GREGORY COOKE, FPFS, IMC, CFPTM
Director and Chartered Financial Planner
at work
I’ve been a qualified financial planner since November 2013 and became a Chartered financial planner in December 2015. Polaris Wealth Management became fully independent in September 2016, and the company has been featured in VouchedFor’s Top Rated list every year since then.
Before setting up Polaris, I held roles in the insurance, personal finance, and private banking sectors.
Today, I specialise in working with clients within touching distance of or in retirement, but I can help people at whatever stage of life they find themselves.
I enjoy working with aspirational people who genuinely want to improve their lives and the lives of those around them by achieving their goals. I also like working with people who are honest and value honesty in return, as well as with people who don’t take themselves too seriously.
The main thing I love about my job is meeting a wide variety of new people and learning about them and their lives. I also love problem-solving and helping clients realise their goals.
It’s hard to pin down a single moment I’m most proud of in my career. But helping clients deal with life’s unexpected events has to be up there.
Sadly, I’ve had to help clients deal with the implications of serious illness and bereavement on a few occasions. Being trusted by someone to support them through what’s likely to be one of the hardest moments in their life makes me proud to be a financial planner. The plans we put in place provide comfort and reassurance by removing any worries around financial matters at difficult times.
outside work
I enjoy walking, hiking, and time spent outdoors in general. I walk pretty much every weekend and often a few times during the week, either in the mornings or after work.
I’ve lived in Sheffield since 2009, but I only really started to take advantage of the Peak District in the last few years. Better late than never, I guess!
I walk for exercise, but I also find it helps me process my thoughts and clear my mind. A bugbear of my partner’s is that I often hardly say a word on some walks as I’m so lost in my thoughts.
Many people will share my experience that working for yourself can be hard to switch off. I find walking helps. I’m generally happier and more focused (and easier to live with) when I walk regularly.
Aside from walking, I like to spend my time with friends and family, particularly my niece and nephew. Recently, we held an arts and crafts day for my niece; her parents are keen for the mess to be at our house rather than theirs. This resulted in a papier-mâché unicorn and a robot made out of an empty beer box.
We have also recently visited the National Videogame Museum for my nephew’s birthday, which went down well. I’d definitely recommend this.
My qualifications
On top of my first-hand experience dealing with a wide variety of issues, I’ve studied a broad range of financial topics. This means I’m fully qualified to be able to tackle any problem you may face.
know…
Just so you know…
All financial planners and advisers must have an entry on the Financial Conduct Authority register. We’re also required to hold an up-to-date Statement of Professional Standing from an industry body like the Chartered Insurance Institute. You can view both of my entries here.
Likes
- Football
- Cooking
- Film and TV
- Good pizza and good beer
- Hiking and time spent in nature
Dislikes
- Spiders
- Mornings
- Mushrooms
- Littering and fly-tippers
- Adverts, particularly jingly ones
