on reality, future aspirations, lifestyle as well as family considerations, and we're now reaping the rewards of this in our retirement. Christopher has a remarkable ability to see round corners and offer helpful, constructive and sometimes challenging advice, which we much value. Without a shadow of doubt, working with Christopher ranks as one of the very best, if not THE best, financial decision we've ever made. We really would recommend him to anyone!

Chris Mellor has been my financial adviser for over 20years. During this time, apart from looking after my investments, Chris has also given me invaluable advice on setting up a trust fund for my children, sorting out my power of attorney and my will. He has always been there to give reassurance and advice on both financial and family matters even when he has been away with his family.

Thanks to your coaching, Chris, we worked out that I could retire from a job I no longer enjoyed, seven years earlier than I had expected. The last three years have been fantastic.

For over 30 years Chris has helped me manage my pension and has given sound advice on other matters relating to my financial well-being. In addition, he has always looked ahead and advised on the safeguarding of my family in the future. I have always found Chris to be knowledgeable, reliable and very responsive to any queries I have had.

I have known Christopher for over 30 years. Initially he provided financial advice to my husband and I, arranging mortgages, pensions and investments over a number of years, all carefully tailored to our needs after involving us in detailed discussions of our requirements. He provided invaluable practical support and advice to me when my husband died, helping me through an extremely difficult time. He takes careful account of his clients' wishes and attitudes to risk, considering current and long term needs. I have always found his advice to be reliable and I appreciate the time he spent ensuring that he understood my financial circumstances. He is able to respond swiftly to changing cashflow requirements and to give common sense advice when the markets are particularly volatile. I trust his advice and value his friendship.

Chris has been guiding us financially for almost 40 years now, and has always gone a step further than pure financial advice. He has taken a holistic approach to finance considering us as individuals, thinking of our families, our hopes and wishes and has gently pushed us in a direction to get the most we can out of life and money!

Chris’s support and positive approach to any financial issues we might raise has been excellent. Always available to answer questions clearly and simply, Chris also produces an interesting and relevant Newsletter. That he has been our financial adviser for more than 20 years, and has become a family friend, reflects our confidence in following his advice.

For many years Christopher has guided me through the financial minefield. He has clarified anything I don't understand in a clear way, usually with diagrams but I can then follow what he is saying. I have no hesitation in recommending Christopher for pastoral care and coaching.

Thankfully I was introduced to Christopher over 25 years ago. Since that time he has been a sounding board, advisor but more importantly a friend. The enthusiasm, passion and knowledge that he brings to any meeting is unmatched in my opinion. He is extremely objective, and makes me think twice about any suggestions I have, ensuring I am making the right decisions, not just for myself but more importantly my family. He is a great listener and does ask some challenging questions. Chris is extremely personable and I would have no hesitation in recommending him.

I have known Christopher for 35 years in his professional capacity as a Wealth Planner. Over that time he has shown himself to be meticulous and well-organised with a huge capacity for work, with an approach which has always been appropriate to my needs. The depth and breadth of his knowledge of the financial market place has enabled him to provide me with technical, common sense and, when necessary, calm and reassuring advice that has always been independent, appropriate and well thought through.

My wife and I have had a longstanding association with Chris – he first secured the mortgage for our house purchase that completed on 16th October 1987, the day following the great storm when the banking system shut down – not that he could be blamed for this! Since then he has dealt with our pensions and other investments and the pensions for my colleagues in our company scheme. Chris is possibly the most genuine and straightforward person I have met in the financial services sector (and as a former finance director of a listed company I have met a few). Beyond that he has always shown concern and consideration over the issues that impact us all from time to time.

Chris has been looking after my financial and well-being for nigh on 25 years. He has been a steadying influence calming both employment and family issues without preaching or criticism giving sound practical advice and has always made time to listen. He has always been able to clear dense ‘jungle’ perceived by me to give a clear way forward. A good man to have on your side.

I have known Christopher for some 25 years, and followed him on his career path. His advice has always been practical and reassuring. He is always approachable and has a wide circle of contacts to help with matters outside his core activities. I have the highest regard for his advice and guidance,

Thank you for hosting and facilitating our Family Meeting today. Our daughters found it stimulating and thought-provoking. They all saw the benefits and the responsibilities under a Lasting Power of Attorney and as an Executor. Karen’s input was invaluable.