Meet Phil…

When I first learned about the ‘Money Types’, I discovered that I’m a Magician/Architect – which was absolutely bang on…

I’ve always been inquisitive and love working out how things work – and as a child, I was always the one my friends turned to when their bikes needed fixing!

My early career was shaped by the companies I worked for – but repeatedly, I found that some elements of the job just didn’t feel well aligned with my own principles. I’d often find myself suggesting better ways of improving things from the clients’ perspective – and which would also make life easier for my colleagues – only to find those suggestions falling on deaf ears. The solution? To start out on my own, which is how I came to set up Libertas.

…And very happily, the journey has taught me that it IS possible to have a business which is enjoyable to work in, with people who are encouraged to contribute their ideas – and to continually evolve so that we can best help our clients get the most out of life. Personally, I particularly enjoy working with business owners – helping them visualise and create a ‘Freedom Map’ of where they and their family want to get to, not just financially but in all areas of their lives. Often these very same business owners report back later that they’re now back to really enjoying their businesses, even when they’d previously fallen out of love with them. Helping clients link back in with their ‘personal purpose’ behind their business is always rewarding – and I also love the technical aspects of the work I do in terms of creating a financial structure and organising efficient tax planning, as it appeals to my Architect personality traits. But of course none of this is meaningful if you don’t understand what a client really wants out of life – and what lights them up and makes them buzz! The Magician side of my personality loves to discuss possibilities and create meaningful ‘Maps’ which pave the way to freedom, whatever that looks like for them.

Freedom means different things to different people – and for me, freedom is having the choice to do as you wish. Indeed, having ‘financial freedom’ means that you get to choose whether or not you want to work – and that if you do choose to work, that the work you do is ‘purpose-led’. It also means that you can choose to make gifts to help children or other family. Or in other words, I think freedom means that you truly get to ENJOY your ‘place in the sun’

Back to Team

“Without doubt Simon is one of the UK’s leading Lifestyle Financial Planners. He cuts through the ‘noise’ created by the financial services industry. Unlike most ‘Advisers’, he doesn’t over promise and under deliver. Instead, he helps clients focus on what’s important. He helps clients get complete clarity over where they are heading financially, and what they need to do to secure their future. Meet with him, and see for yourself. He’s also a really nice guy!”

Paul Armson, Inspiring Advisers

“I feel really happy about my finances, not something I could say previously! I’ve known Phil since 2001, we used to work with together in fact, I was responsible for training him at the start of his financial services career. Because of my financial services background, when we wanted some additional financial guidance, I knew Phil was an obvious choice. Through working with Phil, we’ve gained pension peace of mind. The big part of it is having the knowledge that it’s going to get done and get done right. Whether I know what I want or whether I’m being guided by Phil, you just know where you stand with him. He’s built a great team of like-minded people – he has the belief in them and he is very grounded. He always ensures I keep up to date with current legislation and he’s a trusted individual, you always know with Phil, he’s playing it straight. I know I can introduce people to him and have complete confidence in doing so that they’ll come back happy. I also have complete confidence it will get done, and no one is afraid of picking up the phone so that any bumps in the road that are inevitable in life can be ironed out easily. If I had to sum him up in one phrase, that’s easy – Phil is honest to a fault.”

Stuart, Telford

“A colleague recommended Simon to us after we had a long period dealing with a financial adviser who used a lot of ‘jargon’ and made forecasts which rarely materialised. Simon asked what we wished to do with the rest of our lives and what we hoped to achieve. We have not looked back. We rarely worry about what is happening in the markets or with our savings. Enlightened Money do that for us and we could not be happier. We would recommend them to all. A different way of looking at money and finances but we believe a more ‘ENLIGHTENED’ one”.

Noel & Caroline Bradley, Chester

“How much do you need to retire on – who knows? Simon does. What an amazing process to go through whereby Simon profiles all of your assets and links them to your future plans to see how your life will pan out. Why leave it to chance when you can plan it? You wouldn’t turn up to an airport without planning your holiday so why do most not do it with the rest of their life? I really do recommend that everyone, no matter what their personal circumstances are, should take time to plan their life, and Simon in my view is the right person to help; so calm and collected he helps and guides you through the whole process very professionally.”

Adrian Lomas, Managing Director, Blueleaf

“For me, being introduced to Libertas is part of the legacy left by my dear late father. I first met Phil in 2015, he’d dealt with my family for years and knew my dad. At the time I felt I had no finances to invest and everything I earned seemed to go on my house and partying! It was concerning me and after a chance conversation with a friend about the financial buffer he had in place – I think I had less than a month at the time – this led me to look at my own finances. I decided that, rather than spending to my means, I wanted to start saving and once I started, to my surprise I found I liked watching my savings grow month on month. When I got to a certain point, I decided I was ready to invest and that’s when dad introduced us. Between Lasting Power of Attorney, Solicitors and Phil’s financial planning, I feel my money has been managed really well and the work we’ve done has enabled me to buy a new home whilst keeping my previous property to rent out as a source of income. Despite me not having millions to invest, Phil always makes me feel I am important to him and he takes time to help me to understand a pathway. When my dad sadly passed away a couple of years ago, the Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning work Phil had done quickly became evident as the most helpful part of the Libertas service. Phil keeps it simple – he knows my strategy and the risk factor I’m comfortable with, and we get along as individuals – I like him. He’s always given me confidence and did the same for my dad so I see absolutely no reason to change. I’m very, very happy with what he’s doing.”

