FINANCIAL ADVISOR CELEBRATES HIS BUSINESS’ SECOND ANNIVERSARY

Wroughton-based financial adviser Dave Southby is celebrating the second anniversary of starting his own business.

Over the course of those two years, he has seen his business grow, so much in fact that he’s recently taken on his first employee to both meet current demand and to enable future growth.

“I still can’t believe it’s been two years already,” Dave said.

“This has been a fantastic year of growth for both the business and for me personally. I have taken on my first employee and doubled the number of clients and funds that we as a business look after. On a personal level, I got married in the summer which is, obviously, a incredible milestone in my life.”

What has Dave learned over the past two years? “I think the biggest thing I have had to learn is to know what I am good at and then to outsource the things I am not so good at,” he says. “I have a team of freelance individuals who help me with things I’m not so good at so I can focus my attention on what I do enjoy which is positive client outcomes.”

In July, Neil Sawyer joined the business as its first full-time employee, initially to help with practice administration but with a view to eventually becoming a paraplanner. 

Giving back to his community has also been important to Dave from the beginning. 

This year he has been raising money for Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind after pledging to raise £1,500 to thank them for supporting a close friend. In April, he walked 27 miles, from Stonehenge to Avebury and he’s got a sponsored run booked for the 10th of December where he will be running 10km dressed as Father Christmas!

Dave also runs free drop-in financial sessions with a colleague each quarter in his community of Wroughton and he’s the chair of local referral group BusinessWise.

And the future looks bright for the business: “The next 12 months looks to be even better for us, so I can’t wait to see what happens.”

Dave Southby is a partner with St James’ Place and helps individuals, families and small business owners to manage their wealth effectively. He specialises in working with people who live in Swindon and North Wiltshire. To find out more about him visit https://davesouthbyfp.co.uk/