Punter Southall Aspire has appointed James Kempson as principal of its Bedford office to assist in the expansion of its chartered financial planning side of the business.
Kempson has 26 years of expertise in the financial services business, including employment in financial planning, pensions, and employee benefits advisory. He joins from Investec Wealth & Investment UK, where he spent over six years as a senior financial planning director.
He has also worked as a Pensions Consultant at SBJ Benefit Consultants Ltd and has held top positions at Killik & Co and Nascot Wealth Management. Kempson is a Chartered Financial Planner, Certified Financial Planner, and Chartered Wealth Manager. He is a member of the Personal Finance Society and the Securities and Investment Institute.
Kempson will oversee a staff of 13 in the Bedford office, including four experienced financial planners, who will advise high-net-worth individuals, trusts, charities, and corporations. He will be reporting to managing director Bryan Parkinson.
Kempson says: “Punter Southall Aspire has always been on my radar and I was aware of its great reputation in the industry. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to take on a fresh challenge within an innovative and ambitious firm, combining my experience with both Private Clients and working closely with employee benefits experts.
“My role is both client-facing and managerial which is a good mix for me. I’m looking forward to developing strong client relationships and taking the business forward with its growth plans for the brand. Financial planning and employee benefits expertise sits very well alongside each other, and we encourage individuals and local firms to get in touch if they want to review any aspect of their financial planning or employee benefits provision post-Covid.”
Parkinson says: “We’re delighted to welcome Kempson to the company. Kempson brings a great deal of experience and expertise and will be a real asset as we continue growing and shaking up the market. We wish him the greatest success in his new role.”