Peter, Cheshire

“Investing money – it’s a big step to take. In 2015 I was working for an American Company as a Lab Manager, I’d been lucky enough to build up quite a lot of money from shares over the years and I needed specialist financial advice. If I’m honest, I don’t have a great deal of interest in investments so a friend recommended me to Phil. He came to see me at home, we had a chat and I got on with him straight away, he’s just a genuine human being. We discussed the ways that he could handle the money for me, he did a risk assessment on what level of risk I was willing to take, I felt a bit nervous about the actual investment but Phil gave me the direction on this and I trust him. Phil and I have become good friends. I don’t look at him as someone who just invests my money; I trust him and I think he is a completely genuine guy to deal with. I’ve since passed a couple of names on to him and it’s nice to be able to feel comfortable to do so. The work I’ve done with Phil has helped me to help my daughter buy a house. Libertas are nice to deal with – approachable, there’s no pressure, they’re straight-talking and give a clear presentation of the investment strategy for you to make your own mind up. Nothing is too much trouble for Libertas.”

John, Chester

“Before I met Phil, I seemed to have pension paperwork everywhere! I worked for myself and it’d been a busy few years for me, plus I divorced a little while back and whilst we had a clean break arrangement, my solicitor told me my pension was vulnerable because we hadn’t committed this to paper. Fortunately, my accountant introduced me to Phil. I was looking for clarity, for what I’m entitled to from my various pension pots – if I’m honest it had crossed my mind that I’d worked all these years, and for what? I was concerned about running out of money AND options. The thing I valued most from meeting with Phil is he worked with me on establishing what my aspirations are and seeing how I can make my money work for me. I discovered I want my retirement to be front-loaded – in my 60’s I want to spend my time travelling but I’ve realised I probably won’t want that in my 80’s. Phil helped me get clarity on when I would be able to retire and what will be mine and what won’t be mine as part of the divorce – he helped me navigate through this. It wasn’t straightforward but then life isn’t either, but it was well worth it and the end result is that I have been able to retire. Without meeting him I feel I would’ve lived to my means rather than making my means suit the way I live, plus I have a more positive view of what my life can look like over the next 5/10/15 years. Don’t keep your head in the sand, taking control feels good!”

John, Liverpool

“Have you ever wondered if you could retire early? I was in the 9 to 5, working for a major supermarket group and if I’m honest, I was getting a bit fed up doing the same thing, year in, year out. I got the distinct impression my employer didn’t want me to retire early, I didn’t know if I could retire early. I had three pensions, 3 different statements every year which didn’t mean much – I didn’t want to give up my lifestyle but I wanted to start to live my life. An introduction led me to Phil, we immediately connected. He looked at the figures with the fantastic cash-flow software he has – it projects where your finances will be in the future. Phil said that while I’d be a little shorter on money if I retired, he pointed out my expenditure would also be less which is something I hadn’t actually taken in to consideration. It almost sounds too simplistic but it all slotted in to place. Within 4 weeks of meeting with Phil, I’d retired! I have invaluable peace of mind which is obviously important, plus I like that Libertas always make their charges clear. I’m delighted I’ve been able to retire ahead of schedule – for a while I thought about getting a part time job but I’ve decided to follow my interests instead – I love cycling and being able to get out and about is fantastic – plus Phil is a keen cyclist too so we’ve always got plenty to talk about!”

Chris, Wirral

“You know when you find The One? That was me with Phil. When I met Phil, I told him I’d had a financial adviser before and had my fingers burnt, Phil took time to understand the back –story and he made sure I was comfortable about the level of risk I was taking. Honesty is always the best policy and he is honest and says it like it is – he’s also made sure I have regular reviews and him and the team are spot-on with their due diligence and organisation. The two things I value above everything else is that through a cashflow forecast designed around the peaks and troughs in my life, Phil’s given me comfort that my money will last through my retirement. I have a holiday home which is my pride and joy, my escape and plotting my retirement is crucial to me. The second thing I value about finding The One is that Phil and the team have made me trust financial advisers again and I never feel like a client. I know I am a client, but Phil feels like a trusted financial adviser, a friend and a confidant. Because of their work I am quite relaxed now and I’m not waking up in the night any more thinking, ‘what am I going to do? After all, I don’t want to be working in my seventies.”

