The latest appointment at Glasgow offices of leading wealth managers has a strong track record, a commitment to diversity and a glittering sporting background
FOR many people, building and preserving wealth is literally an insurance policy for the future. It brings financial comfort, safety and security. But it's not just a matter of saving cash.
Maximising investment return is complex and time consuming, and is best done in consultation with experts.
Brewin Dolphin offers this kind of discretionary advice, providing a full wealth management service both to direct clients and independent financial advisers (IFAs).
It's a job which requires great care, skills and experience - and that means having top quality people.
The Glasgow office now employs some 37 staff, with business having grown by 14 per cent this year alone.
It now has just under £1 billion of funds under management which is impressive.
The team has just been strengthened by the arrival of Arlene Ewing as Assistant Director.
She has 25 years' experience in the industry and moved from Spiers Jeffrey, where she worked in compliance before switching over to the investment department.
Brewin Dolphin sees her as an important and valued adviser with a lot to offer. "We sought Arlene out," says the company's Glasgow Head of Office, Stephen Martin.
"She has a very engaging personality and a lot of experience in the marketplace. "Arlene will be an excellent fit for the team, which is why we head hunted her. We're a very forward looking organisation and we do things in a professional and ethical way. "Her appointment ticks all the boxes and we're very positive about it.
"She's ambitious and driven - in other words, very much the sort of person we want to be part of our organisation."
It's a message reinforced by Divisional Director Gordon Macdonald, who says: "A large part of the job we all do is about relationships.
"There is a huge amount of trust involved. We're dealing with wealthy clients and that's clearly very important."
Arlene says she was attracted to Brewin Dolphin by the breadth of its offering. "I wanted to provide clients with a full wealth package rather than just stockbroking and private client. It's also a dynamic business - it's a FTSE 250 company - and I liked the corporate structure."
One of her roles will be to pay close attention to client portfolios, ensuring that the structure of individual investments is correct, whilst continuing to grow her own client base. She will also play an important role in business development and work with members of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce at its events. In addition, she is a Scottish committee remember of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments - a position which reflects the regard with which she is held within the sector.
Like Brewin Dolphin itself, Arlene is committed to diversity and boosting this is a personal passion.
"I'm a member of and contributor to Women in Business, which is a platform that allows female professionals to meet and to network in Glasgow and beyond. We also engage through lunches and seminars."
Stephen Martin is equally enthusiastic about her role as a champion for creating diverse workforces.
"We are now at the point where we over 50 per cent of the staff at the Brewin Dolphin offices in Glasgow are female.
"We are very pleased with that.
"We've also just appointed two new graduates, one female and the other male. We're very keen on bringing new young people onto the team as they will help us to grow."
Having started her career with Greig Middleton back in 1991, Arlene is well-known in the Scottish financial sector. But she is also recognised for her role in sport.
She was captain of the Scottish women's swimming team back in the 1980s and was also in the Commonwealth Games team in 1986, she has also swum for the British team.
"It was great fun," she recalls. "I was doing it competitively from the age of 11.
"But it was hard work and took a lot of commitment - at one point I was swimming an average of about 40 miles a week.
Arlene enjoys family life with her twin boys aged two managing to combine both family and business in a busy life.
"I'm also very strong on ethics, and this is a great company as far as that's concerned.
"I have a very strong ethical background through my sporting achievements and family upbringing, so that's a good fit too."
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