James is an independent Chartered Financial Planner. Since graduating from Cambridge University, he has built up over 15 years’ experience across the finance industry, covering investment banking; investment modelling and risk management within the Lloyd’s of London market; and personal financial planning.
James believes in having a strong technical team that also knows his clients’ circumstances inside out, to support him in delivering the best possible outcomes for his clients. In this respect, James leads by example, having won a number of awards on the way to becoming a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society – the industry gold standard.
Hi James. What does a regular day look like for you at Montgomery Charles?
It sounds like a cliché, but there is no average day! One day I may be in the office working with our fantastic team to develop a highly complex financial plan for a client; the next day I’ll be meeting with a client at their home, setting out exactly how they can achieve their lifelong dreams. In between, there’s all sorts of things to get stuck into – such as analysing and developing our investment portfolios. You may also see me at one of our specialist conferences, too.
Can you tell us something you particularly enjoy about your role?
I’m a problem-solver at heart and so I love putting together a plan that helps someone achieve something they have dreamed about their whole life – and then seeing that plan come to fruition, first-hand.
Tell us something about yourself that your colleagues might not know…
I am actually a Guinness World Record holder – I jointly hold the record for the highest number of players in a continuous game of skittles (along with 592 other people)!
What makes you tick outside of work?
I live in Frome, Somerset, which is the perfect location for its independent shops, nice restaurants and country pub walks. I love travelling, especially to destinations where you can find both diving and mountain trekking. I’m also a big rugby fan, albeit watching rather than playing these days!
Give us a life tip we couldn’t do without.
Albert Einstein was a clever chap and he has one of the best pieces of advice when it comes to financial planning – “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it, he who doesn’t pays it”.
I’m sure he would have made a fantastic financial adviser at Montgomery Charles!
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Read about our unique ethos and approach to financial planning here, or book a chat with one of our advisers.
