FINANCE
Why client support is not just about the numbers
Newly launched this year by Jonathan Knee , Bath-based Knee Financial Planning Ltd offers a bespoke financial planning service for private clients , family estates and business owners across the UK .
A popular and well-known local figure , Jonathan lives and works in Bath and also has strong family ties to Wiltshire – his great , great-grandfather having founded the county ’ s well-known retail business , H . J . Knee Ltd in 1879 .
Jonathan tells us more about his new venture , his business philosophy and why he has high hopes for 2024 …
What inspired you to set up Knee Financial Planning ?
I ’ d been working as a self-employed advisor in my previous practice where I had a great five years . I was able to build up an exciting , innovative group of clients ( who I will be retaining ) but reached the point where I had different options – and the option I chose was to start Knee Financial Planning Ltd .
My vision was to elevate my client experience above the ordinary relationship with a financial consultant . I encourage all questions and make things as relaxed as possible .
What are your plans for the business ? Our key objective is to continue growing organically – we want the brand to be a trusted go-to for private clients and business owners alike .
How long have you been a financial advisor ? I ’ ve been working in the financial services industry since 2001 and have been fully qualified since 2018 .
How do you work with clients to help them achieve their goals ?
It ’ s a process of understanding existing circumstances – what their assets are , what their liabilities are , their objectives , timescales , whether they have a business and so on .
The process of financial planning is unique to everyone , it ’ s not all about my earnings – at the centre are my clients and their lifelong objectives and circumstances , which often change .
Who is a typical Knee Financial Planning client ? I ’ m very happy to help anyone who has any questions , but generally , my clients are private high-net-worth business owners – individuals with £ 250,000-plus of investible wealth .
What is your business ethos ? Helping people first , regardless of their financial position .
What are you looking forward to this year ? 2024 is the point where I think we can draw a line under the difficult first three years of the 2020s – so it looks like it ’ s going to be a good year .
What should individuals and business owners have on their radar in 2024 in terms of the market and saving ?
There are lots of changes coming up this year , such as the UK general election and the US election . I ’ m keen to see how that all plays out . Inflation has been slowly reducing – so there is anticipation that interest rates will be coming down this year .
Sentiment is going to be higher – but I think the pace of the recovery will be slower . Don ’ t expect interest rates to go down to zero !
Tell us something else that people might not know about you
I really enjoy providing help and support to the community . Recently I put forward a Bath-based charity called Youth Connect South West for funding from the St James ’ s Place Charitable Foundation which has now been agreed upon and is making a real difference to our young community .
I ’ m also a school governor at Ralph Allen School , a Business Mentor at Bath University and an NHS responder .
Get a Headstart on regular saving .
Are you saving for a home ? Whether you ’ re a new or existing customer , if you ’ re between the ages of 18 and 34 , we can provide you with a great rate to start saving for your first home . Plus , after 12 months , if you take out a Bath Building Society residential mortgage we ’ ll give you £ 500 cashback on completion and you ’ ll pay no arrangement fee .
To find out more and apply online , visit our website www . bathbuildingsociety . co . uk or call into one of our Branches .
Terms and conditions apply to our Homestart Regular Saver account . All account holders must be between 18 and 34 years old . A payment between £ 50 and £ 250 must be made into the account each month . Lump sum deposits will not be allowed . Only two withdrawals are allowed per calendar year , if you withdraw money again after that , we will change your account to an Instant Access . The account will mature on the account holder ’ s 35th birthday . Our Head Office is : 15 Queen Square , Bath BA1 2HN . Bath Investment & Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority , Registration Number 206026 .
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