Welcome to the first instalment of our Staff Spotlight series, where we will introduce you to the team behind RetireInvest. In each article, you’ll find out about their careers to date, what they love about their work, and the value they bring to our business and our clients.
Today, we’re focusing on our Operations Director, James Todd. Responsible for the management of our team of experienced advisers whilst also advising his own clients, James talks his varied role, his career journey so far, and – because why not? – who he’d be if he were a Mr Men character.
How it all started
“Back in the mid-1990s, I saw an advert for a mortgage adviser position and thought I’d apply,” says James. “Although they thought I was a bit fresh-faced for the job, they created a role for me within the business as a mortgage administrator.”
Although at the time, no qualifications were required to become a mortgage adviser, James’s firm – Andrews & Partners – took a thorough and ethical approach to advice. Despite it not being a legal requirement, they insisted that any prospective mortgage adviser must first qualify as a professional financial adviser before working with clients.
“And that’s how I became a qualified financial adviser,” James says. “I got qualified, became a mortgage adviser and spent the next decade working in a variety of the firm’s offices around the South West.”
From mortgage adviser to Operations Director
In 2010, Andrews & Partners did a joint venture with a firm called Mortgage Options – RetireInvest’s sister business, established by our Managing Director, Rob Everett. James was seconded to Mortgage Options to oversee Andrews & Partners’ interests in the business – and he never really left!
In 2015, Rob bought out Andrews & Partners’ share in Mortgage Options, offering James a position as Operations Director of the business and, later, of the newly established wealth arm of the business, RetireInvest.
The average day
So, what does being Operations Director of two sister businesses entail day-to-day?
“I refer to myself as a ‘firefighter’”, James laughs. “I work closely with our admin team to keep an eye on the back-office side of the business, making sure that everything is running smoothly and that we’re doing all the right things to move the business forwards. That might mean resolving issues with the fund management companies we work with, supporting advisers with complex or difficult cases, and keeping on top of the ever-shifting regulatory requirements imposed by the Financial Conduct Authority.”
The most rewarding part, says James, is the real difference he is able to make to his clients’ lives and financial prospects. “Some of our clients come to us with investment portfolios that have been so poorly managed,” he explains. “When we’re able to reorganise and rebalance a client’s portfolio so that their investments are working for them and supporting their future financial goals, it’s a really great feeling.”
The RetireInvest difference
James and the advisory team take particular pride in the friendly and personal relationships they have developed with their clients over the years. “If you ask any adviser about a particular client, they don’t have to consult their notes – they know who you’re talking about immediately. They probably know where each of their clients last went on holiday and could tell you the names of their children and grandchildren!”
James’s biggest achievement
When asked what he is most proud of in his career, James says simply: “I suppose, when I look back at where I started, making tea and opening the post, I’m proudest of how far I’ve come. I’ve always tried to be proactive when it comes to my career and taking the next step up the ladder. All the dark nights I spent studying to get the qualifications I needed to progress were all worth it! And now, I’m in a position where I can help people on their own journeys, to build their wealth and achieve financial security for themselves and their families. So I suppose I’m proudest of that.”
The important question…
Last but not least, James answers one more important question – if he were a Mr Men character, who would he be? A slightly nonplussed James answers: “I suppose I’d be Mr Perfect – or more like Mr Perfectionist! I like to do things by the book, which is a good thing considering that I’m in charge of compliance with FCA regulations. Call me Mr Compliant!”