Eleanor is a seasoned Independent Financial Adviser focusing on retirement structuring and tax-advantaged retail investing. She holds the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (DipPFS) and an advanced certificate in Pension Transfers. Bringing 14 years of industry experience, she currently leads the retirement planning division at a leading independent advisory firm in Manchester.
Eleanor Hastings began her academic journey with a BSc in Finance and Accounting from the University of Manchester, subsequently acquiring her CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (DipPFS). She spent the first decade of her career as a senior portfolio analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, where she mastered the intricacies of Stocks and Shares ISAs, SIPPs, and direct equity investments. Her deep corporate experience spans across assessing accumulation versus income funds, structuring bond ladders with UK Gilts, and evaluating modern robo-advisory platforms like Nutmeg and Vanguard. Eleanor employs a rigorous quantitative approach to asset allocation, favouring evidence-based passive tracking models and strategic dividend reinvestment over emotional active trading. Her motivation for financial journalism stems from a strong desire to protect retail investors from predatory high-fee legacy portfolios and catastrophic premature pension withdrawals. She actively guides professionals through the labyrinth of HMRC tax wrappers, the real-world implications of Bank of England base rate changes, and the safe deployment of capital during severe stock market corrections. Eleanor's writing serves as a critical bridge for those seeking to transition from aggressive compounding strategies to secure capital preservation.