Leading IFA Lowes Financial Management continues to grow and develop its team of experienced people. Writer Wayne Halton spoke to commercial director Barry Hopper about his role and vision for Lowes.
In his new role as commercial director at Lowes Financial Management, Barry Hopper is keen to show his worth and imprint a style of management across the firm.
It’s a style that’s ultimately based on delivering better financial services to clients while supporting MD Ian Lowes and motivating the team around him.
“I’m a walker. I leave my office and like to walk the floor and see how people are doing, show an interest in their successes and challenges. It’s always been my style. I like to thank people. I like to talk while walking around the business,” says Barry.
It’s a business he knows well. Barry, 53, has been at Jesmond-based Lowes for almost 20 years, moving through the ranks from a junior to senior financial adviser before stepping into business development in recent years.
He came from a corporate world to join his father, David, who was already a shareholder and senior financial adviser in Lowes. As his father gradually retired, Barry – born and raised in Jesmond – took over many of his clients – based all over the UK, from Glasgow to Southampton.
Aside from the depth of knowledge across the firm, he brings a corporate background to the job. His last role before joining Lowes was a financial director within Newcastle-based Sage plc. Prior to that he did a long stint at British Airways in different roles before becoming business development manager, working with a number of airline corporate partners.
While he has a combined background in corporate and personal finance, it’s the personal touch that he’s most passionate about.
“I never lose sight of who we’re working for. Ultimately, it’s not Ian Lowes- it’s the clients, and it’s something I try to instil in everyone,” he says.
In his new role, business development will remain a key responsibility. But he plans to work more closely with Ian Lowes and the board driving the business forward. He has a clear strategy that is endorsed by the board.
“Going forwards our focus is on clients, people and adding value to the business. In terms of clients, we’re already well underway refining our services and investing in technology to make us more efficient and easier for clients to deal with. The personal element remains paramount, but some newer clients are more comfortable using technology,” he says.
“Our people are core to delivering improved service, so this means we’re focussed on developing their potential and helping them gather skills as they progress through their career. For some this will mean more exams and qualifications. We’re also keen to encourage cross-learning across departments.
“It’s a busy and exciting time at Lowes. Nobody can stand still in a modern, competitive environment. Our clients want excellent service and increasingly want the choice of how they access our financial services – whether that’s via the web, telephone or face-to-face.”
Barry’s vision for Lowes very much aligns with the long-standing values and ethos of this successful family-run firm. It’s been said within the firm before that Lowes genuinely sees itself as a family firm looking after families. What they offer is highly personalised, enabling Lowes to offer a genuinely flexible service with minimal bureaucracy.
Lowes advises clients across a wide range of financial aspects such as inheritance tax planning, investment management, pensions, tax mitigation, long term care and other general financial planning issues helping clients and their families to secure their financial future. More specifically, Lowes is a recognised national authority in the profession on structured retail products.
For more details about the firm visit www.Lowes.co.uk