As 2024 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on another brilliant year, full of highlights and milestones across the board.
As always, our people have been core to those. So, we caught up with a handful of the CPW team to find out what made 2024 a year to remember.
#1 REBECCA BATTERHAM, SENIOR CLIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE
Professional highlight: It’s been another rewarding year at CPW supporting clients with information and planning around the Budget, and the exciting plans that many of our clients have for holidays, homes, and helping their families.
We’re a busy team and I’m grateful that there’s always someone to turn to for help, support, a chat and a cuppa.
Personal highlight: My son graduating from university. There was a point where I honestly thought he was going to fail all his GCSEs, but he applied himself amazingly, excelled at his college course, and after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, decided that he wanted to go to uni.
By the middle of his second year, he’d totally lost interest in his course because he felt he wasn’t learning anything he didn’t already know, and he’d changed direction with what he wanted to do career-wise. But, he stuck at it, finished his course, and I’m really proud of him for that.
It didn’t bother me whether he went to uni or not, but I’m glad that he had the experience of living on his own and building his confidence around new people, because that’s all now helping him build his career.
#2 EWAN ROSIE, CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER
Professional highlight: In October, I was invited on Dimensional’s global study tour and to their global practice management conference in the US. I was part of a group that brought people together from the UK, Germany, Australia, Holland and the US.
It was a great week spending time with some forward-thinking US wealth management and financial planning firms, understanding how they advise their clients and operate their businesses.
The conference was a fountain of ideas, knowledge sharing and a look ahead to where our profession might go in the future in terms of financial and investment planning. It helped remind me what a great business we are running, but also excited me about what the future holds for our profession, and the clients we serve.
Personal highlight: Spending two weeks in Florida with my family, my brother’s family, and our Mum. Seeing the kids go crazy at Disney was amazing and we created some special memories. My daughter now being tall enough to go on some of the ‘big’ rides felt like a bit of a milestone, and she certainly found her thrill-seeking side!
#3 PETER WICKS, RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Professional highlight: The recent Budget was long-anticipated and much speculated – probably one of the most high-profile Budgets of my working life. Whilst the changes themselves weren’t a ‘highlight’, I’m very reassured that there wasn’t a single piece of planning where we ‘acted in haste, repented at leisure’ without good reason or because of unfounded speculation.
The endless press coverage and speculation – without a caring and competent planner – would have been very difficult to withstand if you have complex affairs and meaningful wealth.
Personal highlight: Spending more time in the first half of the year going to see my football team, Southampton, as they battled for promotion. It was a good reminder to me that spending your money on ‘experiences’ provides long and lasting value and plenty of memory dividends for the years to come. The less said about the second half of the year on that front, the better…
#4 TOM BLANCHARD, RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Professional highlight: Working on plans for potential clients is always a rewarding process, and when the feedback matches the work that we’ve put into it, even better.
One post-meeting comment I remember well was this:
“We knew you’d be good given who recommended you, but you have absolutely blown the other firm we’re talking to out of the water. There’s just no comparison at all, it’s chalk and cheese. The cashflow modelling was really helpful and clear. It has made a big impact. Thank you!”
Personal highlight: Getting engaged to Katie, who is also a CPWer!
#5 DANI NICHOLLS, TECHNICAL AND TRAINING SENIOR
Professional highlight: Transitioning into a technical and training role and helping welcome new starters into the team. Those first few days and weeks in a new role are so important, and I enjoyed helping our new starters get off on the right foot.
Personal highlight: Spending three weeks in Indonesia, swimming with manta rays and turtles, seeing Komodo dragons and avoiding monkeys!
#6 JENNY STEVENSON, OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
Professional highlight: Working with a great team to plan fun activities and volunteering opportunities for the team to get involved in – my favourite being the pet paw-traits for Halloween.
Personal highlight: Finding out we’re expecting our first baby!
CHRISTMAS ’24: A HIGHLIGHT IN ITSELF
As we head into the festive season, we want to extend our gratitude for another brilliant year. And, however you’re celebrating over the next few weeks, we hope you squeeze a few more highlights in before 2025.
