Client Testimonials

Roger Froome

When we think ahead to retirement, a comfortable lifestyle and having more time to spare for the things we enjoy doing are likely to be top priorities.

For Roger Froome, from Ilford, in Essex, that dream has become a reality - with a little help from Birchwood Investment Management. Since he decided to retire in 1995, following redundancy from the giant Docklands-based newspaper printer West Ferry Printers, he has rediscovered a passion for golf, enjoys regular holidays and has brushed up his skills on the guitar, an instrument he used to play semi-professionally.

When Roger was made redundant from his job as a pre-press platemaker, West Ferry Printers arranged for him to meet Birchwood’s Trevor Simms to discuss options for his redundancy payment. He was also able to take a lump sum from his pension fund, which included eight years at West Ferry, plus service transferred from his previous employer, Express Newspapers.

With no pressing need to continue working, Roger decided to use his redundancy as an opportunity to retire, which meant that generating extra income from what added up to a substantial sum was a priority.

He liked what Trevor Simms had to say, and followed his advice to create a portfolio of investments. He says: “Taken with my state and company pensions, my investment income means that while I don’t live in the lap of luxury, I can do what I want. The capital has remained stable, and the extra income has proved very useful.”

Although Roger’s portfolio has generally performed well, he was glad to have Birchwood’s advice when he suffered a significant loss on one product. He said: “I was advised to switch the funds and as a result, there’s been some growth and I have clawed back the losses.”

As well as the reassurance of having Birchwood’s financial expertise on hand, Roger has always been particularly impressed with their customer service. He says: “When I have a query, I’ll be able to talk to someone straight away – it’s very rare that I have to wait for someone to come back to me. They operate quickly and efficiently.

“At the start, Birchwood seemed to be offering a good package and they’ve delivered on what they promised. I really can’t complain!”