Not only are we wholly independent (and proud of it) regarding the investments we recommend to you, but we are also genuinely independent as to whether that money should sit in investments, cash savings, property, a business, or elsewhere. Imagine; we might even tell you to go away and spend it...

Because most financial advice businesses charge on your ‘assets under management’ (how much you have invested), they can never be truly independent regards non-investment options, because they can’t earn a fee on the products outside of this.

We’ve designed a business that solves that problem. From the way we charge, to our ‘plan over product’ ethos, we are uniquely placed to provide you advice with total independence.

We charge a fixed retainer fee, dependent on our clients specific circumstances and needs. Our fees are based on the value WE add, not the wealth YOU have.

This annual fee covers everything, from cashflow planning and investment management to strategic advice, cash oversight, and joined-up support for your wider financial life. There are no hidden commissions, no performance-based clauses, and no extra fees. Ever.

Most advice firms in the UK still charge based on a percentage of the assets they ‘manage’ on your behalf. In our view, that model is riddled with issues. A family with £2,000,000 pays £20k per annum, whereas a family with £500,000 pays £5k; yet both are receiving the same level of service. It’s ambiguous, unfair, and creates conflicts of interest.

Our fees are designed to reflect the quality of advice, not the size of your investment pot. They ensure every client receives the right care, and it allows us to focus entirely on what’s best for you, not what’s best for our bottom line. It also removes any link to the investments we manage on your behalf, ensuring you receive advice that is truly independent.

Clients can choose to settle their fee from their existing investments, their business, or their bank account. And we only work with people where we’re confident we can leave them in a better financial position, even after paying for our service.

Visit out fees page to find out more.

Mallard Wealth is purposeful small and agile. We run a business model that allows us to deliver truly personal service, both now and into the future.

Many UK advice firms make more money from acquiring new clients than from looking after the ones they already have. Despite good intentions, these firms are structurally dependent on constant growth to remain profitable. Over time, service standards slip, or the business is sold to a larger firm, and continuity is lost.

We’ve designed our business to avoid that trap entirely.

We operate with a strict client cap; a defined number of families or businesses per adviser. It’s roughly half the industry average, which means we can spend twice as much time supporting each client.

We feel this approach evidences our commitment to client service above all else.

We make financial planning feel joined-up, without blurring boundaries. By working transparently with your accountant and other professionals, we help ensure everything aligns: fewer emails, less duplication, and no missed opportunities. It’s a smoother experience for you, with clearer outcomes. Each professional remains responsible for their own work, and any services are billed separately, but the coordination is seamless.

Most financial advice business’ are exactly that, financial advice only. A planner may be excellent at pensions or investment strategy, but if they’re not tuned into the wider financial and business context, things get missed.

We’re structured differently. From day one, we’ve partnered with Stringer Mallard, one of Harrogate’s leading accountancy and business advisory firms. This gives our clients a seamless opportunity to link their personal financial planning, alongside business strategy, and tax advice.

We believe great advice should be connected, consistent, and genuinely collaborative.

Your financial life doesn’t exist in isolation, and neither should your advisers.

We believe investment advice should be clear, evidence-based, and linked to your financial plan, not sold as a standalone product.

Too often, we see families paying upwards of £10,000 per year for Discretionary Fund Management alone. No joined-up strategy. No financial planning. And often, underperformance.

Discretionary fund management (DFM) and active fund selection strategies may look impressive, but in our experience, they’re often inefficient and ineffective. High cost, low value, and rarely aligned with what clients actually need.

Our investment philosophy is built on five core principles:

1. More money doesn’t mean more complexity. Simplicity often outperforms, especially when it’s built on a solid plan.

2. Costs are definite; performance is not. We aim to keep your external investment fees well below industry averages.

3. Evidence over instinct. We make decisions based on data, not hunches or headlines.

4. Risk and return go hand in hand. Educating you on this, and guiding your decisions, is often more valuable than any single fund.

5. Plan before portfolio. The right investment can’t be chosen until we’ve built a financial plan. Recommending a portfolio before that is like picking a shoe before knowing if you’re climbing a mountain or running a sprint.