The story behind Enlightened Money...
I've been working in the world of money for 30 years. Along the way - in 2006 - I realised that providing advice about financial products and services just wasn't enough. Something was missing...
I wanted to use my skills, knowledge and experience to help people to enjoy their lives more and reduce their stress about money. After all, being wealthy seems a bit pointless if it doesn't enable you to live the life you really want. So, I decided to investigate a better way of doing things. It didn't take long (funny how the right answers often appear when we ask the right questions).
In early 2007, I was introduced to Lifestyle Financial Planning. A tried and tested way of focusing on clients’ lives first, helping them to build a financial plan to achieve that "lifestyle picture", then working with them every year to maintain the life they really want. I've been working this way ever since (and that knowledge is now encapsulated within the Enlightened Money System).
In 2013 my partner, Olivia Stefanino, and I co-founded Enlightened Money. Existing clients were very loyal and have helped us to shape the business ever since. The company simply wouldn't exist without them.
The journey over the last 30 years has shaped our values and taught us what works (and what doesn't). Having said that, we're always on the lookout for better ideas and we continually strive to improve how we look after our clients.
Clients continue to tell us that our lifestyle focused financial planning service helps them to enjoy their lives more, doing more of what they want and less of what they don’t want. They often tell us that they now sleep better, they have more fun and they worry a lot less. They also say that they look forward to their meetings with us.
Put simply, your money is either helping you to live the life you really want - or it isn't. To find out if you could be doing more, please contact me on 01244 220015 or email me: simon@enlightenedmoney.co.uk
Simon Yates
I've been working in the world of money for 30 years. Along the way - in 2006 - I realised that providing advice about financial products and services just wasn't enough. Something was missing...
I wanted to use my skills, knowledge and experience to help people to enjoy their lives more and reduce their stress about money. After all, being wealthy seems a bit pointless if it doesn't enable you to live the life you really want. So, I decided to investigate a better way of doing things. It didn't take long (funny how the right answers often appear when we ask the right questions).
In early 2007, I was introduced to Lifestyle Financial Planning. A tried and tested way of focusing on clients’ lives first, helping them to build a financial plan to achieve that "lifestyle picture", then working with them every year to maintain the life they really want. I've been working this way ever since (and that knowledge is now encapsulated within the Enlightened Money System).
In 2013 my partner, Olivia Stefanino, and I co-founded Enlightened Money. Existing clients were very loyal and have helped us to shape the business ever since. The company simply wouldn't exist without them.
The journey over the last 30 years has shaped our values and taught us what works (and what doesn't). Having said that, we're always on the lookout for better ideas and we continually strive to improve how we look after our clients.
Clients continue to tell us that our lifestyle focused financial planning service helps them to enjoy their lives more, doing more of what they want and less of what they don’t want. They often tell us that they now sleep better, they have more fun and they worry a lot less. They also say that they look forward to their meetings with us.
Put simply, your money is either helping you to live the life you really want - or it isn't. To find out if you could be doing more, please contact me on 01244 220015 or email me: simon@enlightenedmoney.co.uk
Simon Yates
Our Client Support Team...
Simon Yates CFPTM Chartered MCSI DipPFS
Co-founder, Lifestyle Financial Planner and Managing Director
Simon loves helping people to make the most of their hard work, maintain financial independence and live life on their terms. In short, he's all about helping people to do more of what they want and less of what they don't.
He is licensed as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner by the Institute of Financial Planning and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
Simon has also been an Independent Financial Adviser for 23 years and holds the Diploma in Financial Planning issued by the Personal Finance Society.
He is licensed as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner by the Institute of Financial Planning and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
Simon has also been an Independent Financial Adviser for 23 years and holds the Diploma in Financial Planning issued by the Personal Finance Society.
Olivia Stefanino
Co-founder and CEO (Chief Enlightenment Officer)
Creator of the “What Money Type Are You?” tool that we use with every client, Olivia brings her wealth of experience as a personal and business coach to Enlightened Money - and its clients.
Author of the book, “Be Your Own Guru – personal and business enlightenment in just 3 days!” Olivia has worked with both large organisations and smaller companies (many of them in the financial sector) using her unconventional wisdom to generate proven results.
Author of the book, “Be Your Own Guru – personal and business enlightenment in just 3 days!” Olivia has worked with both large organisations and smaller companies (many of them in the financial sector) using her unconventional wisdom to generate proven results.
Our Technical Support Team...
In addition to our "client facing" team, we utilise the services of a paraplanning team, who provide technical support, analysis and research to ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Richard Allum
Senior Paraplanner
Richard is a leading advocate for paraplanning in the UK. On a day-to-day basis, his technical knowledge and expertise is relied upon by many clients.
He is a Certified Financial PlannerTM with a lifelong interest in technology and cash-flow forecasting.
He is a Certified Financial PlannerTM with a lifelong interest in technology and cash-flow forecasting.
Kim Bendall
Senior Paraplanner
Following a career in accountancy, Kim joined the financial services industry in 2000. Since then she has worked as both an independent financial adviser and a paraplanner.
As a result of this experience, Kim has developed an instinctive understanding of the ways in which advisers and paraplanners can work alongside each other to help people make sense of their money.
Kim - who was named Paraplanner of the Year in the 2013 Professional Adviser Awards - holds both the Certified Financial PlannerTM and Accredited Paraplanner status from the Institute of Financial Planning, as well as being a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. Not satisfied with this, Kim continues to study to ensure she is able to rise to any challenges the financial services industry may serve up.
As a result of this experience, Kim has developed an instinctive understanding of the ways in which advisers and paraplanners can work alongside each other to help people make sense of their money.
Kim - who was named Paraplanner of the Year in the 2013 Professional Adviser Awards - holds both the Certified Financial PlannerTM and Accredited Paraplanner status from the Institute of Financial Planning, as well as being a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. Not satisfied with this, Kim continues to study to ensure she is able to rise to any challenges the financial services industry may serve up.
Gemma Dennis
Administration Manager
Gemma’s responsibilities range from client management to working with third parties to ensure all appropriate and relevant data and information is available to enable the paraplanners to carry out research, analysis and prepare recommendations.
In addition to this, Gemma works with the paraplanning team to implement investment strategies and supporting annual client reviews.
In addition to this, Gemma works with the paraplanning team to implement investment strategies and supporting annual client reviews.