BREWIN Dolphin has strengthened its Newcastle team with the appointment of an investment management consultant, in a move that bosses say represents a significant coup for the firm.

Douglas Montgomerie is working with one of the office’s four dedicated investment management teams, and liaising closely with the financial planning team to offer a complete package of services for every life-stage.

Drawing on his enviable track record in the sector, and his commitment to reinforcing the importance of strong personal relationships and service delivery to clients, Mr Montgomerie is tasked with raising awareness of Brewin Dolphin’s full range of services to individuals and the business community in the region.

At 57, and with more than 30 years’ experience in the banking and financial services sector, Mr Montgomerie brings with a wealth of skills and expertise to assist in growing the firm’s business across the North-East.

He said: “I suppose I could have considered taking more time to spend on the golf course, or walking the dog, but I’m a firm believer that if you are in a position to make a difference to people’s lives then you should pursue that, and that’s exactly what Brewin Dolphin offer to their clients.

“I came down from Edinburgh, where I’d been working with Barclays in 1995, to manage the portfolios of high net worth clients in the North-East.

"Twelve years ago, I moved over to Yorkshire Bank, and it was then I first met with some of the team from Brewin Dolphin.

"I’d known of them before, when the company was Wise Speke, and was aware of their reputation as a highly respected firm with a long history in the region.

“I’d got to know Gary Fawcett quite well, and knowing I was due to leave my role soon, he was keen to find a role for me to help support business development activity at a time when the scope of the services offered by the company were expanding.”

Mr Fawcett is a divisional director in Brewin Dolphin’s Newcastle office, and appreciated the need to bring further experience and knowledge to the team.

He said: “People’s financial lives have become much more complex, and this has increased the need for trusted and expert advisers to take the strain from those who need help with their finances.

“The pension freedoms have also re-ignited retirement savings questions and added complexity and confusion for many.

"I’m delighted to have Douglas join us.

"We already have a professional and well-established team who are well placed to help our clients deal with these current issues amongst the political and economic uncertainty, but having Douglas on board can help us access markets we’d not necessarily have been able to pursue, and increases our capacity to tell people about how we can help them. His knowledge and enthusiasm are really valuable”.

Brewin Dolphin was founded on the belief that the successful management of wealth takes an understanding of money but is rooted in an even deeper understanding of people. Individual and personal service is central to everything that they do.

An independently-owned firm, listed on the London FTSE 250, they are bound to no corporate group.

Having made a very deliberate choice to have no in-house funds or products, Brewin Dolphin advisers have full independence in how they craft personal advice and investment strategies for their clients – never hostage to a specific solution.

Whether looking to invest money, manage pensions and retirement, passing on wealth to the next generation, or protecting money from any number of life events, Brewin Dolphin offers help to anyone to make the most of their money.

Mr Montgomerie added: “I’m just thrilled to join Brewin Dolphin.

"In discussions with my clients in the past, I’ve come to understand that the importance of a personal connection in financial planning for them, for their families and for their businesses is of utmost importance.

"That’s why it’s such a good fit. Brewin Dolphin really value their level of service, and that’s the crux of a successful investment manager/client relationship.”

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily the views held throughout Brewin Dolphin. No director, representative or employee of Brewin Dolphin accepts liability for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of this document or its contents. Any tax allowances or thresholds mentioned are based on personal circumstances and current legislation, which is subject to change. The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. The information is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended as investment advice.