Over the many years I have lived in the Poole and Bournemouth areas, I have got to know a lot of people, some of them through my leisure interests and some through my work. My clients become part of my community, in the sense that, if they want, I can build a link with someone who I know, maybe for some work-related service, or maybe a social contact or a tradesman. On this page you can meet some of the people and organisations in my community and who you might also want to get to know. Just one disclaimer – no-one can please everyone all the time and, just because I rate someone highly and am happy to pass their details on, that doesn’t mean I’m guaranteeing their work or that I take any responsibility if things don’t work out between you.

Also, just because someone I know is not on this page, that  doesn’t mean I don’t rate them. I probably just haven’t got round to putting them on yet.  If you think I’ve forgotten you, please let me know.

Financial advisers and stockbrokers

No disrespect to advisers who work for banks or product providers, because I know they work very hard and believe in the product and organisation they’re working for. However, I always recommend to my clients that they take advice from someone who is free to choose recommendations from the whole financial marketplace. I know financial advice is a bit of a dirty word these days, and probably most of us would be better off just now if we’d stuffed what we had in 2007 under the mattress in used fivers. However I still believe you need to invest for long term income and growth and for that you need good impartial advice.

Also, there’s no such thing as free advice. You’ll be paying for it, one way or another, in commisssions and management chrges, even if you don’t pay a fee at the start. A good financial adviser should be willing to give you an hour or two of time initially to see how you get on. After that though, you should be expecting to pay for time taken.

I’ve worked a lot over the past 8 years or so with Chris Ryan. He owns Apex CB Financial Planning in Weymouth and you can find him at www.apexcb.com I’ve also done good work with Mark Lambert at Norris & Fisher in Christchurch and you can find him at www.norrisandfisher.co.uk . Both see clients all over SE Dorset and further afield and operate small firms giving personal service.

I’ve also had good service from a number of stockbrokers and investment managers in my time. If you’re looking for one, here are some people I think it’s worth talking to:

Bob Hipkiss at Farley & Thompson, Bournemouth (www.farleyandthompson.co.uk)

Caroline Mills and Jonathan Yousufsai at Thesis Asset Management in Lymington (www.thesis-plc.com)

Cheryl Kellock at Edward Jones Ferndown telephone 01202890514 (www.

David Stocks and Adam Hughes at Rowan PLC in Westbourne Bournemouth (http://www.rowanplc.com)

Remember though, it’s your decision whether to engage any of these people.

Categories to follow:

Carers groups

Social groups for older people

Tradesmen