Heathfield business fairs well after opening its high street doors just weeks before the first national lockdown in March 2020

Cranwell Wealth Solutions is a financial planning practice with branches in Heathfield and Uckfield. What makes them different is while many businesses are moving online and away from our high streets, Cranwell has a passion for investing in retail space along our much-valued high streets. This not only provides a convenient place to welcome clients, but much-needed income for our local retail economy.

Cranwell Wealth Solutions proudly opened its doors in Heathfield last year following a significant investment to refurbish the building they now hold, just a few weeks before the first national lockdown. As we all adapted to a new way of being, Cranwell like many businesses had to go through major adjustments to the way it operated.

But with more positive times ahead Cranwell is now proud to not only have weathered the storm, but to also have made an important new appointment to their team. James White joined the business in May 2021 and we chatted to him about his hopes for the future and his view on how the financial markets will behave and recover.

Hi James, welcome to the team at Cranwell, could you briefly explain your background and where were you working before Cranwell?

I’ve worked in financial services for the past 11 years at Barclays Bank and American Express. My roles encompassed working with large corporate companies but primarily within personal finance and working closely with owners of local businesses providing a meaningful, personable service to their financial needs.

What made you wish to embark on a new venture with the Cranwell team?

I wanted to return to dealing with individuals where I can truly make a difference. Being able to come away from a meeting knowing I’ve given a fantastic service and been able to help my client with their finances is an amazing feeling; working at Cranwell allows me to do that as the client’s best interests are paramount. There’s a reason our clients tend to introduce their family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances to us – because they know they will be in good hands when it comes to guiding them in their financial planning future.

What do you love about your role as a financial adviser?

What I enjoy is being able to make a tangible difference to my clients’ lives; being able to show them how well their investments might have grown, being able to provide advice that secures their financial future in retirement or providing them with that ‘peace of mind’ feeling by protecting them.

What challenges do you think the financial planning industry is facing currently?

Although Covid has provided many challenges in all of our lives, I believe it’s been an awakening for people to review their current financial position and reassess where the gaps are. I truly believe some people still think of financial planning as being ‘for the wealthy’ which could not be further from the truth; we are here to work with you to help plan your financial future in the best way we can regardless of your current financial position. We continue to meet with our clients regularly to ensure the plan is still working for them and make changes as appropriate.

What differences do you think Cranwell make to clients’ lives?

The team, whether it’s the advisers or the practice support staff, have a true passion for putting the client at the heart of everything we do. It’s great to be part of a team where everything we do is for the betterment of our clients.

Are you local to the Heathfield/Uckfield area?

I live in Lindfield with my fiancée Shannon, but I’m very familiar with the area having spent many years working with local businesses in my banking life.

What was the last book you read / movie you watched?

‘The Fear Bubble’ by Ant Middleton. I’m very into self-development and personal improvement and this book is fantastic for getting into a great mindset.

Any guilty pleasures we need to know about?

I absolutely love cheesy disco music from the 80s and 90s…I’ll just leave it at that.