ABOUT ME
I accidentality fell into the investment industry in my 20's. Previously I built up two businesses - a recording studio and a bar/restaurant - but decided to take life more seriously and applied to read law at university. My local, Nottingham Trent, flatly turned me down, but to my surprise Trinity Hall Cambridge kept on inviting me back for interviews.
During this time I was paying the bills by working at discount broker Willis Owen, doing anything that needed doing. It turned out that I had a natural propensity for understanding quite complex investment detail and the clients also liked me, which certainly helped. So following the departure of the IT director (and given I the only other person who understood how to work the computer system) I was given the opportunity to develop an idea I had for investment guides - providing it was only in my own time and at no cost to the company!
The rest, as they say, is history.
MY APPROACH
I'm pretty much as transparent as it gets when it comes to professional conduct. I expect high standards and personal attention - and so I naturally assume that you do too.
I have no time for anyone using strong sales tactics, industry jargon, fake flattery or anything that comes across as insincere. I also have a particular aversion to anyone who purposefully makes the simple complex and firmly believe that if you can't explain something in simple terms that anyone can understand, then you probably don't know your subject well enough.
I also believe in taking a completely open, honest and educative approach, informing and empowering investors to ensure greater understanding and increased awareness and confidence.
In short, I should not have been a particularly good fit for the financial service industry, but it turns out that there is a place for someone who is prepared to do things differently and actually treat their clients as they would want - and expect - to be treated themselves.
PERSONAL LIFE
I live in the Algarve, Portugal, with my wife, our young son and - for some of the year - my daughter, who spends most of her time in Lisbon.
I moved here for the way of life, the sun and because I love being by the sea. I have a passion for anything car related, particularly old British marques and Porsche 911s, and through Intelligent Money was the title sponsor of the British GT Championship. I play piano and attempt to play the guitar, love rugby (though being half Welsh this is often hard these days) and really don't care very much for football (which is one of many things that annoys my Brazilian wife).
I also like reading, both for knowledge and escapism. My favourite author is Stephen Leather, who I was lucky enough to became friends with a few years ago and who, quite unbelievably, wrote me into his 'Spider Shepherd' series as the Head of MI6!
INTELLIGENT MONEY
What happened? After 20 successful years I had to place Intelligent Money in voluntary administration due to compensation claims made against it. In short, as a SIPP provider the firm was required to undertake due diligence on all business it accepted. The measures we took were to ensure that all financial advisers recommending our products were authorised by the FCA and held the required qualifications and permissions, and that all investments were only placed in 'standard assets' from FCA authorised investment providers. We also retained a specialist compliance officer to have full time oversight of the above.
Despite this, when some financial advisers placed clients in high risk investments that lost money the Ombudsman ruled that had we done greater due diligence we could have prevented these losses from occurring and therefore were responsible for providing compensation.
Whilst some considered this decision to be harsh (primarily as Intelligent Money wasn't responsible for client suitability) acting in the best interest of our clients has always been my primary concern and so I respected the decision, which required the sale of all of the company's assets.
HOW CAN I ASSIST?
Whilst my time can be somewhat limited I'm quite an open type of chap and always interested in anything interesting.
Investment Questions
I'm more than happy to answer any investment related questions you may have - but I cannot provide you with regulated financial advice. If you would like to ask me anything or just join in the debate with other like-minded investors then visit www.qandamoney.com and I'll see you there.
Professional Services
If you run a regulated investment firm and require my input with regard to research, analysis, asset allocation, portfolio construction and development or asset screening then please contact me at jph@vanquishanalytics.com
Business Development & Start Ups
If you need an experienced sounding board to run things past, are looking for input on product development, positioning, marketing or assistance with website design then I am happy to take a look and potentially get involved. Get in touch here.