Interview with Award Winning Independent Financial Advisor Raymond Best

Interviews with Wokingham Business owners are proving a great way to get to know who is behind the business. My Wokingham’s first interview with a business in the Financial & Investment Planning sector is with Raymond Best.

Raymond is behind UnaVida Wealth Management and Independent Financial Advisory based in Hurst, Berkshire serving clients in Wokingham, Reading and surrounding areas.

We have always been committed to proving truly independent financial advice, and our client’s positive reviews have led to us being voted as a top 250 IFA in the UK – Raymond Best

Interview with Raymond Best of UnaVida Wealth Management

Ray when did the business start?

The business started in 2006

What was the idea or concept behind UnaVida? 

A survey carried out revealed that many people want more than traditional investment advice, all advisors offer this, and some even do it well. High net worth clients want their wealth enhanced by taking advantage of legal tax saving opportunities, they want to pass their wealth onto the next generation in a secure protective way, using trusts and limited companies. They don’t like to gamble, so they want secure legal documentation of high quality.

Successful business owners are natural survivors, they have accountants, solicitors, business advisors, general insurance brokers, and independent financial advisers, but none of them talk to each other. Our Total Planning System allows business owners to reach their maximum potential, and our unique one facilitator service enables us to harness the individual skills of our associated companies and professional network to devise strategies for profitable business owners to become even more profitable.

As one of my business owner clients said, “Ray you are different, my current advisers are good, but you are the only one that can connect all the dots”.

It feels great to have helped so many clients and business owners over the years, they are often able to create significant wealth for themselves and their families. Our clients also accept our advice for Inheritance Tax planning, it is complex subject, so it is often helpful to give them a copy of my published book “Inheritance Tax Planning Simplified”, the 300 odd pages are a useful guide, and the book has also been helpful to insomniacs!

Inheritance tax is the most avoidable tax, originally designed to tax the wealthy, it now taxes the unwary. We provide public interest seminars at no cost and in one and a half hours explain how to take legal steps to avoid this pernicious tax.

What I find surprising is the attitude of prospective clients who have not attended our seminars, they are mostly wealthy, but they often have a problem in coping and dealing with their wealth, so they are often reluctant to pay the fees required to pay for this time consuming and exacting work.

Who are your customers – how do you help them?

We assist successful business owners to achieve their maximum potential, we have a tremendous track record of what were small businesses selling for millions, which would not have been achieved without our intervention. In many cases, our planning has provided a cash flow improvement – which has been used to fund further growth.

We are happy to deal with private individuals providing they have a minimum of £500,000 in pension funds or investments.

All clients have to go through an interview so that we can establish if we can add value to their financial affairs.

What are your business goals?

To be the go-to advisory firm for business owners and high-net-worth clients.

Why would a client choose you rather than another business?

Experience, there is no substitute for this in my opinion. We have always been committed to proving truly independent financial advice, and our client’s positive reviews have led to us being voted as a top 250 IFA in the UK (as published in The Times).

We develop meaningful relationships with our clients and so many clients have been with our firm for many years.