Anyone used the meaningfulacademy website for retirement planning

LV_426

As someone potentially close to retirement, I'm looking around for any guidance and sources of information. I've become aware of the meaningfulacademy site
It provides a course on retirement planning, and includes a year's subscription to Voyant Go (absolutely brilliant planning tool IMO).

Just wondering if anyone has signed up for this and has any views? It does cost £649, which includes the £120 annual fee for Voyant. But this is substantially cheaper than engaging a financial advisor, which can typically cost ££££'s.

I'm thinking it could suit my needs, as I've already done some planning, and I'm looking for ways to verify my plans and give me more confidence really. 

Any views on this site appreciated.

NoMore

I listen to his Podcast and regularly check his youtube, Pete seems a really good guy and is good at explaining concepts to the layman. From that I have never found a need to actually pay him for advice or access to his courses. Can't see what he provides that he doesn't already do for free.

LV_426

Yes Pete's podcasts look good. I've just started season 16 at meaningfulmoney.tv

dunstonh

 It does cost £649,

I suspect that is VATable.  And Voyant Go would be £120 on top next year (Voyant Go costs £75 per month for 25 licences assuming default terms.  That is is £900 a year.  So, if it is then being resold at £120 per licence then that is 25x£120 = £3,000).

£649 plus VAT = £811.25.  Plus Voyant Go in year 2 is a further £120.  That makes it £931.25

. But this is substantially cheaper than engaging a financial advisor, which can typically cost ££££'s.

It depends on your fund value.   Obviously, they are different services that don't do the same thing apart from a small area of overlap (although the overlap doesn't have any consumer protection with one method).   Just under £200k assuming 0.50% p.a. adviser charge is the breakeven point.    Beyond that, it depends on what you want as there are clear differences.

An adviser will do it all for you.   This service appears to teach you to self plan.

I tend to find that the vast majority of people don't want to use long term ongoing cashflow planning tools.  I am not a big fan of them either.    You tend to find that some people buy into the idea initially but get bored constantly updating it.  Those that I have seen on peoples files a decade or so later turned out to be widely inaccurate and a complete waste of time.   However, some people really buy into the ongoing way.  I suspect the people that run their diary, day and life to a strict regime will enjoy it.   If you are the sort of person that is less regimented in how they spend and more spontaneous on what you do the less value it will offer.

There is certainly a place for cashflow planning and they are very useful when used correctly for how and when and where to drawdown to achieve goals but that tends to be more snapshot in nature and that is more than suitable for the vast majority of people.  

HHarry

I’ve watched a lot of the videos which I like & find informative - but I have to be careful as my portfolio runs very close to his ‘advice’ (I know it’s not proper advice), and we all love a bit of confirmation bias!