About The Lost Coin Financial Planning Ltd

How 30 years of financial experience impacted the early days of self-employment

In 2006 Simon left the cosy employment world of a salary, bonus, pension and car allowance to go self-employed. He signed up with Positive Solutions and started trading as The Lost Coin. A number of his former clients followed him and are still with his business now. It certainly was not easy in those early days; though Simon had worked in financial services for his whole career, his new self-employed status deepened his appreciation for solid financial planning.

Simon chose to operate his business using a fixed-fee model, rather than the more typical percentage-of-assets or hourly-rate models. To this day, Simon charges a fixed fee – with no conflict of interest. Simon believes this offers clients the best value for money and means that they know exactly where they stand.

Growth of The Lost Coin

A move to the South West in 2009 meant Simon and his family were closer to his wife’s parents. Almost every client stayed with the business and Simon widened his practice beyond the Midlands and Northamptonshire. This was due in part to business networking which Simon continued with after the move south; indeed, Simon has been a member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) since 2006 and an Association of Christian Financial Advisers (ACFA) member since 2007. Simon has also built connections with other local finance and legal professionals. While The Lost Coin doesn’t offer these services, Simon is happy to refer clients to trusted individuals and firms.

Diversifying and continuing to improve client service

Having grown the business Simon liked the idea of operating as a limited company. He had worked with business owners for many years and felt it would enable him to offer an even better understanding of the issues his clients face. Simon joined the award-winning Sense Network who are committed to supporting independent financial advisers. Their support means that Simon can give the best independent advice to clients. Meanwhile, the latest technology offered by Sense makes it easy for clients to work with Simon.

In late 2014 The Lost Coin Financial Planning Ltd was established; the new company started trading in autumn 2015, after being authorised. Within a few months, all the regular fee-paying clients had moved over and the business continued to grow.

Making a positive impact through his business is important to Simon. In May 2018, Simon completed the Planet Mark Start 3-step process and was awarded a certificate in sustainability. The business has subsequently partnered with ecologi to become carbon negative. In 2021 the business was accredited with the Good Business Charter.

Meet the team

• Simon Carlin – BA DipPFS DipPMI

  Director | Financial Planner | IFA

  
• Heidi Carlin – BA

  Company Secretary | Marketing Assistant

  

Simon Carlin – BA DipPFS DipPMI

Director | Financial Planner | IFA

Simon has 30 years’ experience in financial services and provides independent financial planning advice to business owners and professionals. You’re more than your job, and Simon helps you make plans to live life to the full! Using cash flow tools and his insight into the world of pensions, investments, savings and inheritance, he helps clients see what they can achieve.

Simon works with a range of clients, some of whom are interested in investing for social, environmental and ethical concerns. He welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in exploring this approach.

Financial services career timeline

After leaving sixth form, Simon took a gap year to work for Royal Insurance in their motor claims team before studying Economics at Nottingham. After university, Simon joined the Inland Revenue Pension Schemes Office. The early years of Simon’s academic and working career set him up with a solid understanding of all aspects of finance and cemented his interest in using that knowledge to benefit others.

A move to KPMG widened Simon’s commercial experience. Whilst a trainee pension consultant, he studied with the Pensions Management Institute and the Chartered Insurance Institute. His studies gave Simon a well-rounded approach to personal finance, not just from a planning perspective, but it also underlined the importance of financial protection. In time, Simon was headhunted for a financial adviser role at Grant Thornton in Northampton. This expanded his capabilities beyond pensions and after a couple of years he left to join a smaller firm, Moore Stephens. Whilst there he sat more exams to obtain a diploma in Financial Planning. Having a young family at this time reinforced Simon’s belief in the power of financial planning and meant he was able to understand the concerns of his clients more fully.

2006 saw Simon make the leap from employment to self-employment, setting up as The Lost Coin. Simon’s achievements in recent years include obtaining a diploma from the Pensions Management Institute in 2012 and forming a limited company in 2014 to grow The Lost Coin further. Both of these elements have rounded out the service and understanding that Simon offers to clients.

Outside of work

Simon is committed to making a difference in his local community; he’s a founding member of the Sodbury and Yate Business Association and has been active since it began in 2009.

Simon and his wife Heidi have lived in Frampton Cotterell for eleven years, seeing all three children through the same senior school. Their two daughters are away, both studying for a degree in Children’s Nursing, and their son is at home studying for a diploma in Sound Engineering.

Qualifications at a glance

3 A levels in Economics, Latin and Maths

BA degree in Economics

Diploma in Financial Planning, member of Personal Finance Society since 2001

Diploma from Pensions Management Institute

Heidi Carlin – BA

Company Secretary | Marketing Assistant

Heidi has assisted Simon in his business since he first set up as a sole trader in 2006. Her organisational skills and creative mind make her an ideal partner with which to run the business. Heidi is the driving force behind the business’ marketing, engaging clients at exhibitions and getting to know what their goals and aspirations are. She is firmly in charge of client relations; if you’ve worked with Simon for any length of time, you’re sure to have received a handmade birthday card, courtesy of Heidi’s hard work.

Heidi’s interest in family and in creating a positive space for all underlines the work that Simon does for clients. A passion for family and children is also reflected in Heidi’s work for The Ark Bus project as their Community Worker.