It’s wonderful to be able to recognise and celebrate the dedication of our Advisers who have worked hard to make a difference to clients lives and inspire other women to strive in financial services.
The Women in Finance Awards recognises high-achievers, advocates and role models in today’s finance world by celebrating, inspiring and encouraging female talent into finance roles.
The number of female financial services industry leaders globally remains low and stereotypes surrounding the roles available in the industry have played a part in discouraging women to enter these roles.
For 2020 there are 19 categories including; Banker of the Year, Diversity Initiative of the Year, Employer of the Year, Fintech Champions of the Year and Woman of the Year.
The winners will be announced on 16th November 2020 at a ceremony dinner at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Ascot Lloyd have been shortlisted for 3 awards:
Helen RichardsonWoman of the Year – Investment Advice: Helen Richardson
Helen has nurtured and encouraged female junior service support staff to follow the path to becoming an adviser. One colleague in particular had a natural rapport with clients and went on to pass her exams and become a very successful adviser before the age of 25. Another female colleague who was previously a junior administrative member with the firm since the age of 17 has flourished and is now a team leader managing a large geographical area of offices under Ascot Lloyd.
It’s thrilling to see so many people under Helen’s positive influence embrace opportunities along the way. In a traditionally male-dominated environment, Helen has supported Ascot Lloyd’s goal of championing gender equality and diversity by supporting the development of so many female employees across all aspects of the business.
Helen is among our top Advisers, consistently delivering great outcomes for clients and making it clear that client care is paramount. Helen goes the extra mile in helping clients, regularly seeking out additional training in order to meet evolving client needs.
Marie DalrympleWoman of the Year – Mortgage Advice (Inc Equity Release): Marie Dalrymple
Marie noticed the potential of equity release as an area of advice and has worked tirelessly to grow this side of the business. Marie has had to overcome dated preconceptions about equity release and the negative press that has been associated with it, both with clients and internally. Part of her role has been to encourage and guide colleagues to support this field of advice and unlock its potential.
Marie has led on educating other advisers in the firm through the annual conference, holding regular presentations and helping to design the relevant section of the website.
Marie’s approach to nurturing the careers of female advisers is the same as her approach to client work, she firmly believes that ‘going at their pace’ is critical to ensuring positive outcome. She believes that the softer skills, which many female advisers excel at lend themselves well to this area, making it an ideal area for female advisers to progress in.
Click here for more information about Equity release.
Caroline CastleWoman of the Year – Retirement Planning: Caroline Castle and Helen Richardson
Caroline CastleCaroline has seen a great deal of change throughout her 40-year long financial services career. From being the only woman in the room at an Invesco conference to nurturing the financial advice careers of young women today, Caroline has helped to cultivate and encourage the careers of female advisers also working in the region by the initiatives she engages with and the example she sets.
Just three years into her career, Caroline achieved all nine papers and became ACII qualified with a specialism in pensions. Caroline became client facing that same year and begun to blend her corporate work with her pensions work. Caroline introduced the idea of pensions clinics where she helps upcoming retirees, but especially women, engage with their pensions – with the ultimate aim of reducing the pensions gap for women that exists within the UK.
When the chartership was launched, Caroline was included in the first ceremony of the award for this status in 2006. Caroline understood the significance in obtaining the qualification for women within a male dominated industry. As a chartered adviser, Caroline acts as a guiding example for women at Ascot Lloyd.
Click here to see Caroline Castle’s article on Corporate Adviser Support for employers.
Helen RichardsonHelen achieves impeccable client service through consistently delivering annual reviews, having an ‘emerald’ rated file quality, confirming the quality of advice given. There are multiple examples of client satisfaction over the year where the final position of client finances has been greatly improved and where this has cemented trust. Echoing Helen’s own words, she has always aimed to look after her clients in the same manner she would expect someone to look after her own parents.
In addition, Helen encourages her support staff to understand more about the advice she delivers and how it benefits clients.
Helen is involved in female networking through local lawyers in Leeds and was recently selected to be on a panel for a large national firm of solicitors, demonstrating her broader involvement in the advice sector. In her spare time, she also helps support cancer charities with her female running group, this year having completed a half marathon again and several other races to raise awareness and funds.
