Edward Cooper

Most people come to me with a question about money. Pensions, investments, whether they can afford to stop working. Underneath it, though, there is nearly always a bigger question, and it is rarely about money at all. Will I be okay? Do I have enough? What is all of this actually for?

That is where I start. Life first, plan second, money last.

I am a financial planner at Vita Planning in Harrogate, and I have worked in financial services for over a decade. The longer I do this, the more convinced I am that the numbers are the easy part. The real work is understanding the life you want to live, what you want more of, what you want less of, and what you would regret never getting round to. Once we know that, we can build a plan around it, and only then does it make sense to talk about where the money sits.

In practice, that means a clear picture of your financial future mapped out year by year, so you can see what your money makes possible. Could you retire earlier than you thought? Could you help the children now rather than later? Could you take a year out, drop to three days a week, or simply spend a little more freely without the nagging worry that it will catch up with you? Those are the questions worth answering, and a good plan answers them.

It is not a one off piece of work either. Life moves, and the plan moves with it. Sitting down together each year to see where you are and adjust as things change is the most valuable part of what I do, and the reason my clients tend to stay with me for a very long time.

Most of my work is retirement planning and lifestyle financial planning, and I work with people at every stage of that journey. Those still building, who want to know they are on the right track. Those approaching retirement, who want to know when they can stop and what life looks like afterwards. And those already retired, who want confidence that the money will keep doing its job for as long as they need it to.

Financial planning does not need to be overwhelming. With the right conversation first, and the right expertise behind it, it becomes something far simpler: a clear view of where you are heading, and the freedom to get on with living. If that is the kind of conversation you have been looking for, I would be glad to have it with you.

When I am not at work, my time is spent with my wife and our two energetic young boys, who keep life busy and full of fun. I coach my eldest’s football team in Silsden, which is every bit as chaotic and rewarding as it sounds. I am an avid reader of fiction, love listening to music, and cherish our family trips to Cornwall.