Client stories
Tim Spector
Why we chose Fortis Medical
We first sought financial advice because we needed specialist guidance on some complex pension and tax issues. We’d previously worked with a large financial advice firm but hadn’t been able to get the detailed advice we were looking for.
When Ben founded Fortis Medical, we were very happy to remain clients.
Initially, we wanted clarity around pensions as the rules and legislation continued to change. Over time, we also wanted wider advice on investments and long-term financial planning for our family.
Working with Fortis Medical
We have regular meetings, and Ben and the team are always responsive and proactive. They understand my career, our future plans and the financial complexity that’s developed over the past decade.
The biggest difference has been knowing our finances are in expert hands. We simply don't have the time or expertise to stay on top of all our finances ourselves, so being able to entrust that responsibility to Fortis has made a significant difference.
We know we can trust Fortis to give us clear, straightforward advice whenever we need it.
Veronique Bataille
Why I chose Fortis Medical
When our children were young, I was a busy doctor who wanted to plan ahead for the future. I’d known Ben for many years at a previous company and he’d looked after our finances for a long time, so when he started Fortis Medical we were very happy to follow him.
Working with Fortis Medical
We meet with Ben regularly, and because he knows our careers and future plans, the advice always feels relevant to where we are in life. He keeps up to date with changing tax rules and market conditions, explains everything clearly and helps us prepare for retirement with confidence.
We wanted help planning our pensions and savings, but also advice on tax as the rules changed over the years. It was reassuring to have someone looking at our family finances who understood our circumstances.
I've never been particularly confident when it comes to investing or financial planning, so it's reassuring to know someone I trust is managing our finances and helping us prepare for the future.
Married couple approaching retirement
Why we chose Fortis Medical
After successful NHS and academic careers, we wanted to make sure our finances were working as hard as we had. Alongside our NHS pensions, we needed advice on managing income from a private practice, structuring our investments for long-term growth and planning confidently for retirement.
Working with Fortis Medical
Ben and the team are a pleasure to deal with. Meetings are efficient, the advice is clear and free from jargon, and they’re always available for a quick call when we need guidance. They work seamlessly with our accountants, and the follow-up is always prompt and reliable.
The team are also supporting our daughter who is now a junior doctor.
We wanted clarity around our NHS and private pensions, as well as how to structure our investments for growth and tax efficiency. Retirement planning was important, but so was knowing our finances were organised properly and working together.
Our investments have been rationalised, management is more cost efficient and our insurance costs have reduced. Fortis also identified inaccuracies in our salaries and pensions, recovering significant sums that were due to us.
Russell Burcombe
Why I chose Fortis Medical
As my private practice grew, my accountant advised me to set up a limited company. It was bewildering, and I wanted someone who could explain everything clearly and help me make the right decisions.
Working with Fortis Medical has given me confidence that my finances are organised and my future is on track. Better cash flow has allowed me to invest sensibly, build a solid financial foundation for my children and plan confidently for retirement.
Working with Fortis Medical
Ben and the team are a pleasure to work with. Communication is prompt, everyone is approachable and responsive, and the annual meeting summaries are invaluable.
My financial wellbeing is no longer a worry, thanks to Fortis Medical.
I didn't understand the complexities of the NHS pension. I had a dormant House Officer pension pot, investments and protection policies scattered all over the place, and I was clueless about the tax efficiencies a limited company could offer.
I needed clarity, structure and a financial planning strategy, along with an approachable expert to guide me through everything calmly – and I found one in Ben Holdsworth.
Dr J
Why I chose Fortis Medical
I needed to change my financial adviser. I knew the company Ben had previously worked for, which specialised in supporting NHS staff, and I valued the fact that he has a medical background.
When Ben started Fortis Medical in 2024, I decided to use him as my financial adviser. He explained everything clearly and was always happy to go over things again if I didn’t understand. He’s always been very professional when dealing with other members of my family too.
My experience
Working with Fortis Medical has given me confidence in Ben’s approach. The platform is easy to access, making it straightforward to keep track of what’s happening.
All the online processes have worked smoothly, and coordinating with my tax adviser has been straightforward.
I needed to change my financial adviser and was looking for someone I could trust. Ben explained everything clearly and was always happy to go over things again if I didn't understand. I wanted help with income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning in retirement, and confidence that everything was being dealt with properly.
Michael Jenkins
Why I chose Fortis Medical
A large pension tax bill arrived out of the blue. I’d heard the rumours about NHS pension tax changes, but the brown envelope from HMRC still came as a shock. A colleague recommended Ben, who was immediately reassuring. When he and the team investigated, they found the tax bill was wrong and that my actual liability was substantially lower.
