Yellowtail Financial Planning

What Yellowtail Financial Planning does

Yellowtail Financial Planning is a privately held, FCA-authorised independent financial planning firm based in Exeter, United Kingdom, serving affluent UK individuals and families. Founded by Chartered Financial Planner Dennis Hall on 3 April 2006, the firm launched with approximately £8 million in transferred funds under management and a small base of long-tenured clients. As of the latest data, the firm operates with a team of 1-10 people, including the founder, an Operations Director, a Financial Planner, and a Finance Manager, delivering bespoke financial planning through a four-stage process: Discovery, Design, Delivery, and Review.

The firm's core service is comprehensive financial planning, encompassing retirement planning, inheritance tax planning, investment management, pension transfer advisory (for transfers over £30,000), and estate planning. Its technology stack centres on cashflow modelling tools used to project client financial futures, supported by an evidence-based investment philosophy grounded in academic research and historical market data rather than speculation or market timing. The firm does not use traditional risk profiling questionnaires, preferring an objective capacity-for-loss assessment, and positions its service around the 'three Cs' of Clarity, Control, and Confidence.

Yellowtail generates revenue through two primary streams: fixed initial financial planning fees ranging from £3,500 to £10,000 (including VAT) depending on engagement complexity, and an ongoing advisory fee of 0.65% of assets under management, charged monthly in arrears and capped at £18,000 per year per client. Distribution is direct and relationship-led, relying on content marketing (blog and 'The Century Plan' podcast), SEO, referrals, and a complimentary discovery meeting as the primary conversion mechanism; no paid advertising is used. The firm has articulated a 2035 vision of serving 500 families, couples, and individuals, and has accumulated multiple industry awards including Adviser Firm of the Year (UK) in 2017. The company is wholly owned by its founder, has no external investors, and is not a candidate for technology-driven scaling.

Name

Yellowtail Financial Planning

Legal name

Yellowtail Financial Planning Limited

Website

https://yellowtail.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yellowtail Financial Planning is an FCA-authorised, Exeter-based independent financial planning firm serving affluent UK individuals and families with evidence-based retirement, investment, and inheritance tax planning delivered through a small chartered planner team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

Financial Coaching & Budgeting Advisory (FSAEAAAH), Discretionary Portfolio Management (Retail) (FSAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Financial planning services
• Retirement planning
• Investment management
• Pension transfer advice
• Inheritance tax planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Planning Fees (Initial): Fixed fees for the initial financial planning engagement, covering discovery, plan design, and presentation. Fees range from £3,500 to £10,000 including VAT, depending on the complexity of the client's financial situation. VAT may not apply where advice leads to a regulated financial product.
2. Ongoing Advisory Fees (Assets Under Management): Ongoing advisory services charged as a fixed percentage (0.65%) of total assets invested, charged monthly in arrears. This is capped at £18,000 per year including VAT (reassessed every three years with UK Retail Price Index). Covers plan reviews, investment oversight, and continuous access to a financial planner.
3. Fund Administration Platform Fees: Third-party platform charges for fund administration, typically 0.15% of assets held on the platform, plus underlying fund costs of approximately 0.25% for index-tracking discretionary portfolios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yellowtail Financial Planning is an independent firm of chartered financial planners that delivers bespoke financial planning services to affluent UK-based individuals and families. The core service encompasses discovery meetings, customised financial plan creation with cashflow forecasting, evidence-based investment management, retirement and inheritance tax planning, and ongoing advisory charged as a percentage of assets under management. The firm operates a service-based model without self-service software, instead engaging clients through structured stages — Discovery, Design, Delivery, and Review.

Product overview

Yellowtail Financial Planning operates as a unified financial planning service rather than a modular platform. The core offering is the Financial Planning Service, which encompasses several integrated components: Discovery Meeting (complimentary initial consultation), Customized Financial Plan creation, and ongoing Investment Management with evidence-based approach. Additional specialized services include Pension Transfer Advisory for transfers over £30,000, Retirement Planning using cashflow modelling, and The Century Plan Podcast for client education. The company does not offer a self-service software platform but rather provides a service-based model where clients engage with chartered financial planners through structured stages: Discovery, Design, Delivery, and Review.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Century Plan: A podcast focused on financial independence, retirement planning, and longevity topics, hosted by Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele.

