Michele's experience working with us

My name is Michele Hatfield. I have been with CD Financial from the very beginning, and I also worked with Claire prior to that.

When I first spoke to Claire, I needed somebody who I could understand, who was clear, and who I could ask questions to and who somebody who would explain it to me in layman’s language.

I first came across Claire before she started CD Financial, before she was independent, and she was working with another partnership. I got on so well with her that I followed her into CD Financial.

I’ve always felt comfortable working with Claire. I’ve always felt able to ask what I call the idiot questions, or to say to her, “Just say that to me again”, and I can say, “Oh, I didn’t quite get that. Can you explain it to me?” And she’s always been clear, consistent, gives me the options and, quite importantly, doesn’t patronize.

She has seen me through various phases of my life from remortgaging to planning for retirement to the actual retirement, to investing as a result of that and subsequently helping me plan ahead for inheritance and my will and all that comes with that.

It always feels personal and friendly, Claire is approachable, and we can talk about the wider aspects of life, it isn’t just focused on a product, it’s about setting it in the context of what’s going on in the rest of my life.

Thinking about Claire, the words that most readily come to mind are that she’s calm, knowledgeable, honest and straightforward.

For me, the best thing about working with Claire is that I’ve been able to introduce her to almost every other member of my family and she’s been able to adapt to all our different circumstances. She’s advised each of my four sons and their families, she’s advised my elderly mother and she’s been able to adapt the information and her approach to their different needs.

The most useful bit of advice that I’ve been able to follow with her is to always have some liquid assets on hand so that if I need to withdraw any cash, I don’t have to dip into any investments.

I’d certainly recommend Claire and CD Financial, and I have done. All members of my family have been able to benefit from her expertise, as have those within my wider circle who I’ve recommended her to, simply because she can adapt to almost any situation in a kind, understanding and sympathetic way.