Tim Cosway
Financial Planner & Partner
Tim specialises in investment management, bespoke financial planning, pre and post-retirement planning, tax and estate planning. His clients include partners of legal and accountancy firms, barristers, city professionals, individuals planning for their retirement and clients with ethical and sustainable investment requirements.
Tim has many client relationships that go back 15 to 20 years guiding them through the ever-changing investment, tax and legislative landscape.
After graduating from Liverpool University, Tim spent time living and working in Asia and Australia. On his return to the UK, he furthered his career by joining Holden Meehan, which he left in order to establish Holden & Partners in 2003, with a view of offering a highly bespoke financial planning service.
Tim was Managing Partner of Holden & Partners between 2012 and 2016, guiding the firm through a period of significant expansion and transition through the Retail Distribution Review.
Outside of work
Tim lives in south London with his wife, and two children. His weekends are usually filled with children’s sporting activities. However, where there is time, Tim is a keen cyclist and during the summer months takes part in triathlons. His other interests include motorcycling and travelling.
Qualifications
Tim has been a financial planner since 1994 and is one of the select number of advisers in the UK who is a Chartered Financial Planner, a STEP Affiliate and a Certified Financial Planner. He is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments, where he holds Chartered MCSI and CFP Practitioner status.
Importantly
All financial advisers in the UK must be registered on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register and hold a valid Statement of Professional Standing (SPS). In an age where financial scams pose a real threat, it’s important to make sure you don’t take financial advice from anyone who doesn’t appear on the FCA Register or hold a valid SPS.
You can view Holden & Partners entry on the FCA Register by clicking here.
Qualifications
CloseFPFS – Fellow, 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.
APFS – Associate, Personal Finance Society
To achieve the Associateship grade, individuals would be required to have 6 AFPC (Diploma) units or equivalent. This shows a commitment to continuous professional development.
Chart FP – Chartered Financial Planner
Having achieved the APFS designation, advisers can go on to achieve this recognisable benchmark of quality and ethical practice for financial services professionals, elevating financial planning and advice in the public eye to the same standing as other Chartered professions. The holder must demonstrate a combination of experience, financial qualifications, ongoing educational activity (continuous professional development) and ethical behaviour.
CFP – Certified Financial Planner
An internationally recognised financial planning credential. The holder must demonstrate a combination of experience, financial qualifications (usually AFPC/DipPFS) or equivalent, an IFP assessment, ongoing educational activity (continuous professional development) and ethical behaviour.
STEP Certificate for Financial Services – Trusts and Estate Planning
This qualification is a collaboration between STEP and CLT International (CLTI). This Certificate bridges the divide between solicitors and financial advisers, enabling those in financial services to work more effectively with other professionals
AdvDipIP – Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning
This qualification enables professional advisers to develop specialist planning capabilities, covers topics like: personal tax and trust, business financial, pension and investment planning.
DipFP – Diploma in Financial Planning
This qualification develops advanced technical knowledge and understanding across a broad range of key advisory areas.
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.
CF6 – Certificate in Mortgage Advice
This qualification develops an understanding of the sector and the mortgage process, enabling advisers to meet individual client needs.
CF7 – Certificate in Financial Planning and Lifetime Mortgage Activities
This qualification assesses a knowledge and understanding of the UK regulation environment in the financial services industry, lifetime 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.
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.
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.
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 provided 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.