Where Have All the Good Guys Gone?

The growing firm has been on a consistent recruitment drive for the past 12 months and during this process managing partner, Colin Lawson, has felt that financial planners and paraplanners are not realising the exciting opportunity which faces the industry.

Colin said: “In the past five years the wealth management industry has been transformed: RDR shook bad practices out of the woodwork, pension reform revolutionised pension pot savings and banking restructures meant many HNW individuals found a gap in services and support.

“There is a need for a new breed of wealth planners and technical support staff who are head and shoulders above the rest. Not only do they need to understand the best products, tax planning and investment opportunities, they need to have the people and management skills to really understand clients personal needs and develop and deliver wealth management plans which provide clients with future financial confidence.

“Set traditional model approaches aren’t the norm, the wealth management industry needs to look for new avenues to explore. Proactivity and creativity is just as important as in-depth industry knowledge, and that’s what many candidates are failing to convey.

“I know there are talented, high calibre financial experts out there, (they can’t all just be in the current Equilibrium team!) and my advice is don’t be afraid to show your personality, passion and creative skills in the interview process. Yes, we work in the financial industry, but that certainty doesn’t mean we have to be boring suits!”

Equilibrium’s hands on approach to wealth management has led to the Cheshire-based firm increasing its assets under management by £80million in the last 12 months and being crowned ‘Firm of the Year’ (North England) in the New Model Adviser Awards 2015.