PROFESSIONAL SERVICES What makes your services different to other companies’? Monahans Financial Services is part of the Monahans group of companies, which offers other services such as accountancy and tax advice. Therefore, clients of Monahans are able to access a multitude of services ‘under the one roof’. This means we are able to provide a complete financial advice service without having to refer clients to other, unconnected companies for different aspects of their financial planning requirements. In addition, Monahans Financial Services is also a Chartered Financial Planning firm – a title only awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute to those financial advisory business that can demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism.
The most satisfying part of your job? The most rewarding aspect is that we are able to innovate and create strategies and solutions that deliver institutional best practice to our clients and their advisers. We are not constrained by having our own funds to push. We also get a lot of encouragement and support from the leading lights of index investing, which is helpful when you are going against the grain of high-cost, more established managers.
Your personal career highlights? It would have to be that I’m one of the youngest people in the UK to obtain the Chartered Financial Adviser qualification. Also, becoming managing director of Monahans Financial Services in 2013 aged 35. Oh – and reaching the quarter finals of the Bath Boules last year! How has the Brexit vote affected the services you offer? We have made some adjustments to how and where we recommend clients invest their wealth, not just as a result of the Brexit vote, but this did have an influence on our thinking and advice. Tell us a fun fact about yourself... I am a fitness fanatic and love music – but according to my children, I am a terrible dancer.
Top: Jonathan Wheeler; above: Henry Cobbe
Financial planner at Chase de Vere for 15 years
Henry Cobbe
Head of Copia Capital Management for seven months — the Discretionary Fund Management arm of Novia Financial
What are the key benefits to your clients? It’s simple, clients get to keep more of what’s theirs. When people talk about fees, they compare it to assets (for example some managers might charge 1.5 per cent on assets). The secret is not to compare fees to assets but fees to returns. If long-run returns are 3 per cent, then 1.5 per cent fees means the manager gets half of all your portfolio’s growth. So by keeping fees down, there’s more scope to focus on what matters – getting the financial planning right (you can lose more from poor tax planning than any investment decision) and holding on to your returns. 128 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
For more: www.copia-capital.co.uk
Jonathan Wheeler
For more: www.monahans-fsl.co.uk
How would you describe what your company offers? We are offering an institutional-style approach to investing – focusing on getting the asset allocation right, and keeping costs down – but making it available to all. We call this an ‘actively passive’ approach.
What’s the most important piece of advice Copia gives to investment advisors? Focus on the desired client outcome and the client need. Investment is just part of the story on how to get there.
YOU CAN LOSE MORE FROM POOR TAX PLANNING THAN ANY INVESTMENT DECISION
How would you describe what your company offers? It’s a wholly independent financial planning service helping clients to meet their future goals. What makes your services different to other companies? Independence. We have no financial products of our own to sell, so each client benefits from a truly tailor-made approach. What are the key benefits to your clients? Expertise and care; I want my clients to rest assured knowing their future plans are being carefully considered and planned for. Service; life changes and so meeting or chatting over the phone regularly ensures I can plan accordingly which offers peace of mind. The most rewarding aspect of your job? Clients putting all of their trust in you to help them to make some really big decisions that will ultimately benefit not only them but also their family members. For more: www.chasedevere.co.uk