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Wealth management firm looking to grow its national presence after strong first year

A wealth management firm set up by two personal finance experts is setting its sights on national expansion after a strong first year in business.

DW Wealth Management at Quorum Business Park was established last year by Dean Whittaker and Michael Davison, and since then has grown a client base in the North East and the Borders, with a growing presence in Yorkshire and the south of England.

Drawing on their experience gained at the private banking arms of Lloyds and Bank of Scotland, the pair set about providing tailored investment strategies for personal and corporate clients.

As Dean explains, the firm was set up to provide a more client-focused approach to wealth management, in response to what the pair viewed as a more bank-focused outlook prevalent in the personal financial industry.

He said: “Both Michael and I felt that the way that personal financial advice in our industry had evolved to become too focused on the banks and not focused enough on the needs of clients, so we set up our own business to do things how we felt they ought to be done.

“Our aim is to work with clients over the long-term, developing and executing wealth management strategies that are appropriate to their particular requirements, and it’s an approach that has quickly enabled us to build up a solid client base.”

DW Wealth offers advice on a range of financial matters, including investment planning, retirement strategies and inheritance tax solutions, and such has the demand been for the business’s services they are now looking to expand their administrative team to cope with demand.

Not only that, but the firm is now looking to expand from its North East heartlands and expand its client base across the UK as it enters its second year of business.

Touching upon their job creation and expansion plans, Dean added: “As the number of DW clients has grown, so has the amount of administrative work required to keep everything running smoothly, and adding new people to manage this will free up more of our time to build the business where we see opportunities to do so.

“While our primary focus remains on the North East, we also have growing numbers of clients outside the region, and we think there’s a great deal more potential to realise from the business over this year and beyond.”

Gosforth-based RMT Accountants & Business Advisors are working with the Longbenton-based business on their expansion and growth strategy.

Chris Moir, tax manager at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, said: “Having known Dean and Michael for some time, it is no surprise to see the success that they’re having and how rapidly their business is growing.

“Their approach and level of client service is second to none, and we’re excited to be assisting them in meeting their future growth aspirations.”