The global pandemic has made many of us realise the fragility of our lives and highlighted how quickly things can change. In the context of managing money, even the most robust financial plans will have been tested by the scale of this and other notable events such as Brexit.

Clients and prospects alike have told us how the challenges of recent times have increased the value they place on effective investment management. We expect this to continue and the need for advice to grow. As our lives become more complex and time our most precious resource, accessing professional investment management will become more commonplace.

Church House is well placed to support this need with a twenty-plus year track record of delivering a highly personal service and consistent investment performance. We offer Private Clients a rare blend of portfolios and funds, all designed to meet a range of investor needs. The use of our own suite of funds provides us with greater control over risk, which in turn gives us the best possible chance of delivering the investment returns our clients expect without the shocks they fear.

Over recent weeks we have made some new hires and promoted from within to further strengthen the team behind our success.

Andrea Steel has been promoted to Head of Private Clients for the South West, so will work closely with the Relationship Managers and Client Services team, operating out of our Sherborne offices. In addition to supporting colleagues, her remit includes further developing our relationships with local solicitors and accountants. We strongly believe collaboration with other professionals is the key to securing suitable outcomes for those with more complex needs.

Joining us after five years with Investec is Ben Stevens, whose role as Associate Client Manager will see him support the work of the Relationship Managers in our Dorset office. Ben holds the Chartered Wealth Manager qualification. To maintain our high standards of service, we are also bolstering our Client Service Team with the appointment of Vanessa Short, who brings with her a wealth of customer service experience, having previously spent four years with Battens Solicitors.

Finally, Mike Green has taken up the position of Operational Assurance Manager, which involves running the governance processes relating to our range of six investment funds. After eight years overseeing service operations for a direct investment service, Mike brings with him extensive knowledge of the fund management industry and a strong eye for detail.

Commenting on these developments, James Johnsen, Director and Head of Private Clients, said,

Over the last eighteen months, we have demonstrated a high level of resilience in the face of many challenges. It is a great source of pride that our clients remain delighted with their results and the service they have received. As consolidation across our industry continues, Church House stands out as one of an increasingly small group of independently-owned investment management businesses. By growing the team, we aim to help more people build effective financial plans, the foundations of which are our proven range of investment portfolios

Important information

The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute advice or a personal recommendation. Investors are advised to seek professional advice before entering into any investment decisions. Please also note the value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment. You should also be aware that past performance may not be a reliable guide to future performance.