Katherine Judge

My name is Katherine Judge and I’ll have been a client of Cheltenham IFA for 10 years in 2024. My adviser is Tara Wood.

I got in touch with Cheltenham IFA not long after I retired because I had moved house and released some capital on retirement, and I wanted some advice on how best to invest it.

My background was in the arts so I had no financial experience of my own other than having a savings account in my bank. So, I needed professional help to pull that together to protect the capital and help it work for me.

Fortuitously, the solicitor that I use in Cheltenham is right next door. They are neighbour companies on the same street in Cheltenham and as I had newly moved there, I didn’t have any recommendations. So, I just decided to start a dialogue with Cheltenham IFA and it’s turned out to be an extremely fruitful relationship. I’m very happy with them.

The main reason I decided to go ahead was that I felt they fully understood my situation in life. I was newly retired, in a new phase of my life with no regular income other than pensions, and they were very well versed in guiding people like me at this stage of one’s life.

I feel very reassured. I have great peace of mind when thinking of my financial future because I feel I’m in very good hands. They’ve taken into account what stage I’m at in my life, what I want from the future, particularly with regards to legacy to my children and other members of my family, and my own comfort and financial security going forward.

When I’m working with Cheltenham IFA, I have complete trust in them and I think that’s a very important first step. I felt like that from the moment I engaged them to help me look after my investments. They are efficient, friendly and responsive to any question however big or small, and there’s never a delay in anyone getting back to me even when we haven’t met in person. It’s worked very well over the phone where I’ve just wanted a piece of specific advice.

The three words I would use to describe Cheltenham IFA are experienced, professional and friendly.

The best thing for me is the relationship I have with my adviser, Tara, because I enjoy meeting people and getting to know people. I had a very people-focused job before I retired. I enjoy talking to her either on the phone or when we meet in person and I quite look forward to my annual review because I enjoy talking to her.

I would definitely recommend Cheltenham IFA to other people if the occasion arose. I’m not in the habit of recommending retailers or where I shop, for example, but I think if I met with a friend of mine, and they were wondering where to go, I would have absolutely no hesitation in telling them to start with Cheltenham IFA.