“I never planned to be a financial adviser – but my grandma always knew I would.”
My grandma always had a financial adviser. As a teenager, I’d sit at her kitchen table after his visits and she’d say, “You could do that one day, James, you’re great with numbers.” I didn’t think much of it at the time. Fast forward through starting a chemistry degree I didn’t enjoy, swapping to economics and obtaining a first-class degree at the University of Sheffield, then a stint managing mystery shoppers from Hull to Scotland, and here I am – a chartered financial planner. Turns out she was right.
I came into financial planning through paraplanning, supporting chartered financial planners at a local independent firm before progressing to adviser and completing my chartered status. But I always knew I wanted to be in front of clients. The technical work matters, but what really drives me is the human side – sitting with someone who’s worried about their future and helping them see they’re going to be fine.
My approach is built on honesty, clarity, and consistency. People come to me with their concerns, unsure of what they want. What they actually need is to know someone is on top of it, that they’ll hear back from me even when there’s no update, and that I’ll never guess when I don’t know the answer.
I work with clients across a wide range of planning needs – retirement planning, pension consolidation, Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, and tax-efficient solutions including Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs). Whether you’re analytical and want the detail, or you simply want reassurance that everything is heading in the right direction, I’ll adapt to how you like to work.
One client came to me so worried about running out of money that he’d taken long-term sick leave from work. We built a cash flow plan, gave him a clear picture of what he actually had, and helped him retire with confidence. Those are the moments that bring me back to the office on a Monday morning.
I’m based in Grimsby and joined Mattioli Woods following the acquisition of Kingswood in 2025. Outside work, I follow Hull City and Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league, travel whenever I can, and recently got engaged in Melbourne on Christmas Eve – at the Ashes, which England lost, but I’m choosing to focus on the engagement.
My grandma spotted something in me before I’d spotted it in myself. That same attention to what really matters is exactly what I bring to your finances.
