James Sinclair

Director and Chartered Financial Planner

01463 630631
Reviews and Ratings for Financial adviser James Sinclair, Inverness

Chartered Financial Planner

Chartered status is awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and is considered the ‘gold standard’ financial planning accreditation. Chartered status is a symbol of technical competence and signifies a public commitment to upholding professional standards and adhering to a professional Code of Ethics.

FPFS Fellow of the Personal Finance Society

To achieve the Fellowship grade, individuals would be required to have 10 AFPC (Diploma) units or equivalent. This shows a commitment to continuous professional development.

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FCA register entry Statement of Professional Standing Qualifications

Qualifications

  • Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning

    This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covering topics such as: personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.

  • Diploma in Financial Planning

    This level 4 diploma meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for retail investment advisers, demonstrating core technical knowledge and financial planning capabilities across six core areas.

  • Cert CII (MP) Certificate in Mortgage Advice

    The Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice meets the FCA’s qualification requirements for mortgage advisers. It develops an understanding of the sector and the mortgage process, enabling advisers to meet individual client needs.

  • CeLTCI Certificate in Financial Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance

    This qualification meets regulatory requirements for advising on long-term care and covers the background and different types of long-term care available, impact of legislation and the relationship between adviser and client.

  • Award in Long-Term Care Insurance

    This level 3 award develops the knowledge and understanding of long-term care cover, including legal, taxation and regulatory issues and the responsibilities of local authorities.

  • CF1 UK Financial Services, Regulation, and Ethics

    This qualification develops an understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation and legislation.

  • CF2 Investment and Risk

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of investment products and the risks involved.

  • CF3 Financial Protection

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of financial protection plans.

  • CF4 Retirement Planning

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the various pension products, the pension tax regime and retirement needs.

  • CF5 Integrated Financial Planning

    This examination demonstrates a solid grounding in the financial services industry and its regulation.

  • CF6 Mortgage Advice

    This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, mortgage products, repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.

  • CF8 Certificate in Financial Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance

    This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, long-term care insurance products and the giving of long-term care insurance advice.

  • CF9 Pensions Simplification

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the Government’s simplified pension taxation regime, which came into full effect on 6 April 2006 (A-Day). Eight tax regimes for pensions were reduced to one, radically affecting planning and transactions.

  • FP1 Financial Services and their Regulation

    Assesses an understanding of the financial services industry, including regulation and legislation.

  • FP2 Protection, Savings, and Investment

    Assesses an understanding of protection, savings and investment products.

  • FP3 Identifying and Satisfying Client Needs

    Assesses an understanding of conducting a fact-find, assessing the client’s needs, and recommending specific (appropriate) financial products to meet those needs.

  • G10 Taxation and Trusts

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK tax system, the law and practice of trusts, but also an ability to advise individual clients on the tax treatment of their investments and the use of trusts to meet their current and foreseeable future needs.

  • G20 Personal Investment Planning

    This examination assesses a knowledge and understanding of investments and an ability to advise individual clients on the construction of investment portfolios to meet both their current and foreseeable future needs.

  • G30 Business Financial Planning

    This examination demonstrates that the individual has a knowledge and understanding of all financial planning aspects of running a business and an ability to advise clients appropriately.

  • G60 Pensions

    This examination enhances general pension knowledge, particularly in pension transfers and opt-out business.

  • G70 Investment Portfolio Management

    This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of portfolio investment management.

  • G80 Long-Term Care, Life, and Health Protection

    This AFPC module provides an advanced knowledge of life and health protection. The October 2004 examination qualified the individual to advise on long-term care insurance.

  • H15 Supervision and Sales

    This examination assesses specialist supervisory knowledge and skills in the regulatory environment.

  • H25 Holistic Financial Planning

    This examination assesses knowledge and understanding to analyse and evaluate a client’s circumstances and financial needs and produce a holistic financial solution based on an in-depth knowledge of financial services products.

  • K10 Retirement Options

    This examination assesses knowledge and understanding of income-generating options and applying the knowledge to retirement planning situations.

  • K20 Pensions Investment Options

    This examination assesses knowledge and understanding of the range of investments available for planning of pensions and to be able to apply the construction of a pension portfolio management for a client.

  • MAQ Mortgage Advice Qualification

    This qualification assesses the knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, together with types of mortgage products and repayment options and the giving of mortgage advice.

  • SV1 Saving and Investments

    This examination assesses the knowledge and understanding of economic factors that affect risk from different investments, product features and regulatory framework of retail investments, taxation liabilities and portfolio planning.

At work

James has been a financial planner since 1991, that wealth of experience demonstrated by his position as a Fellow of the PFS.

He gains a lot of satisfaction from providing great service and high-quality advice to his clients.

James’ typical clients are nearing or in retirement, and wish to ensure they can enjoy their money while also tax-efficiently cascading any unused wealth to the next generation.

What James enjoys most is building lasting relationships with his clients and guiding them toward their lifetime goals. He also values the appreciation that the firm receives from those they’ve helped.

Outside of work

James is from and still lives on the Black Isle.

In his spare time, he enjoys walking, cycling, and going to the gym.

James’s other interests include travel, going to the cinema or theatre, and eating out.

Our team

There’s a wealth of experience and knowledge among the members of the Achieve team, and it’s at your disposal whenever you choose to work with us.

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When you’re ready, we’re here

We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re ready to start planning or just have questions, take the first step and get in touch.

    Achieve Financial Planning Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in Scotland: Registered Number SC367766. Should you wish to register a complaint, please write to or telephone James Sinclair using the information provided above. A summary of our complaints handling procedures for the reasonable and prompt handling of complaints is available on request. If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk or by contacting them on 08000 234567.

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