Four Seasons
Four Seasons Financial Planning is an FCA-authorised, fee-based independent financial adviser in Surrey, UK, specializing in retirement, pension, investment, and inheritance tax planning for individual clients in Epsom, Ewell, and surrounding areas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersEwell, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Four Seasons does
Four Seasons Financial Planning Limited is a privately held, FCA-authorized independent financial advisory firm founded in 2005 by Ray Martin and headquartered in Ewell, Surrey, with a secondary office in Epsom. The firm specializes in retirement and pension planning, investment management, and inheritance tax planning, serving predominantly individual clients in Epsom, Ewell, Ashtead, and the surrounding Surrey region. It was established as one of the UK's first fee-based advisers, declining commission income in favour of transparent fee charging. The team comprises approximately seven specialists, of whom two — Ray Martin and Adrien Houdet — are FCA-authorised financial planners, supported by chartered paraplanners (including Katherine Mock, a two-time Paraplanner of the Year), a compliance consultant, an office manager, and administrative staff.
The firm's core service catalogue includes a Financial Strategy Service (2-3 meetings delivering a bespoke plan), Research and Recommendations, Retirement Planning and Transition Services, Inheritance Tax Planning, Investment Management, Drawdown Pension advisory, and ongoing annual reviews. Investment research is sourced through a partnership with Ned Davis Research (NDR), an institutional-grade provider, supported by cashflow modelling software and probability-testing tools based on 100 years of historical returns. Distribution is delivered through face-to-face consultations at the Ewell and Epsom offices, supplemented by online meetings and an inbound contact form; marketing combines a blog, VouchedFor reviews (5-star, 97% rating value for money), and earned-media inclusion in The Times and Telegraph Top Rated Adviser guides in 2018-23 and 2025.
The revenue model is fee-based and recurring: clients pay for an initial strategy service, research and recommendation engagements, and ongoing guidance, with fees typically deducted from investments. Pricing is publicly disclosed — one of only ~5% of UK advisers to do so — and includes a fee guarantee and price-matching against comparable 4.5-star VouchedFor-rated retirement specialists. Customer concentration is on retail individuals within a defined Surrey geography rather than on a small number of enterprise accounts, with relationship tenures averaging 10-20+ years.
Four Seasons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Four Seasons
- Legal name
- Four Seasons Financial Planning Limited
- Website
- https://fourseasonsfp.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Four Seasons Financial Planning is an FCA-authorised, fee-based independent financial adviser in Surrey, UK, specializing in retirement, pension, investment, and inheritance tax planning for individual clients in Epsom, Ewell, and surrounding areas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Four Seasons industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Financial Advisory
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory (FSAEABAD), Budgeting & Cash-Flow Management (FSAGADAA)
Keywords
Where Four Seasons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ewell
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Four Seasons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fee-based Financial Advice: Four Seasons operates as one of the first fee-based advisers in the country, charging fees for their services rather than earning commission. They charge for initial financial strategy service, research and recommendations on existing pensions and investments, and ongoing guidance and reviews.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Initial meeting - Free |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Financial Strategy Service - Contact for pricing |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Research and Recommendations - Contact for pricing |
| Subscription | Annual | Ongoing Guidance - Contact for pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Four Seasons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Four Seasons Financial Planning is an independent, FCA-authorised financial adviser that helps individuals in Surrey convert their accumulated pensions, savings and investments into a stress-free retirement income. Its service suite covers financial strategy development, research and recommendations on existing pensions/investments, retirement planning, drawdown pension guidance, investment management, inheritance tax planning, and ongoing reviews, delivered via face-to-face and online consultations on a fee-based (rather than commission) model.
Product overview
Four Seasons Financial Planning offers a suite of financial advisory services centered around retirement planning. Their core offerings include a Financial Strategy Service (involving 2-3 meetings to understand goals and create a bespoke plan), Research and Recommendations Service (reviewing existing pensions and investments), Retirement Planning and Transition Services, Inheritance Tax Planning, Investment Management guided by five key principles, Drawdown Pension guidance, and Ongoing Guidance for continued financial wellbeing. The firm operates on a fee-based model rather than commission, providing transparency in pricing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Strategy Service A comprehensive process to understand client goals, review existing financial arrangements, and create a bespoke financial plan. Includes 2-3 meetings covering retirement planning, investment strategy and overall financial wellbeing. Targeted at individuals seeking a structured plan.
- Research and Recommendations Service Review of existing pensions and investments combined with recommendations for new products that benefit the client's financial situation, delivered in a tactics report. For individuals with existing pensions or investments who need expert review and product recommendations.
