April Ritchie

“I treat every client the way I’d want someone to treat my own parents. That’s the standard I hold myself to.”

My parents say I was a live wire from the minute I was born and that I’ve always been a ‘people person’. Twenty-eight years into a career built entirely on connecting with people, they were clearly onto something. I started work straight from school, joining the branch network of Clydesdale Bank before moving to Mattioli Woods in 2013, where I’ve been ever since.

I advise a wide variety of private, high-net-worth and corporate clients, with specialist expertise in personal protection, investments, Inheritance Tax and pensions. I was recognised at a recent conference with an award for excellence in service at Mattioli Woods, an acknowledgement I’m quietly proud of, not least because it sits alongside something I value even more: the steady stream of client referrals that tells me, more than any award, that I’m doing my job right.

One of the best parts of my job is seeing clients actually reach retirement after years of planning together – watching them book those dream holidays, buy the camper van they’ve always talked about, and finally start ticking off their bucket list. It’s what makes everything worthwhile. I’ve also been lucky enough to be in this role long enough that I’m now looking after some of my clients’ children too, and it’s a real privilege to see how they’ve grown up and are starting to build their own lives.

Outside of work, I’m on the board of Making Meldrum Better, a local community fundraising group, and I love getting involved in charity events whenever I can. Travel is a big passion of mine – there’s nothing quite like discovering somewhere new with the family and making great memories along the way. Most weekends rain or shine, I’m watching my 15-year-old daughter do her thing on the football pitch. I’ve been lucky enough to call Aberdeen home for 18 years now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.