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testimonials

'After 20 years I’d recommend Cailean 100%'

"In 2005 I was looking to get a handle on investments and pensions I had while working and met Colin via a connection. Colin got to know our current situation and helped us build a picture of how retirement could look, and we have been working together since we first met in 2005. We have had our regular update meeting with Colin and are really pleased with how things have progressed. The advice given has been very good, and we can report that our financial situation is in good health. We are very happy with the service that Colin has provided and is on hand to yap when we need to discuss idea or thoughts. I'd recommend Cailean 100%."

'Colin has the client's best interests at heart at all times'

“I had taken early retirement from my work. This allowed me to withdraw my pension and the numbers involved were frightening. The previous adviser promised me the world and this sounded great. That quickly turned sour. I was let down by them and I lost confidence. Their advice did not match the long-term views we had originally set and I believed he did not have my best interests in everything that he done. Then I met Colin and he helped stop the rot. Colin has listened to the concerns I had and through long discussions he set out his views on the best way forward with the investments I had to ensure long term cover. This has greatly helped to alleviate the concerns I had about my investments and the long-term view of cover. The drop in the savings and cover has slowed down a lot and is starting to level out. This could not have been done without Colin’s help and if I had stayed with my previous adviser most, if not all, of the investment would have been gone by now. I just wish I had come in to contact with Colin before I met my first adviser. Colin is straightforward, open and honest in all he does. He has the client’s best interests at heart at all times.”

'Professional, approachable and incredibly knowledgeable'

“As a young couple in our mid-thirties, navigating life insurance and protection felt overwhelming until we met Colin. From the first conversation, Colin was professional, approachable and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything in simple terms, ensuring we fully understood our options and what would best suit our needs and future plans. His guidance helped us put solid protections in place, giving us peace of mind as we build our life together. We’re so grateful for the care and attention he showed throughout the process. Highly recommended to anyone looking for tailored financial advice!”

'Exceptional service and peace of mind'

“We recently worked with Colin and his team at Cailean to set up life insurance and protection, and the experience was really fantastic. Colin's help and support were invaluable, especially as our priorities have shifted since having a young son. He took the time to understand our needs, walk us through the options with clarity and care, ensuring we fully understood and felt confident in what we were doing. His attention to detail and genuine concern for ensuring our family’s future is protected gave us incredible peace of mind. We now feel reassured that our son will be looked after no matter what. If you’re looking for someone who truly listens and provides tailored, expert advice, we wholeheartedly recommend a chat with Colin. Thank you, for helping us secure what matters most!"

'Efficient and personable'

"I was looking for a new financial adviser when my previous adviser retired. Colin McGugan and his firm were recommended to me and my then husband. Colin was efficient at gaining a perspective on what I was looking to do in terms of my pension and what type of person I was regarding money, saving and risk taking. He communicated well what he thought would be the best way to go for me going forward, making it as clear as possible for me. I’ve found Colin and his staff have been very good and efficient and personable in any dealings that I’ve had with them and made dealing with matters, especially whilst getting divorced, literally as smooth and painless as possible. I would be more than happy to recommend Colin and his company."

'In one visit I had a plan for the future in place'

"Colin basically rescued me. I was in a situation where my husband had died prematurely and intestate. In one visit, I had a plan for the future in place, a way forward out of a very dark place and an income. Colin constantly thinks out of the box and has a depth of knowledge and vision to give each client their own individual solution. He also enjoys what he does. Colin is not only a perfectionist who looks at a situation from all angles but he has fire in his belly. He changes complicated to simplicity. Colin is also definitely a people person. He communicates well to ensure that there is a solid base for a continuing working relationship. I cannot recommend his services as a financial adviser highly enough. I had completely lost my footing and now I am on solid ground."

'Clear, sympathetic and very effective advice'

“Colin has been our financial adviser for over 20 years and we could not be happier with the clear, sympathetic and very effective advice he has given - which has seen us through difficult times including redundancy, various health issues and retirement. He has our utmost confidence. We love his style. He is very clearly a ‘people person’ and navigates through very carefully and with humour - the different approach my husband and I have to managing finances, always resulting in both of us feeling we have got exactly what we want! He is refreshingly jargon-free and for those not an expert in complex financial terminology, his advice is always clear and easily understood. He is a good listener and is great at minimising any anxiety we may have from time to time by explaining his strategy and why he recommends a certain course of action. He has never let us down. And now we can see that the plans he made for us over the years have created a solid financial basis on which we can enjoy a stress-free and comfortable retirement. He has a great team around him too who react very quickly and positively to deliver on what we might have agreed during our regular update meetings. I Would highly recommend Colin and his team to anyone in need of financial planning advice.”

