A SCOTS financial company has outlined its new recruitment strategy – identifying former rugby players to be trained as high-performance financial planners for their business.
Tweed Wealth Management now has three ex-professional rugby players on their team sheet – a combination which they say is contributing to the ongoing success of the business.
Former London Welsh and Ulster Rugby scrum half Paul Rowley was the first to join in 2017 after graduating from the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy and is now a Senior Financial Planner.
He was followed in 2018, again from St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, by Michael Allen who made his professional debut for Ulster in 2011 before switching to Edinburgh in 2015.
A versatile and speedy back who was capped for Ireland at under 18 and 19 level and emerging Ireland in two Nations Cups.
Michael hung up his boots at 26 in 2017 to pursue a career away from the pitch. He has has now been with the firm for four years, where he is aiming for Chartered Financial Planner status.
Completing the pack is Jason Baggott who started his fly-half career with the Southern Kings in his South African homeland before moving to the UK in 2015 where he spent the remainder of his playing days with Edinburgh Rugby.
Alongside his rugby career Jason completed an Economics and Finance degree at Heriot-Watt University before enrolling onto the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, then converting to a future at Tweed Wealth Management.
Tweed Wealth Management co-founder and managing director, Alison Welsh, said the rugby playing trio have been a welcome addition to the practice.
She said: “We’ve found that ex-professional sportspeople, and certainly rugby players, are a great fit for a career in wealth management and we are delighted at how all three are progressing with their individual careers and adding to the professionalism of our business.
“It may be that sports professionals are used to playing in a team and they are the type of people who can readily listen and take on advice, while being competitive and wanting to improve all the time.
“They all work hard and are dedicated to carving out a successful career in finance and we are fortunate to have them on board.
“Having played professionally and at a high level, Paul, Mike and Jason know that they have to put in the hard yards to get the rewards and there is no doubting their commitment.”
Jason Baggott said: “As a fly-half on the rugby pitch, it’s absolutely key to manage the game and communicate with your teammates.
“That’s an invaluable skill I’ve been able to transfer into the world of finance. Good communication with clients and colleagues is an absolute must.
“I felt like making the career switch in my mid 20’s was the sensible decision instead of wondering what to do when I retire.
“I still play rugby part time and absolutely love the game but it was the right time to make the move.”
Jason aims to become a fully chartered financial planner within the next two years and longer term is looking to work in a senior account planner role within Tweed Wealth Management.
Alison Welsh added: “When Paul joined us in 2017, he had worked for a short spell as a sole trader but he soon realised he wanted to be part of a bigger team.
“As soon as we met him, we knew he would be a great fit for us and he has proved his worth and is an integral part of our financial planning offering.
“Mike had gone into professional rugby straight from school, missing out university, but since leaving rugby he has made massive strides in working toward achieving Chartered Financial Planner status with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
“Jason joined us just four months ago and he has shown from the off that he has the same competitive spirit to do very well in this profession and follow the lead of his rugby colleagues.”
Alison revealed the firm has also recruited three paraplanners since the start of 2022 and Tweed Wealth Management will make further appointments in the months ahead.
She added: “We are always looking for good people to join us and one of our core values is to introduce new people to the profession who perhaps don’t have the recognised contacts, networks or associated skills.
“It is more down to if we like the person, and can see they are driven and will do well, and we have the infrastructure in place to provide the training and mentoring that will make them a success.”
In January, Tweed Wealth Management acquired Inverness-based John Home Wealth Management, bringing the total assets under management at Tweed to more than £380m.
Under the move, all existing staff as well as Principal John Home continue to be based in Inverness where further investments are planned to expand operations and headcount.
