James is the founder of Wetherall’s and a practicing financial planner and wealth manager. He provides personalised financial advice to the many households that have placed their trust in Wetherall’s, with a specialism in advising those with higher wealth and complex circumstances. He works closely with our investment partners Tatton Asset Management, in regular dialogue about developments in markets, whilst monitoring the tactical positioning and performance of client portfolios. He and Kate develop and evolve the cashflow models that sit at the heart of each of our client accounts and both attend financial review meetings, working together with Delphine to provide a personal and hands-on service.

James’s career in finance spans two decades, having worked in insurance, investment property consultancy and financial planning. He sat on the investment committee for IFG Financial Services and various steering groups, where he worked as an independent financial adviser, until it was announced that the company was to be sold to a consolidator. As the acquisition would have resulted in significant changes to the culture and philosophy of the business, James chose to leave the company to set up Wetherall’s, to ensure the interests of clients remained at the heart of the advice process. Having just turned 31 at the time, this made him one of the youngest advisers to set up his own practice. Many of his clients came with him to the new business where they remain today.

Alongside advising clients, James spent 11 years as a guest lecturer and volunteer graduate mentor at MMU Business School, before retiring from the role to take on a new challenge. He now provides mentoring of a different kind, coaching and developing other financial planning practice owners, to help them build great businesses and raise standards across the profession.

Outside of work, James is an avid petrol head, with a love of fast cars and track days. He has a particular interest in collectable Japanese cars of the 80s and 90s and regularly heads off on driving tours through the Alps, Pyrenees, and wilds of Spain. For most people, the idea of driving 3,000 miles in 10 days would be a holiday from hell, but for him it’s ‘headspace and relaxation’ apparently. He’s also a lover of cooking, retro games consoles, and complicated nerdy boardgames, which Kate finds excruciatingly boring - she’s more of an ‘Articulate’ kind of gal.