Inside the mind of an investment manager

I joined Charles Stanley in 2017, working with Michael Gifford, who I had previously worked with at Adam & Company in the West End. 

My day starts at 6am sharp. It’s a quick turnaround before I head out for a 26-minute walk to the station and catch my train from St Albans. Rain, wind or shine, I always walk. I use the journey to catch up on overnight news and scan my emails so I’m ready to hit the ground running when I get to my desk at 8am. 

Once I’m in the office, I dive into news updates from our various sources to get a feel for the day ahead. No two days are the same, which is exactly what I love about my role. I might be dealing shares for portfolios, making video calls with clients, or answering questions from clients and intermediaries. I also try to ensure our brilliant admin assistant, Shannon, is getting the training and support she needs to grow in her role. 

We have a great team on our desk, and being in the office means we benefit from each other’s experience and thinking. There’s always room for a bit of banter, usually at the expense of my colleague, Will Walker-Arnott.

As an investment manager, I specialise working with individuals, mostly women, who are managing finances for the first time. Often this is after losing a family member or going through a divorce. It’s a part of my work I care deeply about. I believe it’s important to cut out the jargon and guide individuals through this transition with clarity and empathy. Financial advice often focuses on numbers and strategy, but it can often miss the emotional complexity that comes with major life changes. I try to bridge that gap.

The greatest challenge in my role is balancing my day, ensuring my time is spent wisely on each element and each client. It’s a busy desk, so diary reminders are key. 

It has been a full-on but exciting year, especially on the technology front. We have started to use AI capabilities more to help tailor our meeting notes and suitability reviews. This has freed up time allowing us to concentrate on the core responsibilities of an investment manager – be that pitching for new business, or supporting existing clients who need more support. 

Weekends aren’t any quieter. I’m either pitch-side with my daughter at football or courtside with my son at basketball. In winter, my husband usually gets the short straw with the windy football fields while I enjoy the warmth of indoor basketball. When I’m not in the car, you will find me at the gym in a spin class.

It’s certainly a busy life as a working mum, but I would not have it any other way.