Favourite quote
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

My top 3 favourite Podcasts/Books
Birdsong
The Giving Tree
The Phantom Tollbooth

Aim
To create a workplace that everybody enjoys being part of, capable of providing a top-class service and experience for clients  .

My Role
To deliver high quality, honest advice to clients, and to provide my input into the business running and decision making to make this possible.

My Credentials
After growing up in Kendal, I flew the nest at 19 and obtained an honours degree in Management Studies at the University of Leeds. After graduating I returned to the area, and started working in the financial services industry in 2006, when in my mid-20’s. Being really keen to start advising as soon as possible, I qualified and became an adviser after about 12 months. I have been gaining valuable experience in the role, along with knowledge to back this up ever since. After working for a couple of local firms, as well as sitting numerous exams, and 20-odd later achieving chartered and fellowship status, I joined RDB and became a director in 2017. This has allowed me to put some of what I learned in my studies to practice, and the rest is history!

What’s your Archetype
According to an online quiz, I am 50% Athlete (maybe a few years ago!), 28% Explorer and 22% Caregiver.

The athlete aspect is associated with a high level of focus and drive, as well as staying fit and healthy (as well as winning apparently!). The Explorer is drawn to the unknown, and a thirst for adventure, taking ‘journeys’ not ‘holidays’. Friendly, sincere, and compassionate, the caregiver finds their reward in helping others. No one could ask for a better best friend (the website’s words not mine!).

What do I like best about RDB
Working as part of a great team of great people who share common values of decency, hard work and delivering quality, as well as dealing with some amazing clients. The Christmas parties are pretty good too!

Hobbies and Interests
Spending time with my family, running, cycling, walking, exploring, holidays (sorry journeys!), eating, meeting with friends, DIY, gardening and watching football.

Favourite quote
“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

Aim
To provide advice to individuals who require assistance in managing their finances and to tailor our bespoke services to fit each unique clients’ needs and aspirations.

My Role
To provide advice to clients, participate in developing investment and financial planning strategies as part of RDB’s Investment Committee.

My Credentials/Background
I joined RDBIFS in September 2013. Prior to that, after graduating with a BA in Public Administration from a university in Poland, I decided to start my new life here in Kendal. Since then I have qualified through Kendal College with AAT level 4 Diploma in Accounting and in 2018, I completed the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and I am currently working towards Chartered Financial Planner status with the CII.

My Archetype
According to an online quiz I am 60% intellectual, 30% athlete and 10% caregiver, which means that I am most concerned with gaining as much information as possible and I  live by the slogan “knowledge is power”.

What do I like best about RDB
The variability of my job ensures that no day is like any other. We provide financial planning strategies to clients, trusts and companies and each case presents unique challenges.

Top 3 favourite Books
•    1984 by George Orwell
•    Persuasion by Jane Austen
•    Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

Hobbies & Interests
•    Fell walking, Running, Going to the gym
•    Holidays with my partner
•    Reading

Favourite Quote
“If you do not believe you can do it then you have no chance at all”.

Aim
My passion is to share my expertise in the form of honest and fair advice, to give people the freedom and confidence to live their lives and help fulfil their dreams.

My Credentials
I have worked in the industry since joining RDB in 2014 and qualified with a Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning in 2019. I previously worked in a customer service role at a local business.

My Archetype
45% Intellectual, 30% Explorer & 25% Visionary:

As an ‘Intellectual’, my goal is to pursue knowledge for the sake of discovering truth in all areas of life by asking engaging questions and offering thoughtful debate. As an ‘Explorer’, I am drawn to the unknown, have a thirst for adventure, and inspire others to explore uncharted territory. As a ‘Visionary’, I am interested in new ways of seeing things, bringing the future into the present, and sense the changing impulses of society.

What I like best about RDB
I love working for RDB because it has given me the opportunity to meet a fantastic group of people, who have supported me in achieving my goal of becoming a financial planner. This has allowed me to pursue my passion for helping people realise their financial goals. My colleagues have inspired me by being kind, knowledgeable and always willing to go the extra mile to help.

My Top 3 Books
To Kill a Mockingbird
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Beyond Good and Evil

Hobbies and Interests
I like to enjoy some fresh air by going for a run, walking the dog, and playing football. I love to travel the world and explore other cultures. When I’m at home, you will usually find me biting my nails through an Arsenal game, watching a film or reading an interesting article I found on the internet.

Favourite Quote
“I should think I’m going to be a perpetual scholar” – Anton Chekov, The Cherry Orchard.

Aim
To do the best job I can possibly do helping others meet their financial goals in order to realise their financial dreams, and to do it everyday with a smile on my face.

