Buckles

9th June 2010     

Buckles Investment Services Ltd, the Rhyl-based Independent Financial Adviser, has once again achieved success in the prestigious Financial Adviser Life and Pensions Awards. Financial Adviser is the leading trade weekly publication for the life and pensions industry.

At the awards ceremony held in London on 21st April 2010 and attended by the leading lights of the industry, Emma Hall, 26, was crowned Newly Qualified IFA of the Year.

Emma, from Llandudno, who graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Psychology with Criminal Justice from Liverpool John Moores University, has worked at Buckles, advising clients from North Wales, since 2007. Emma holds the Certificate for Financial Advisers and hopes to be qualified to Diploma level within the next few months.

This is the fourth year running that Buckles’ rising stars have had success in the ‘Newly Qualified IFA of the Year’ category. Sophie Webb was runner up in 2007, Sarah Waring won in 2008 and Tracy Jones last year.

All four of our rising starts joined Buckles as a recruit on our esteemed graduate programme, which has been in existence since 2003. In that time, Buckles has seen 58 graduates successfully complete the graduate training programme, becoming fully fledged independent financial advisers. A number of our graduates have successfully advanced their careers within Buckles and now occupy positions such as Head of IFA Investment Solutions for Sanlam UK, our parent company, Compliance Director and Sales Manager. This is real testament that Buckles continues to build great careers in the industry.

This year the programme has been expanded dramatically and we are taking in 22 graduates throughout the year, with plans to substantially increase this number over the next 5 years. 11 recruits have joined us so far this year and ahead of them lies a three year programme, which will see them emerging with the highest industry qualifications and an impressive client list.

In addition, the programme has been recognised at the highest levels in the industry. In 2006, Buckles was awarded the Hallmark of Innovation at the IFS/Capgemini Financial Innovation Awards. The graduate programme came first in the Most Innovative Training Initiative or Programme (Skills) category and beat entries from the likes of Barclays and Lloyds TSB! More recently, Buckles has won the Scottish Widows award for Industry Initiative for the introduction if the graduate scheme.

Buckles’ business has been transformed since the launch of the graduate programme. Historically, the firm was subject to high levels of staff turnover in its ageing workforce. Now, the opposite is true and not only do staff members stay, the increase in turnover, profits and headcount means that Buckles is the largest private employer in the seaside town of Rhyl.

Although, the programme takes three years to complete, trainees are able to advise clients after the first year.

Buckles is dedicated to having the best qualified team of advisers and by that we mean advisers holding the highest level professional qualification in the industry.

Commenting on this years’ news, Chris Kerin, Chief Executive of Buckles, said:

“This is terrific news for Buckles as a firm and for Emma in particular. To have achieved success four years in a row in this category is remarkable, and it is testament to the hard work and determination that we put into our graduate trainee programme. To be recognised by your peers at the highest level is praise indeed and just rewards for hard work and exceptional levels of client service”.