Money Matters
Money makes the world go round, or so the saying goes.
In each issue of Tees Life, we ask a prominent Teessider about their thoughts on financial matters
FINANCE
Name: Claire Preston Age: 49 Lives: Northallerton Work: CEO of Sound Training, Middlesbrough
Does money make you happy? Everyone has a different relationship with money but for me, no. What it does do is allow me to do things which can enhance my life, primarily with family and friends at home and around the world. I’ m very fortunate in that sense and grateful for the experiences I ' m able to have.
What was your first paid job? When I was at sixth form college I had an Avon round, a Saturday job in a hairdresser ' s – earning £ 10 a day!- and worked a couple of nights a week at The Kirk nightclub. I remember my mum saying I ' d never have so much disposable income. She was right!
Are you a saver or a spender? A spender who likes a bargain! I ' m not good at putting money away, but I do love a bargain and save money that way. Does that count?
What is currently the biggest drain on your resources? I made the decision a couple of years ago to move my daughter into private education. It wasn ' t an easy decision and takes up a significant part of my salary, but I ' m willing to make sacrifices in order to make it possible.
Have you done anything for money that you wished you hadn’ t? When I was at school, I enjoyed making clothes, and occasionally made things for others at a very small profit. My first friend to get married asked me to make some clothes for her honeymoon. They were too small so I had to make them again, at my expense.
What’ s the most you’ ve splashed out on a single item?( excluding a house) I really don ' t spend money on expensive material possessions. I appreciate nice things and have far too many belongings, but none of any monetary value. I prefer to buy unusual or second hand things, including furniture and clothes.
What has been your biggest financial mistake? Selling a flat in London on the South Bank just before the prices rocketed. It had a glass staircase- not ideal for a toddler, but the value doubled very quickly once we ' d moved.
What has been your best investment? I ' m hoping that my best investment is going to be in my daughter ' s education. I hope it gives her the best possible experience of school and the opportunity to discover and develop her strengths.
North East-based wealth manager continues expansion
Continued growth in customer numbers has seen North East wealth manager CDC expand its team with the recruitment of Teesside-based adviser, Neil Briggs.
Offering tailor-made financial solutions, CDC carries the coveted Chartered status, making it one of the leading firms in the UK.
“ CDC is committed to providing industryleading financial solutions across the UK, and the addition of Neil to the team is integral to this,” says Dr Andrew Mann, director of strategy at CDC.
He explains:“ Our aim of providing topquality solutions is supported by our advisers delivering impeccable service. We are able to do this by limiting the ratio of customers to advisers. This threshold is one of the lowest in the industry, meaning our customers enjoy more one-to-one attention.”
This is an issue often overlooked within the financial sector. Dr Mann points to evidence which suggests customers appointing a professional for financial planning typically do so because having a named and easily-accessible adviser is high on their list of priorities.
He says:“ Whilst many financial firms are undoubtedly competent to provide advice, this is of little consolation if an adviser has so many relationships to juggle that customer service falters.”
With more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Neil had a number of career options, but he explains why he chose CDC:“ I previously worked at Lloyds, which has a long heritage of providing financial advice, but the sheer scale of the organisation became a frustration and meant responding to the fast-paced nature of
change within the sector became difficult.
“ Moreover, the number of customers I had to look after meant I could see each one less often. CDC on the other hand has a unique structure which enables me to offer a service my customers will be delighted with, at a price which is extremely competitive.”
For more details about CDC please call Neil Briggs on 019 15166812 or 07939 579132. 39