Julia Parsons discusses challenges with Citywire’s New Model Adviser publication

Following her cover star appearance in August 2017, Julia Parsons – Director and Head of Risk for Kreston Reeves Financial Planning has again been interviewed by Citywire’s New Model Adviser magazine.

Julia, never one to shy away from a challenge, has a strong belief that ‘all jobs that are worth doing are challenging.’ Through her 20+ years in the industry, she has come across many, ranging from the sweeping regulatory changes of the Retail Distribution Review introduced in 2012, to the current challenges we are all experiencing as a result of COVID-19. To Julia, this constant change and constant adaption to improvement coupled with strong client relationships is what makes it interesting.

Being a forward thinking, modern firm, Kreston Reeves Financial Planning is always seeking experienced advisers and for candidates of the right calibre, offers its own graduate training scheme, sponsoring young advisers through exams, soft-skills training and adviser-shadowing.

The firm was credited in “putting the work in” by Citywire due to the substantial efforts undertaken in increasing its own sustainability to combat climate change in working towards becoming both carbon neutral and paperless through investing in technology, secure client portals and video conferencing facilities. All of which have also helped with the current challenge of maintaining continuity whilst the majority of staff are working from home.

Additionally, Kreston Reeves investment portfolios have been designed to incorporate Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) investing. ‘We are concerned about the future. We have to make sure we have an investment proposition that will benefit both clients and the environment’.

Although there have been many changes in the three years since Julia’s last interview with Citywire, one thing remains constant – the personal relationship with clients and their trusted adviser remains the bedrock of the firm’s success.

‘Our firm is full of people who enjoy their work,’ ‘If you are positive, you believe in your investment process and you are going down the right road as an adviser, clients also benefit from that’.

Julia’s advice to those already within the financial services industry or looking to enter would be to ‘get experts to help you, invest in your team and technology. Believe in what you do. Be honest and do what you say you are going to.”

The full article was published in Citywire – New Model Adviser.