Products and services

• Financial Planning Service Comprehensive financial planning service encompassing discovery meetings, customized financial plan creation with cashflow forecasting, and ongoing implementation and review. Covers retirement planning, investment management, pension transfers, and inheritance tax planning for affluent UK individuals and families.
• Discovery Meeting Complimentary, no-obligation initial consultation lasting approximately 60 minutes where financial planners understand client aspirations, current financial situation, and potential obstacles. Available via video call, face-to-face, or phone and bookable online.
• Customized Financial Plan Bespoke financial plan including cash flow forecasting, risk analysis, portfolio optimization, and scenario evaluation. Typically involves 10–25 hours of planner time, with pricing from £3,500 to £10,000 including VAT depending on complexity.
• Investment Management Evidence-based investment management focusing on asset allocation, diversification, and low-cost investing. Includes risk assessment based on capacity for loss rather than traditional risk profiling questionnaires, with ongoing charges of 0.65% of AUM capped at £18,000/year.
• Pension Transfer Advisory Specialist advice on transferring defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, including consolidation options and fee optimization. Required for transfers over £30,000 under FCA rules.
• Retirement Planning Strategic retirement planning including income estimation, pension option evaluation, and long-term financial security assessment using cashflow modelling. Aimed at pre-retirees through wealthy retirees.
• The Century Plan Podcast Educational podcast series covering financial independence topics including longevity planning, contract reviews, rules of thumb, and retirement strategies. Hosted by Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele across multiple seasons.

Quantifiable outcome

• Some clients have maintained relationships with founder Dennis Hall for over 25 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Private Office: The Private Office is a UK boutique independent financial planning firm serving high-net-worth individuals and business owners with comprehensive, fee-based planning advice. It is directly comparable to Yellowtail in target client (affluent UK families), fee structure (fixed and AUM-based), and evidence-based investment philosophy.
• Equilibrium Financial Planning: Equilibrium is a UK Chartered financial planning firm offering fee-based holistic planning, investment management, and pension advice to individuals and business owners. It is directly comparable to Yellowtail as a similarly sized, evidence-driven boutique planner focused on comprehensive financial planning rather than transactional advice.
• Finura Group: Finura is a UK financial planning and wealth management firm serving entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-net-worth families with holistic, fee-based advice. It overlaps directly with Yellowtail in client profile, comprehensive planning offering, and recurring AUM fee model.

Broad incumbents

• Coutts: Coutts is a UK private bank and wealth manager serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients with banking, investment, and planning services. Comparable to Yellowtail as an incumbent in the same affluent UK private-client space, and is also the previous employer of Yellowtail's Operations Director Sarah Steele.
• Brewin Dolphin: Brewin Dolphin is a UK wealth manager offering discretionary investment management and financial planning to private clients, professionals, and charities. It is comparable as an established UK incumbent serving the same affluent mass-affluent segment with a broader product set than Yellowtail's pure-planning model.
• Mattioli Woods: Mattioli Woods is a UK wealth management and employee benefits provider serving high-income professionals, business owners, and retirees. Comparable to Yellowtail in serving owner-managers and affluent individuals, though it operates a scaled, multi-office model with broader employee benefits and SIPP capabilities.
• Evelyn Partners: Evelyn Partners is a UK wealth management and professional services group offering financial planning, investment management, and tax services to private clients and businesses. Comparable to Yellowtail as a UK incumbent serving affluent families with holistic financial planning, albeit at much greater scale.
• St James's Place: St James's Place is the UK's largest wealth manager with a national adviser network serving affluent individuals. It is comparable to Yellowtail as the dominant incumbent in the same UK IFA market where Dennis Hall previously worked, though it operates a much broader partner-adviser model rather than a centralised planner model.
• Rathbones Group: Rathbones is a UK-listed wealth manager providing investment management, financial planning, and tax services to private clients, charities, and intermediaries. Comparable to Yellowtail as a UK-wide incumbent offering comprehensive financial planning for affluent individuals, though at significantly greater scale and breadth.

Emerging players

• Moneybox: Moneybox is a UK digital wealth platform offering ISAs, pensions, and investing via a mobile app. Comparable to Yellowtail as an emerging UK competitor targeting the same affluent segment, but differentiated by its low-cost, self-service digital model versus Yellowtail's high-touch human advice model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubelink.chtbl.com/The_Century_Plan
• Xx.com/YellowtailFP
• Facebookfacebook.com/yellowtailfp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yellowtail-financial-planning

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yellowtail Financial Planning