Working with Fortis Medical
Fortis are utterly professional and reliable in an uncertain world. Having clear information about future pension tax bills, retirement income and investment outcomes is hugely reassuring.
Fortis helped demystify the complexity of the NHS pension system and saved me a lot of money. That gave me the confidence to entrust Ben with all my financial affairs, bringing my ISAs and personal pensions together in one place.
Today, Fortis looks after my family's finances, including my son's, and works directly with my accountants to answer every query with clear explanations backed by data.
Michael Khoo
Why I chose Fortis Medical
I wanted ongoing, proactive financial advice, including my NHS pension, from a team who understand its complexities (rather than just say they understand!).
The smaller, more personal set-up at Fortis, combined with a proven history of specialist expertise, made it an easy choice. I wanted an ongoing relationship with advisers who knew my circumstances and could support us over the long term.
What I needed help with
My priorities were my NHS pension, retirement planning and income structuring. I wanted advice that looked at these together and helped me plan for the future with confidence.
Fortis has given me confidence that our financial affairs are being managed by people with the knowledge and expertise to deal with the many complexities involved.
Their proactive approach, clear communication and regular contact mean I never feel I have to prompt them. I know they'll keep in touch when something needs my attention.
Steve Hepple
Why I chose Fortis Medical
I was looking for straightforward advice on my NHS pension, retirement planning and how best to prepare financially for the future. I’d tried other financial advisers with mixed results, but after hearing Ben give a presentation, I was impressed by how clear and straightforward his approach was, so I got in touch.
Working with Fortis Medical
Working with Ben and the team has been straightforward from the beginning. They’re reliable, punctual and easy to communicate with, making financial planning much easier to understand and manage.
I wanted clarity around my NHS pension, retirement planning and stable investments. Fortis carried out a thorough review of my pensions and gave clear advice that many others seemed unwilling to provide.
The pension review gave me the clarity I was looking for and made retirement planning much easier to approach.
Linda Murdoch
Why I chose Fortis Medical
I’ve never had much interest in financial matters or spending time researching investments and pensions. Ben had been my financial adviser for many years, so when he started Fortis Medical I moved with him.
I trusted Ben and wanted to continue working with someone who already understood my circumstances.
Working with Fortis Medical has given me confidence about the future. My investments, pension planning and tax affairs are organised, and I no longer have the burden of researching options, monitoring my portfolio or dealing with unnecessary administration.
Working with Fortis Medical
Working with Ben has been an excellent long-term partnership built on trust, expert guidance and clear advice.
It has brought clarity and peace of mind to my finances.
I wanted help with my pension, retirement planning and ISA contributions. I'd invested in AVCs and was hearing people talk about buying additional years, but I wasn't sure what was right for me.
Ben discovered I'd been poorly advised about my AVCs, which led to a substantial payout that would otherwise have gone unchallenged.
Clare Gerada
Why I chose Fortis Medical
I first started working with Ben about ten years ago as I began planning for retirement. I wanted to sort out my pensions and, more than anything, tidy up 35 years of working life before my husband and I gradually retired.
The reason I chose Fortis Medical was simple. Because Ben is a doctor, I knew he would understand the world I had worked in — the NHS, general practice, and the NHS Pension Scheme — and the decisions I needed to make.
Working with Fortis Medical
I feel completely supported by a team who truly understand what they’re doing. That gives me a real sense of safety and reassurance, and means I don’t have to worry in the same way anymore.
I wanted to plan for the future, support our family, think ahead to grandchildren and make sure we were prepared if either of us ever needed care later in life. Working with Fortis Medical has been fabulous. Ben understands that I worry about money, he's helped me plan ahead and, perhaps most importantly, stop worrying.
He's tidied everything up for me.
Hugh Collins and Emily Simonoff
Why we chose Fortis Medical
An inheritance, rising property values and existing investments increasing in value meant that we wanted to think carefully about managing our wealth. We wanted to make good investments, reduce adviser charges and put detailed estate planning in place for our children and grandchildren. Neither of us has much interest in financial matters.
We had previously sought advice from a large company, but it didn’t seem to take account of our specific needs and was very expensive. We chose Fortis Medical on the recommendation of a colleague.
Working with Fortis Medical
Fortis has highlighted considerations for our specific situation that we weren’t fully aware of. We now have confidence that our finances are being cared for without needing to check everything every month.
Communication is always very quick, and we’ve been impressed by the team’s attention to detail and willingness to challenge other financial institutions when they’re dragging their feet or providing incorrect information.
We wanted clear advice on retirement planning and using the flexibility of the USS pension. There were several options and the pros and cons weren't obvious to us.
We also wanted advice on estate planning, inheritance tax and setting up trusts for our family. The advice has been clearer, more precise and focused on the options available, rather than selling financial products.