Worldwide Financial Planning Appoints New Managing Director
By ELEANOR McGILLIE
WORLDWIDE Financial Planning has appointed a new Managing Director and new Compliance and Head of Risk in a drive to take the firm to the next step in becoming a market leader in independent financial advice.
The firm of independent financial advisers, which has offices in Truro, Southampton and Northern Ireland, will be headed by Simon Funge, previous Head of Financial Planning at Wesleyan where he managed a team of 300 specialist financial advisors. Simon will be joined by James Barclay, who will head up risk management in the compliance department.
Simon, who previously held the role of Head of Operations, Strategy and Proposition for Wesleyan, has held some key roles including Client Relationship Director at Doran Scott Williams (DSW) having consulted for three years to help build the turnover from £4M in 2014 to over £9M in 2015.
He enjoyed similar success with his team during his varied roles at RBS from 2002 to 2013 where profit growth increased from £1.1M in 2005 to over £10M in 2010/2011 during his role as Managing Director, delivering over £1BN in assets under management.
Prior to that, Simon worked at Lloyds private bank for five years and laterally managed the IFA division with a turnover of £25M and 60 Independent Financial advisers.
Speaking about the appointments, Chairman Peter McGahan, who writes the financial advice columns in the Cornishman, Cornish Guardian, West Briton and the Irish News, said: “As a strong team of independent financial advisers we are building on our Financial Times Business (FT) awards and successes which we have built up over the years. We are developing our FT award winning investment and pension proposition and FT award winning mortgage department to make us a market leader in financial advice. Our exciting new appointments are instrumental foundations in making this happen and the firm is delighted to have the new team players on board.
“Worldwide Financial Planning is growing and as well as the new additions to the team we are seeking new advisers and increasing our administration support team. Similarly we will grow by acquiring companies over the coming years.”
Speaking about his appointment Simon said: “I am joining Worldwide at a very exciting time. The business is looking to build on its strong reputation for investment expertise. With a number of external factors impacting on financial markets it’s important that clients seek expert opinion to secure the best returns.
“Worldwide Financial Planning is a great business with a reputation for outstanding service and safeguarding clients financial future. Over the coming years we will build on that success.”
Also appointed to the firm of independent financial advisers is James Barclay who will sit on the board and head up its risk and compliance department. James, who will be working side by side with Simon, said: “It is great to be at the heart of this new challenge with a company that is so forward thinking and with their customer’s wellbeing truly at the heart of every decision.”
ENDS:
NOTES TO EDITOR:
- Worldwide Financial Planning was set up in 1998 in Cornwall UK as a specialist firm of independent Financial Advisers, leading the way in product research and financial advice, and amassed over 16 FT Business awards over its lifetime. They were one of the very first firms to lead the way in moving from commission to fees and are known for their forward thinking and insight into financial markets and Independent Financial Advice
- For further media information or interviews please contact Eleanor McGillie of MGMPR Ltd on 07709805379 or email eleanor@mgmpr.co.uk