My Credentials
I have been a part of the industry for over ten years, originally working for a local investment management firm; Border Asset Management, where I earned Associate status with the ‘Chartered Insititute for Securites and Investements’ (CISI). Recently I’ve worked for an international investment firm, Sanlam, before being offered the opportunity to join my colleagues at RDB.
I am currently working towards my level 4 diploma with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

My Archetype
53% Performer, 30% Royal & 17% Visionary:
As a ‘Performer’ taking centre stage comes naturally to me whether that be at the photocopier or in front of an audience. Performers can be magnetic and inspirational – or at least that’s what I keep telling everybody! ‘Royal’ tends to thrive on attention, they usually enjoy sole ownership of a task, and they take a particular joy in a job well done. Finally, a ‘Visionary’ is interested in challenging the status quo and seeing if there are new ways of achieving results – they seek out alternate solutions and gain satisfaction from seeing these come to fruition.

What I like best about RDB
The clients! My colleagues come a close second but it’s the clients that make everyday so fulfilling. Working for RDB is so important to me because it has given me the opportunity to learn from a fantastic group of people who genuinely care about their clients and enjoy the work they do for them. RDB support me everyday in my work towards my diploma in financial planning, and colleagues are always happy to help with any question or query I have (no matter how busy they are!) and they inspire me to be the best possible investment professional I can be.
We have a special atmosphere in our office in Levens which can be described best as ‘hard working fun’, when clients come to visit, they will often be greeted by our smiling faces. We have a great culture and love having people coming into the office to experience it.

My Top 3 Books
Mort (but almost everything by Pratchett).
1984
Dune

Hobbies and Interests
Living in local Lancaster but working on the doorstep of the Lakes, I’m spoilt for outdoor activities and often can be seen on a walk, playing football or sheltering from the weather in a country pub.

When I’m not out and about I’m a keen reader with technology and investments being of particular interest.

I’m passionate about giving blood and regularly do so at my local donation centre, it’s a small thing to do that can literally mean life or death to somebody else and I urge everyone to give it a go!

Quote
“Don’t count the days, make the days count”.

Aim
To provide a first-class administrative service to both our clients and advisers.

My Role
A varied role including all elements of the administration of the business, from conducting the financial transactions to the preparation of client reports and analytical documents for the advisers.

Credentials/background
As one of the younger members of the team I started working at RDB in September of 2021 after a change of career to fit in more with my home life, I had previously worked in customer service at a local business since I was 15.

Archetype
According to a recent archetype assessment I am:
55% Care giver
32% Intellectual
13% Creative

What do I like best about RDB
Working with a friendly group of people who are always there to help me if I have any questions or help me in general.

Hobbies & Interests
I am a farmer’s daughter and enjoy spending my days off on the farm with my flocks. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family.

Aim

To provide a first-class administrative service to both our clients and advisors.

My Role

A varied role including all elements of the administration of the business, from conducting the financial transactions to the preparation of client reports and analytical documents for the advisers.

My Credentials

I graduated from Northumbria University, with a Psychology degree.

What do I like best about RDB

The tea and biscuits!

Hobbies and Interests

My all-time favourite TV series is Greys Anatomy.

I also enjoy walking, travelling, and watching women’s football.

Aim

My aim is to provide clients with a first-class administrative experience whilst consistently striving to improve my skills whilst at RDBIFS.

My Role

My role is Client Services Administrator. This consists of providing clients with a positive experience at RDBIFS as well as conducting various elements of administration for the business, such as financial transactions, client reports and analytical documents.

My Credentials

I joined RDBIFS due to my aspirations to have a prosperous financial career following on from my three years studying Economics at Manchester Metropolitan University. This gave me a keen eye for finance and developed my abilities to provide a platform to thrive in the financial advice industry.

What do I like best about RDBIFS

My favourite aspect of working for RDBIFS comes from the inclusive work environment designed to make all employees and clients feel welcomed by all members of the RDBIFS team.

Hobbies and Interests

I am a keen Footballer and Golfer. I love living in the Lake District as I have a passion for the outdoors inspired by my experience completing Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards. I also enjoy cooking and even viewed myself as the ‘House Chef’ whilst at University. I also love music and have attended a number of festivals throughout my youth.

Aim

To provide high quality administrative services to both our clients and the advisors.

My Role

My role consists of providing a welcoming and positive environment for clients, connected them to their advisors. As well as conducting administration for the business, including financial transactions, clients reports and analytical documents for advisors.

My Credentials

I was formerly employed as a CNC Machinist and have obtained a HNC in Mechanical Engineering. After a change in heart about my profession, I made the transition to the financial services. I am currently working towards a Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

What do I like about RDB

The welcoming and friendly feeling you get from the minute you walk through the door till the moment I finish the days work. Working alongside a hard-working team and learning from high quality and professional advisers, will help me build a solid foundation for the future and push me to be the best version of myself.

Hobbies and Interests

• Big sports fan: Football, Basketball, Cricket and Golf. Either watching or playing, a lot more watching nowadays!
• Try to go gym & run regularly
• Walking through the lakes
• Holidays abroad/ city breaks/ even a good caravan trip with my partner is always enjoyable.