Dove Stone Financial Solutions

02/03/2026

What kind of retirement do you want? And before we talk numbers, let’s talk lifestyle.

Picture your retirement like a brochure:
☕ Slow mornings
⛺ Campervan adventures
✈️ Big annual holidays
🌿 Time freedom
🥂 Upgraded lifestyle

Most people try to calculate contributions before they’ve defined the life they want.
But lifestyle shapes the strategy.

Try this:
1. Imagine your ideal day in retirement
2. Estimate what that lifestyle might cost
3. Compare it to your current pension trajectory
4. Adjust if needed

Retirement planning starts with imagination - not spreadsheets.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you invested.

Dove Stone Financial Solutions is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority)

SJP Approved 18/12/2025

28/01/2026

I’ve been working on something behind the scenes for quite a while - and I’m really pleased to finally share it.

Today I’m launching my Retirement Readiness Check, a short, thought-provoking questionnaire designed to help you understand where you currently stand with your pensions and long-term plans.

It took time because I wanted to create something honest, purposeful and accessible - not just another quick quiz. The personalised report you receive has been carefully built to give you practical, actionable guidance and steps based on your answers.

Importantly, it isn’t financial advice - just clear insights to help you think more confidently about your future and understand the areas that might be worth exploring.

If you’d like to try it, you can start the check here 👇
https://dsfsretirement.scoreapp.com

And if anything in your report sparks questions, or you’d like to talk about your own circumstances in more detail, feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to help.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you invested.

Dove Stone Financial Solutions is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority)

SJP Approved 21/01/2026

19/01/2026

Calling all business owners 📣

Ask yourself: “Where do I want my business to be by the end of 2026”

🫵 Define your desired outcomes and plan how you’re going to get there – because clarity is the ultimate competitive advantage. Discover expert tips here: https://partnership.sjp.co.uk/article/detail/sjpp/how-business-owners-should-approach-2026.html

Dove Stone Financial Solutions is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 7/1/2026

How business owners should approach 2026

22/12/2025

🎄 BREAKING: This year’s must-have children’s Christmas toy has officially arrived…
…and apparently it’s me.

Introducing the Financial Adviser Action Figure™ – the only toy that:
🔹 Comes with its own tiny briefcase
🔹 Gives solid guidance on pensions, investments, protection and “not blowing it all on sweets”
🔹 Reassures other toys during periods of market volatility

Parents love it because it teaches children important life lessons like:
“Diversify your Lego portfolio,”
“Always check your elf-assessment,”
and
“Don’t take investment advice from the teddy who lives under the bed.”

If only giving financial advice in real life came with a soft-touch, plush exterior…

But if you’d like a real-world, human version to help you plan, invest, or make sense of things as we roll into 2026, I’m right here - briefcase optional.


🎁 Drop me a message if you fancy a chat.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. You could get back less than you invested.

Taxation rules can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

Dove Stone Financial Solutions is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 16/12/2025

04/12/2025

🏛️ Mortgage: Origins! – The dramatic backstory of the loan that runs the world

Long before comparison websites and fixed-rate deals, the humble mortgage had a far darker beginning. The word itself comes from Old French: “mort gage” - literally meaning “dead pledge.” Dramatic, right? A promise that only ends when the debt is fully repaid… or the borrower defaults. No pressure.

Picture it: medieval England, landowners striking deals under candlelight, sealing agreements with wax and handshakes. No PDFs. No affordability checks. Just a stark pact - “You keep paying, you keep the land. Stop paying… and the pledge dies.”

Fast forward to today and the vibe is slightly less medieval, but the essence remains: a mortgage is your epic quest to conquer homeownership, one monthly repayment at a time.

Thinking of beginning your own saga? I’m here to help translate the ancient art of mortgages into something that feels a lot less like a dead pledge and a lot more like a fresh start.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

We offer a comprehensive range of first charge mortgages from across the market that are made available to mortgage intermediaries for which we are paid a procuration fee by the lender.

Dove Stone Financial Solutions is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).

SJP Approved 25/11/2025