- Retirement Planning Service Comprehensive retirement planning for individuals 10-20 years away from retirement, including scenario modelling, goal discovery and creation of a roadmap to achieve retirement lifestyle objectives. Targeted at pre-retirees.
- Retirement Transition Service Financial guidance for individuals approaching retirement age, offering reassurance and peace of mind through future projections and planning to ensure clients can live the lifestyle they want. Targeted at those about to retire.
- Inheritance Tax Planning Service Estate planning service focused on passing on wealth effectively, including strategies to minimise Inheritance Tax through gifting, trusts and updating wills. Covers the seven-year rule and trust structures. For individuals concerned about IHT liability.
- Investment Management Portfolio management guided by five key investment principles: identifying goals first, using Ned Davis Research for analysis, minimising costs through passive investments, reducing client hassle, and tax-efficient investment structuring. For clients needing ongoing portfolio management.
- Drawdown Pension Service Advisory service for accessing pension funds through drawdown arrangements, including UFPLS withdrawal plans and income strategy optimisation for retirement. For clients drawing down pension assets in retirement.
- Ongoing Guidance Service Continuous financial advice and plan adjustments aligned with the client's financial strategy and retirement wellbeing objectives, including regular reviews and monitoring. For existing clients requiring long-term ongoing advice.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of clients rated the firm 5 out of 5 for value for money on VouchedFor
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Four Seasons
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Four Seasons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Four Seasons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Four Seasons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- True Potential: UK wealth manager with a platform-driven IFA network offering pension, investment, and retirement planning. Comparable in integrated retirement proposition, but uses a technology-led model that contrasts with Four Seasons' face-to-face approach.
- St. James's Place: Large UK wealth manager offering retirement planning, investment management, and inheritance-tax solutions via a national adviser network. Comparable in service mix (pensions, drawdown, IHT, ongoing reviews) but materially larger AUM and broader geographic reach.
- Brewin Dolphin: UK wealth manager delivering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advice to private clients. Overlaps in retirement and inheritance-tax planning for affluent individuals, with broader geographic coverage.
- Rathbones: UK wealth manager providing bespoke investment management, retirement, and estate planning to individuals and families. Comparable in tailored retirement-income advice, but operates nationally with discretionary mandates.
- Quilter: UK financial adviser and wealth manager providing pension, investment, and retirement-income planning via a national IFA and platform network. Comparable advisory offering and retirement specialism, but with platform scale Four Seasons lacks.
- Tilney Smith & Williamson: UK wealth manager and financial adviser covering investment management, retirement planning, and estate/IHT planning. Comparable product set and client profile (affluent individuals approaching retirement), but national footprint and discretionary AUM scale are far larger.
- Charles Stanley: UK private client wealth manager offering investment management, pension and retirement planning, and inheritance-tax advice. Direct overlap in retirement-income and investment services for high-net-worth individuals.
Direct peers
- Portafina: UK retirement-specialist IFA focused on pension consolidation, drawdown, and retirement income. Comparable in client segment (pre-retirees and at-retirement individuals) and retirement-only specialism, but with a national online-led funnel.
- Retirement Line: UK specialist adviser focused exclusively on pension drawdown and retirement-income planning. Closest peer by service specialism (at-retirement advice) but operates nationally and via phone rather than face-to-face.
Others
- VouchedFor: UK independent verified review platform for financial advisers and solicitors — Four Seasons is a featured 5-star adviser on the platform. Listed here as an ecosystem participant that drives client acquisition and trust signals rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Four Seasons compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Four Seasons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Four Seasons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Four Seasons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Four Seasons M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Four Seasons
What does Four Seasons do?
Four Seasons Financial Planning is an independent, FCA-authorised financial adviser that helps individuals in Surrey convert their accumulated pensions, savings and investments into a stress-free retirement income. Its service suite covers financial strategy development, research and recommendations on existing pensions/investments, retirement planning, drawdown pension guidance, investment management, inheritance tax planning, and ongoing reviews, delivered via face-to-face and online consultations on a fee-based (rather than commission) model.
Is Four Seasons a public or private company?
Four Seasons is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Four Seasons founded?
Four Seasons was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Four Seasons based?
Four Seasons is headquartered in Ewell, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Four Seasons make money?
One revenue line is on record: fee-based Financial Advice.
Who are Four Seasons's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are True Potential, St. James's Place, Brewin Dolphin, Rathbones, Quilter, Tilney Smith & Williamson and Charles Stanley. Direct peers are Portafina and Retirement Line. VouchedFor is listed as an others.
Does Four Seasons have an API?
No public API is recorded for Four Seasons.
What industry is Four Seasons in?
Four Seasons's product category is Independent Financial Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAAAA, Comprehensive Financial Planning, with a secondary code of FSAEABAD, Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.