Alison, Cheshire

“I have genuinely found Simon’s approach to financial planning both ‘enlightening’ and to be based on a very rigorous analytical process which takes as much uncertainty as possible out of the equation. I can honestly say that it is as a direct consequence of having embarked on the ‘enlightened money’ process with Simon that I was able to retire with confidence significantly sooner than I had thought would be possible. Many thanks.”

Geoff Thompson, Knutsford, Cheshire

“Olivia’s method of personifying money has changed the way I deal with it. Money is a concept that I’ve previously had a fear of and before working with Olivia, I saw money as transactional. Now it’s a physical thing rather than a concept. All six of the ‘Money Types’ help and the information Olivia has given me is quite enlightening. The money side of my business also scared me a little, which meant that I used to put certain things off. However, going through this programme gave me the confidence to build a long term cash flow projection for my business – something that I wouldn’t have done before. Knowing where the money is coming in and going out has given me even more confidence in my business model, enabling me to bring in the right people and to put the right targets in place.”

Rachel Allen (talking about the Money Mindset Coaching Circle which was co-hosted by Olivia and Libertas in 2022)

“During the six month programme led by Olivia, allowing my ‘Architect’ Money Type to step forward has really enhanced my world. I valued my house, I checked out my pension, I looked at my credit cards, I reviewed what I was paying out. I’m now more in control. It’s the unique combination of the Heart of Money – brought by Olivia – which really worked when combined with the Science of Money – brought by the Libertas team. I read the Messages from Money emails every weekday; it’s part of my ritual. I unsubscribe from a lot of emails but not this one!”

Tianne Croshaw, Resilience Wellbeing Partnership Ltd, Nantwich

“I’m doing things differently now. I’m paying less tax and I now feel I’ve got more of a plan.”

Gary Pemberton, Warrington

“There were lots of things I discovered that I hadn’t known about before I went on the Money Mindset Coaching Circle programme – one of them being my emotional relationship with Money! I made my husband do the ‘Money Types’ quiz – and we’re more aligned now in how we approach money. We now tick off everything together each month so that we know where we are money-wise and just as importantly, we’ve both now updated our wills and checked our pensions. We now feel like we’re in control.”

Siobhan Smith, Warrington

“I met Phil because he’d dealt with my family for years – he knew my Dad. I decided to continue out of loyalty and because of my Dad’s good judgement in choosing Phil as his Financial Adviser. I’m very, very happy with what he’s doing. He keeps it simple. He knows my strategy and the risk factor I’m comfortable with, and we get along as individuals; I like him. He’s always given me confidence and he did the same for my Dad, so I see absolutely no reason to change. The Inheritance Tax planning work Phil’s done has been most helpful. Despite me not having millions to invest, I was important to him and he took time to help me to understand a pathway. I will be using Phil and Libertas Wealth Management for years to come.”

Peter Garnett (Google Review)

“I have been a client of Phil Clerkin for nearly 20 years, his sensible guidelines to sorting all my private pensions into one and working with me to plan for my retirement seven years ago have been seamless – everything has gone to plan. I can’t thank him and his team enough for their continued support and useful newsletters.”

Janice Sackfield (Google Review)

“I have had the pleasure of using Libertas Wealth Management services for several years now following the collapse of some previous investments. Phil and his team have been superb all the way through my journey to get my finances back on track. They operate a very professional efficient service that is designed to suit your individual needs. Their experience, knowledge base and expertise is second to none. I would highly recommend them.”

Alison Ritchie (Google Review)

“Through a series of relaxed conversations they really make you think about the important issues in your life and then they enable you to make appropriate decisions and informed choices. At all times they take the time to really explain the issues, so you are knowledgeable and confident in the decisions you make. Finally, they have an excellent network of contacts to assist in managing your finances, and on a personal note they are relaxed, friendly but always professional. They are not at all pushy in seeking to constantly sell you products or services. They build relationships for the long term.”

Bill Robinson, HR Director of Operations, Ball Packaging Europe UK Ltd (retired)

“Knowledgeable, professional and personal service. Very pleased with the service when dealing with my pension options.”

Beccy Stenson (Google Review)

“I have found the company to be extremely professional, dependable and approachable. The company has advised me financially in a meaningful and practical way and have carefully analysed my own financial position to give the best possible advice, updated regularly. All staff are very friendly and mindful of my position and needs, responding immediately to any questions I put to them. I have no hesitation in recommending them to any prospective clients.”

Yvonne Handford

“Thank you for putting me at ease during a very difficult period. You never made me feel ignorant or stupid. You gave me confidence to make the right decisions and you were very friendly and helpful. Thank you to you all! You were superb!”

Dot Timmins

“I really appreciate you keeping me up to date – THANK YOU! I am absolutely LOVING my freedom – and it is very reassuring that I don’t have to forage on the beach for edible seaweed and limpets unless I WANT to!”

Chrys Ritson, Manchester

Get in Touch

Ready to get started with your own 'Freedom Map'?