Lifestyle planning advice was 'a revelation'

"I was recently introduced to Colin when my previous financial adviser retired. He arranged a meeting promptly, and gave a clear explanation of how Cailean would work with me. Colin spent a lot of time establishing my present circumstances and concerns, and swiftly came up with clear solutions to a few ongoing issues. These were put in motion promptly and I was kept well-informed. He also advised me on how to make the most of my income to maximise my lifestyle, which was a bit of a revelation! Colin and his team respond very quickly to any contact made with them and could not be more helpful. I am financially illiterate, but have never been made to feel so; Colin provides clear explanations in language I can understand. My only suggestion would be to provide a short, written summary of the plan agreed at the annual review as a reminder for clients. I would be happy to recommend Cailean to others based on my experience."

Retired adviser 'could not have chosen better' firm to transfer clients

"I am a retired financial adviser who has just transferred my business to Cailean. I chose Cailean after they were recommended to me by a colleague in the financial world who works with hundreds of advisers. My brief to him was that I was looking for a financial adviser who he would be happy to invest his funds with. He recommended Cailean. After meeting with Colin it quickly became apparent that we share the same values - that money is a tool to deliver the lifestyles that each of us want and our job (now his job) is to really understand our clients - their hopes and dreams and also their worries and concerns so that we can maximise their potential to hit the first and minimise the impact of the latter. Part of the commitment to this goal is keeping fees highly competitive. We are now just over six months into the transfer and typical feedback from clients is 'Colin is wonderful', 'He is just so kind and helpful', 'You could not have chosen better' . Clearly, they are delighted which is also highlighted in the fact that they have been recommending Colin to family and friends. I entrusted my clients - many of whom are family and friends - to Cailean and indeed I am also a client myself. Actions speak louder than words! I would highly recommend."

'Advice and support are second-to-none'

"My husband had recently taken early retirement and we had moved to a new house. Unfortunately, due to the recession, our previous house didn’t sell for some time, and we found ourselves with two mortgages. Colin gathered information regarding our income and expenditure and devised a plan that lumped the two mortgages together, making payments more manageable. Once I retired, we were able to pay off both mortgages and a car loan using my ‘lump sum’. This meant we were now debt free with a steady income from both our work pensions Unfortunately, my husband died very suddenly and unexpectedly at the beginning of 2023. Colin’s help and support have been invaluable. He looked again at my income and contacted relevant bodies about my finances putting everything in order clarifying my new financial position. Colin was, as always, very professional and supportive limiting my stress and anxiety with his exceptional support. He continues to manage my finances and his regular reviews, support and advice ensures I am fully informed and confident in my financial situation. I have total confidence in Colin and the professional and supportive way in which he handles my finances. He is very professional and knowledgeable explaining every step to ensure understanding, particularly now I am on my own. His advice and support are second-to-none. I have already recommended Colin to family and friends."

'You won't go wrong by approaching Cailean'

"When I announced my intention to retire from financial services, many of my clients became concerned about what would happen to them after I had gone - adviser wise. I was very fortunate that during my years of advising and helping clients I had built up solid, friendly relationships with them based on trust, honesty and integrity. I had met Colin on a few occasions and knew of his sound reputation in financial services. I spoke to several representatives from product providers that we all dealt with and everyone had glowing reports about Colin. That, coupled with my own thoughts, convinced me to talk to my clients about Colin. Everyone was more than happy to meet with him at their next review based on my recommendation. Suffice to say that all the clients are thoroughly happy with the levels of his service. He is easy to talk to and has a very professional approach to the advice process, without being overpowering and using jargon to explain things. He simplifies the process and contracts in a way that makes it easy to understand. Therefore, if you or your friends are in need of some financial advice now, or in the future and are wondering where to go and who to trust, you won't go wrong by approaching Cailean and Colin McGugan for a first-class professional assessment of your circumstances and advice."

