Bruce & Flint put time into free debt advice service

Neil Flint (above), co-founder of Billingham-based Bruce & Flint Consultancy, became acutely aware of how many people were struggling with debt as the recession bit this year and decided to do something about it.

Debt problems have escalated in the past year, with the latest credit card and loan debt levels standing at around £1,400 billion.

In response, Flint and his co-director John Bruce have been working with the church and local council to provide a free debt advice service for people who would not normally be able to afford to pay for help with their finances.

‘Rather than people try to tackle the problem on their own, what we’re saying is why don’t you just come and have a chat with us and we will give you the answer,’ said Flint.

The company is launching a financial advice and debt centre that will offer free advice on matters such as budgeting and dealing with creditors.

It is teaming up with national debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty, which will provide practical help to the centre. 

‘This is going to be huge next year because there’s so many people going to hit the wall,’ he said. ‘As an industry. I just think we need to start doing something to help other people.’

The local council is promoting the service and allowing it to use the town hall.

Flint said the project was funded by his firm but hoped to ultimately get external funding.

Over the past year the company has focused its efforts on developing a cashflow modelling system to pinpoint clients’ wealth at all stages of their life and has teamed up with technology firm CCL.

While primarily geared towards planning for retirement, the system, which will launch to other IFA firms at the end of January 2009, has also allowed the advisers to highlight gaps in other areas.