It’s Spring at last! We hope you are keeping well and would like to say a very big welcome to our new clients who have joined RB in recent months.
Despite some challenges it’s been a positive start to the year overall. Having navigated year end and a number of short working weeks, we thought it was time to send you an update on life at Robertson Baxter:
People
Charlotte Slack returned from maternity leave at the start of April working 3 days per week on reception. Faye Mallinson is staying on for a few more months too, providing some welcome extra administration support.
Barney Wood and Lee Bridgewater both passed their advanced Level 6 exam in ‘Taxation, Trusts and Compliance’ at the start of the year.
Georgina Gillingham joined the Client Services Team in January and is proving to be a real asset to the team with her impressive previous experience working with the systems we use, including the Fusion platform. Georgina lives locally, enjoys socialising with her family and spending time with her puppy Russell whom she goes to check up on at lunchtimes!
Daniel Willers and Gillian Shirt gained a Certificate in Financial Wellbeing in April.
Rebecca Dean celebrated a milestone anniversary of 5 years with Robertson Baxter in April.
Natalie Hebden is sadly leaving us in June after joining us in April 2021. It will be a real loss not only to Robertson Baxter but also to the IFA sector; she will leave with our very best wishes for the future.
Antony Barton and Joanne Vaughan were promoted to Directors in January. Both have been with RB 7 years; Antony is now Director of Financial Planning and Jo is now Director of People and Operations. Read more here
We are recruiting to support our continued growth and development of our people and look forward to sharing further announcements with you.
Activity/Achievements
We were delighted to be chosen as finalists yet again for the Yorkshire Financial Awards for the 5th year running in 3 categories: Financial Adviser Team of the Year, Financial Adviser of the Year (Antony Barton) and Director of the Year (Stephen Baxter).
Antony and Gillian were proud to be included in the VouchedFor 2023 Guide to Top Rated Advisers, distributed in the Times. This guide is based purely on positive genuine verified client feedback and we are very grateful to those clients who have taken the time to provide feedback for their adviser.
If you are not familiar with VouchedFor, it is like a Trip Adviser website in that it is designed to help consumers choose a financial adviser whom they might want to work with. It’s always wonderful to receive a testimonial for the positive work we do and really motivates the team. If you haven’t yet taken the opportunity to praise your adviser, why not seize the moment and take a couple of minutes now:
If that wasn’t enough, our advisers have been out and about giving their time to share their expertise. Antony delivered a financial tutorial to Wyke Sixth Form college in April, to be rolled out to their 2000 students, with the aim of educating the next generation to feel confident about money and make good financial decisions at an early age. Gillian co-presented a session in March at the Ladies Breakfast Club in Leeds to educate fellow female professionals on financial planning and the benefits of starting sooner than later.
A number of young people have approached us from different schools in the area since last September to request a work experience placement as they consider a career in finance. We have been delighted to offer a placement to 2 local students who will spend a week with us in July.
Financial
In case you have missed them, you might like to peruse our blogs released over the last few months, most recently:
‘Spring Budget 2023 – Pension Changes’
Our internal compliance team are working hard to meet the criteria for the FCA’s new Consumer Duty legislation which comes into force from 1st August 2023. It’s a positive move for the industry which will challenge every financial firm to continue to raise the bar to improve the client experience and ensure we add value. We’re feeling confident but not complacent!
We would like to thank you all for your continued support and loyalty through testing times and hope you enjoy the warmer weather and longer days over the coming months.
With warm wishes,
The Robertson Baxter Team
Production
