Profile on... Ben Stott, Private Banker
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Q: Tell us a little about your background
A: Compared to many of my peers, I was a relatively
late entrant into financial services. I joined Coutts & Co on
their graduate programme aged 27 having previously held marketing
and project management roles in the gaming industry. Manifestly
failing to grasp the intricacies of chemical engineering at
university (it was very tough - honest!), I eventually gained a
business degree at university in Manchester and combined studies
with my pre-banking day job. It was during this time that I
developed a passion for the investment world and therefore sought a
career change to lead me down that path.
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I left Coutts for a consultancy role in central Europe before
arriving in Jersey through 2004 to take an investment specialist
role within a large trust company. I got to know Fairbairn Private
Bank as an intermediary client and found the organisation's
approach to be unique and extremely refreshing - so much so that I
joined the team. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Fairbairn
Private Bank?
A: There are many reasons why I typically come to work
with a spring in my step. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and
well within our business and all staff are genuinely encouraged to
engage with management, which is rare in our industry.
Additionally, the interaction between staff at all levels is open
and hard work rarely interferes with the fun working
environment.
Q: What are your goals / aims in the short-term?
A: I have responsibility for developing the bank's
intermediary business in Jersey, which is both challenging and
rewarding. Fairbairn Private Bank is in many ways an easy sell
because we concentrate on delivering high quality services with a
genuine personal touch - the challenge is to ensure the correct
message about the business reaches our target clients.
My ultimate goal is to make Fairbairn Private Bank the first
organisation which intermediary businesses think of when they
demand quality, flexibility and service. We are definitely getting
there but will not rest on our laurels.
Q: Is there anything your clients are particularly
interested in at the moment?
A: We are seeing a great deal of interest from trustees
who manage corporate employee benefit (eg, EBTs) and retirement
benefit structures such as EFRBS. The functionality and flexibility
of our Focus platform is a huge selling point and our ability to
integrate robust investment advice - thus providing professionally
scrutinised investor choice - is proving attractive and allows
trustees to provide their clients with a coherent turn-key
solution.
Our discretionary investment services are also increasing in
popularity in the trust market given our consistently strong track
record and through independent recognition such as our recent PAM
award shortlisting. As a member of the bank's investment committee,
I am passionate about this area of our business.
Q: Your top tip?
A: Courtesy costs nothing.
Education: BA (Hons) Business Studies (2000),
Investment Advice Certificate (2001), Investment Management
Certificate (2001), Chartered Financial Analyst Charter
(2004).
Career: 1994 to 2000 - Barcrest Group, Manchester;
2000 to 2003 - Coutts & Co, London; 2003 to 2004 - DeVere &
Partners, Prague; 2004 to 2007 - Equity Trust, Jersey; 2007 to
present - Fairbairn Private Bank, Jersey.
Likes: Family time, sport (playing and watching)
and a good meal.
Dislikes: Closed minds and hangovers.
Dream job: Tabloid headline writer… the truth
should never get in the way of a good pun!
If you weren't here now, what would you be doing?
Attempting to reduce my handicap on the golf course.