Having recently moved back to Cumbria from Glasgow, we wanted a local financial adviser. After researching and receiving recommendations from our neighbours, we approached Steve at Armstrong Watson. Despite his busy schedule, Steve got back to us the same day and arranged a meeting.

Steve welcomed us to the beautiful new offices at Rosehill in Carlisle. He took the time to understand our needs and objectives, answering all our questions. We learned more in our first meeting with Steve than we had with our previous adviser.

Steve carefully considered our entire financial picture, including aspects we hadn’t previously thought about, and presented a solution that perfectly met our objectives. We highly recommend Steve and Armstrong Watson to anyone looking for a new financial adviser.

Our family business has been supported by Armstrong Watson over the past 40 years, this alone is testament to the quality service and invaluable advice they provide us. They are only a phone call away, whether it be about tax, pensions, payroll, accounts or personnel queries.

We know that we can pick up the phone and our queries will be promptly dealt with in a professional but friendly manner. To be quite frank we would be lost without them.

We were undertaking a review of our pension scheme, a benefit which has been much valued by the members and felt that to provide the additional support during the transitional period, we needed to bring in the services of a professional financial adviser firm. It was important to us that the firm was local to Cumbria and able to create a trusted relationship with our colleagues who were trying to understand how the proposed changes would or could affect them.

The feedback from our members has been extremely positive; they valued the independent, professional and considered advice and support the team at Armstrong Watson were able to provide.

Nothing seemed to be too much trouble and the advice given to the members has been critical in allowing informed decisions to be made.

Working with Armstrong Watson has been a positive experience and we hope to continue to build on this relationship for future initiatives.

Peter has been our go-to adviser through some pretty tricky times over the past few years. Moving from purely the agricultural sector to branching out into hospitality has been mainly made possible by following Peter's advice and guidance. Peter has not only offered financial planning and accountancy guidance but has been a very trusted family advisor. Having someone to act as a knowledgeable well-informed sounding board for ideas who provides impartial, well informed advice and feedback is priceless - something we value greatly.

We've grown our veterinary business steadily over the last 17 years and in the last few years, with Justin's help, we have negotiated many obstacles that life and business can throw at you. He has helped us set up our pensions, rearrange our borrowing and with our long term tax planning.

I really feel that our company's financial health is in good hands and that we are now properly proactive rather than reactive. We know that we have a safe pair of hands and That Justin is at the end of the phone should we have any financial issues.

Armstrong Watson have been my business accountants for 20 years, so when I needed retirement advice on my deferred pensions I had built up many years ago, Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Ltd were my first choice.
At the first meeting, Justin covered a wide range of topics. He came over as professional,calm, not pushy and explained technical issues in layman terms. This initial meeting with Justin gave me the confidence to continue working with him and not seek another independent financial advisor.

I have built up a good working relationship with both Justin and the investment manager which Justin recommended and I know that if I ever have any questions or requests I can contact them for assistance.
This all works so well that my partner is now looking at moving their investment portfolio to Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Ltd too.

We have been clients of Armstrong Watson for many years and have been extremely satisfied with the services they provide. More recently Helen Tansley has helped us set up Automatic Enrolment for our staff and guided us through the intacaies and pitfalls of the system; which was much appriecated.

Whatever your field of business we would highly recommend Armstrong Watson.

I first encountered Justin when he provided training for my work colleagues about the introduction of Auto Enrolment and I was impressed by the quality of the information provided and Justin's clear and knowledgeable response to concerns and questions raised. When I was looking for someone to provide me with pension advice leading up to my retirement, Justin immediately came to mind. The advice and support which Justin has provided has been excellent - just the right level of detail to allow me to make informed and realistic decisions about my pension and future finances. Justin has certainly lived up to my expectations - brilliant!

I’m a little surprised at the low levels of stress throughout the whole mortgage process!! I’m so happy that I was put in touch with you - you’ve been fab and we're so excited. Thanks again Helen!

After a lifetime of working for a living, we all have a fear that our finances will be insufficient to support us throughout our retirement. Long term financial planning is accordingly hugely important and we must have trust in our financial advisers.

Stuart and the Armstrong Watson team took the time to understand all aspects of our personal circumstances before giving advice. This is the end of the relationship for many advisers but to Stuart and his team, it is merely the start. Their ongoing commitment gives us great confidence that our financial future is being well cared for.

I first approached Armstrong Watson Financial Planning for advice on retirement and pension planning. Stuart helped me plan the most effective way to maximise my pension benefits and income needs and now also provides advice to both me and my wife on our investment portfolios.

Pensions and investments are a minefield these days but Stuart has taken the load from us and left us to enjoy our retirement!

Matthew is my parents Financial Advisor and because of their advancing years I often attended review meetings with them. Because of his kindness to them and the way he imparted information I decided that he was someone I could trust when I had a small amount of capital to invest and also when I was looking to transfer my small pension. Matt invested monies in an ISA for me and also transferred my small pension pot to make it more accessible, given the recent changes to pension rules. Matt always returns my calls or responds to emails which I appreciate. I think he gave me the best advice possible given my financial situation.

I’ve been with Armstrong Watson for over 20 years and have worked with them on quite a range of things from accounts, corporation tax, self-assessment returns and general compliance.

What sets Armstrong Watson apart from other accountants is the personal relationship we have developed. They always go the extra mile and are always there when I need help and advice.

I trust Armstrong Watson. They always act in my best interest - and having that feeling of security is priceless.

As a family owned and managed manufacturing business we have the skills and experience to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

We have the day to day running and management of the business in hand. That said, what we have never challenged ourselves on is the bigger picture, we all know our roles and responsibilities.

What the team at Armstrong Watson have done is to challenge how we work not in the business, but on the business. Their input and knowledge has allowed us to stand back from the day to day operations and work on the business, looking at the bigger, more strategic plan, rather than the day to day operational issues.

We have found, and are still finding, their input challenging, insightful and of great value. They have a wealth of knowledge and whilst we believe the issues in our family owned and managed business are unique to us, it becomes more apparent that the issues are common throughout many similar businesses.

We let the experts help us. We’ve got up to date wills, up to date pension systems, all the financial planning goes into that. How to reduce taxation, planning for retirement, planning for everything.

We plan everything. We have two year, three year, five year, 10 year plans. We do the whole lot. Armstrong Watson control the financial side of it, that’s what we let them do. We concentrate on what we do. We use the experts, we employ contractors and any experts to do the work. I know how to grow chickens, I’m a chicken farmer, I’m not a financial consultant. They do it for me. All of it.

My wife and myself needed a good, reliable financial advisor to manage our savings and pension funds. We have been very pleased with the service that has been provided for us by Justin Rourke and his team at Armstrong Watson in Penrith. We receive an approachable and honest service, and have felt reassured that our funds are being managed sensibly and in our best interests. On the strength of our own experiences, I would have no hesitation in recommending Armstrong Watson to others.

Having experienced lacklustre financial advice in the past, we were both initially reluctant to approach Justin for pension advice. We shouldn't have worried as Justin has been a breath of fresh air with his honesty and professionalism, guiding and advising us along the way from his wealth of knowledge and experience. We now feel that our finances are in safe hands and look forward to our annual review for an update on the financial world!

We moved to Armstrong Watson due to their specific legal sector expertise and knowledge. We have been very pleased with the quality and efficiency of the accountancy, tax and financial advisory services provided by Andy Poole, Graham Poles and the rest of the AW team. We value the fact they truly understand our business and the legal sector as this enables them to provide us with pro-active valued added advice and suggestions to make our business and strategic business planning even better.