'Retirement plan allowed me to pursue personal ambitions'

"Following an unexpected divorce, I initially took advice from Colin on my pension provision as the prospect of financial security for a joint retirement had dramatically been eliminated. Like most people who have moved jobs over their career, I had a few different pension pots and with Colin’s input and expertise I decided to amalgamate my provision into one pot that was reinvested. The anxiety I had felt about my financial projection for retirement was eased by Colin’s straightforward and sensible approach in recommending a strategy for me; he listened attentively and was able to assure me that my situation was not as dire as I had imagined it to be. The excellent plan growth over the first couple of years gave me the confidence that I could choose a different path for my life, culminating in a decision to retire early from my longstanding career to pursue a change in direction and engage in a lifestyle business. The benefits of this decision mean that I have been able to align my future with a gentler way of life, and indulge in new avenues to improve my wellbeing. Whilst circumstances may change in the future, I am confident that the advice Colin gave, and continues to provide, in relation to planning a lifestyle retirement allowed me to pursue personal ambitions that may not otherwise have been possible. The annual review Cailean offer as part of their service is of ongoing benefit in discussing new ideas with Colin and has been particularly useful in keeping my pension considerations agile. I firmly believe that the trust I have in Colin’s advice continues to provide positive and bespoke prospects for my future. I highly recommend Cailean to others who are considering a change of life direction and need first rate financial advice to make that change happen."

'Retirement plan delivered thanks to Cailean'

"Colin has been our financial adviser for over 20 years, during the most critical points in retirement and financial planning. There have been employment and career changes for myself and my husband which Colin has helped us navigate by providing sound and professional advice at all times. There is a six year age gap between myself and my husband, which was always a topic that Colin strongly encouraged us to give serious consideration to in our planning process. Regular discussions when our circumstances were changing were extremely reassuring. Colin demonstrating that we were on track to achieve our goals built confidence in our plans for the future and helped focus our decision making process for retirement. Our goal was for my husband to retire at 63 and me at 60. It's great to be able to say that the plan delivered. My husband has already been retired for two years and I'm on track to retire in August 2025. Knowing that we are doing so with a solid financial position thanks to the advice provided by Colin is very gratifying. Colin is professional and friendly and as such takes the worry out of many of these discussions. His team are also quick to react and very supportive as and when required. Thanks to their professionalism, knowledge and guidance, I'm fortunate enough to be retiring at 60."

'Sound advice has left us relaxed about our finances'

"We’ve used Colin successfully as a financial adviser for over eight years to date and from the initial meeting where he set out our options we have been happy with his guidance. He has led us both through the maze of financial options and shown us the numerous pitfalls that are easy to fall into. While maybe not having the most amount of monies to invest, he has given us options which have allowed us to be relaxed about the money we have and should we require any funding it is accessible. We have seen returns on our investments which, if required in the future, we know are relatively secure. We are very happy with the service that Colin has provided. He takes careful account of your risk factors and provides options. Working in tandem is vital. Everyone must realise that there are no guarantees, and that only by setting realistic targets are you likely to remain in a positive situation. We have recommended Cailean to a number of friends and colleagues."

'Glad to have found someone to help us manage our money to create the life we want'

"When the possibility of voluntary severance and early retirement presented itself this year, with tight timescales to make some big decisions, Colin was the obvious person to seek advice from. We have worked with him for nine years now, and know that he’s not only professional and knowledgeable, but also warm, sensitive and very much tuned in to what we as clients need. He guided us through the financial options, helping us understand what each might mean for our future lifestyle, then decide on the best one for us. He listened carefully to our uncertainties and gave us a clear idea about how this next phase of life could work financially, suggesting ways to ensure adequate short, medium and long term income. We’d arrived feeling a bit overwhelmed but left the meeting very much reassured and confident about the future - excited in fact. Colin isn’t just a numbers person, he’s most definitely a people person too and we’re glad to have found someone to help us manage our money to create the life we want. Thank you Colin!"

'Reassured that everything is on plan for our early retirement'

"Thank you for meeting with us to finalise our pension plans. Your advice and expertise were very informative and helpful. We were reassured by you that everything was on plan for our early retirement. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that our expectations were exceeded. We would absolutely recommend and suggest Colin and his team for any financial advice. We look forward to continued business with Cailean."