His career began with Lloyds Bank in 1978 and he spent the first 28 years of his career working for High Street Banks. During those years he found that the client contact and the giving of good sound financial advice a fulfilling part of his role but this gradually changed as he was promoted, eventually becoming an Area Manager of a highly successful team of financial advisers. He was then responsible for developing and delivering Investment, Pension and Inheritance Tax seminars, but as time went on he became more and more involved with the upper management administration and more removed from the client interaction that he enjoyed.

Recognising this he was delighted to be invited by St. James's Place in 2006 to set up his own business within a company structure that puts the Client first, and as a representative of theirs Ian is able to offer a truly first-class Personal Service to meet all client needs. As Principal of a Senior Partner Practice of St. James's Place, Ian’s focus is on helping clients achieve their financial goals and it is fundamental to this to get to know clients fully to enable a long term relationship to be built on mutual trust and understanding.

To this end a client’s Financial Life Plan involves the consideration of a 5 step process:

1. Milestone setting: the key events that can be scheduled in the short, medium and long term such as career progression, asset acquisition and disposal, school fees, weddings, retirement planning and Later Life Planning.
2. Cashflow modelling: the financial context for the milestones, forecasting annual income and expenditure, calculating asset and cash balances, maintaining liquidity.
3. Investment planning: the creation of a portfolio of cash, assets and pension plans that balances risk and reward, long term growth and short term accessibility
4. Estate planning: the steps that you can take now to maximise the value of the estate for its beneficiaries later, including the protection of assets and management of Inheritance Tax.
5. Tax planning: doing all the above in the most tax-efficient manner

Like all effective planning, your Financial Life Plan needs to be constantly monitored, reviewed and updated. This is done in person at least annually and more frequently if circumstances dictate.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances.