+64 4 471 0662 
What makes LYFORDS different to other
financial planning companies?
Here are Eleven great ways
- Individual treatment: We believe every client is different, therefore we put a great deal of time and effort into writing our financial plans. A lot of other financial planning companies put people into 'boxes ', so that, the recommendations are generic and have not been tailor-made for your situation. Still others will use paraplanners who have never met the client to write their financial plans. Our colleagues often ask "why do we take 8-10 hours to write a financial plan?" when they can do it in two hours. Which financial plan do you think is more personal?
- Experience: The directors (Alison Renfrew & Richard Renfrew) have a combined experience in the financial services industry of 41 years. Both are Certified Financial Planners, CFP. The experience gained through the market corrections of 87, 94, 98, 2000-2002, and the credit crisis of 2007/08 is a great asset for our clients and how we structure their investments. Experience is important, but so are qualifications, our advisers have some of the highest in the industry.
- Better advice: The directors are husband and wife and are both fully qualified financial planners, investment and insurance advisers. They apply a more consultative approach to coming up with solutions to clients' needs. Both directors have science degrees, Richard has a PhD in chemistry. They both have university diploma's in Personal Financial Planning. Clients benefit from this as Richard and Alison apply the disciplines of questioning and problem solving into the financial planning process.
- Active web site: LYFORDS has an active web site which is updated daily. Clients can look at their investment portfolios on the Internet 24/7/365.
- Range of services: We believe Financial Planning is about Creating, Managing and Protecting Your Wealth. Insurances such as health, life, trauma and income protection are key components of protecting your wealth, as are family trusts and enduring power of attorneys. Many financial planning firms do not offer the wide range of services we offer and as such you will not get such comprehensive advice. Via our LYFORDS OneAnswer Portfolio Management Service we can access, 150 leading managed funds and unlimited New Zealand and international listed direct shares and direct fixed interest, and selected leading debenture and capital note providers.
- Best Practice Standards: We follow International Best Practice Standards that are higher than currently required in New Zealand. Our systems and procedures are independently audited annually against Best Practice Standards and we receive a certificate of compliance. The industry recognition of this has been Alison Renfrew winning the "Certified Financial Planner of the Year" award in 2004 and selection as a finalist in 2002 and 2003, and LYFORDS qualifying as a regional finalist in the financialalert Advisory Practice of the Year Award 2005
- Code of ethics: We are bound by and uphold the code of ethics and business practices promoted by the Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA) and MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table, an organisation of the top 5% of insurance advisers in the world). Alison is a life and qualifying member of MDRT, currently Court of the Table qualifier.
- Independent research: We use independent research from international research companies of Morningstar and Mercers, and First NZ Capital which covers 9,800 investment funds offered in New Zealand and Australia. Research on insurance products is sourced from Strategy Financial Services which compares not only premiums but more importantly policy conditions and wording.
- top quality systems: Our systems would be hard to beat, client files are linked through to their investments, all documentation is scanned and investment data feeds ensure information is accurate and up to date. Computers are networked and are protected via encrypted passwords, firewalls and anti-virus software that is updated hourly. We use daily backups so all of your information is safe and secure.
- International support: We may be a boutique operation, but we have international support. We belong to the 'Portfolio Group' which is a collective of 34 independently owned financial planning firms with more than $3 billion dollars of funds under advice. We have access to worldwide information and support so that we can provide the best possible advice to our clients.
- Quality of Advice Guaranteed: If we can't show you how you can potentially be better off by more than 100% over and above what you pay as a financial plan fee, then we will refund your plan fee at implementation.
Refer to Quality of Advice Guarantee.
For further information we recommend you refer to our company summary, client testimonials, our values, and adviser profiles.
