David Howell, the CEO of GWM, speaks to My Startup World about his company, how and when it was started, the challenges he faced and the way forward
Tell us about Guardian Wealth Management.
GWM is a lifestyle financial planning firm that was established in the UK 22 years ago; however, it wasn’t until a few years later we expanded into Europe and the Middle East to meet the demands of our international clients. Now we have 8 offices worldwide and over 60 chartered financial planners.
What sort of services do you offer on the market?
We specialize in personal finance for our clients covering areas such as retirement solutions, inheritance tax planning, portfolio management, education fee planning and corporate benefits.
Which markets do you currently cater to?
We are mainly targeting expats in the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar), but this can be anything from singles to couples, high earners and those just wanting a personal service. We also have a team to provide comprehensive corporate solutions to SME’s.
What is the USP of Guardian Wealth Management?
We help financial clients to achieve and maintain their financial independence and understand where they are currently and where they want to be. We bring the future into the present so clients have time to plan as ‘no one plans to fail, they simply fail to plan’.
In the UAE one of our main USPs is that we are one of the only financial planning firms who are fully regulated by UK, ESCA and IA laws. All of our Senior Planners are qualified to at least CISI Level 4 and many CISI Level 6 and above, ensuring only the best, regulated advice.
Why was a dedicated female team set up to cater to only to a female audience?
There was an affinity within the legal profession for qualified female financial planners to deal with pensions and divorce for their clients. Additionally, we have found that women often shy away from financial advice due to complexity or uncertainty. Therefore, we wanted to make it as approachable as possible as their priorities are often much different to men’s.
What plans do you have for the company in the next one-year or so?
We will continue to improve and enhance the clients experience by providing a client-centric service and always understanding and listening to their needs. We will also be ramping up our specialist advice to SME’s via our Corporate Solutions team.
Tell us your startup story. How did you start, the challenges faced, and so on?
We started with humble beginnings in the UK, with a joint vision shared by my business partner John to make a difference in international financial planning and leave a legacy. The speed bumps along the way were finding the right calibre of individuals in order for the business to grow. But today we have eight offices worldwide with a great reputation for quality financial advice.
Who funds the operation? Is it bootstrapped or do you have external funding?
In 22 years we have grown organically aided by good financial management controls, controlled expansion into expat regions, plus a rigorous selection process of quality individual for front and back office.
We wish to continue to grow by reputation worldwide and look to recruit individuals with a passion and tenacity. We will also be adapting to new legislation changes within each region and preparing for market turbulence.
