Karen Pizey

Company Overview: I work for a large company that has a small firm feel.

• I look after a client bank of approximately 350 clients which includes couples and families, along with taking on new clients when required.
• I am also the PTS for my area and other firms within the group which refer to me. I like to follow the journey from start to end with this role and I complete the TVC analysis along with full APTA.
• I really enjoy DB work although this isn’t an active area at present due to the values dropping significantly.
• Areas I advise in are: ISAs, General investment accounts, Bonds, Trusts, Business Relief, Pensions – individual and group, DB / FS schemes as the PTS for the firm, along with any sign offs required, Company investments, Trust investing, Structured products, Inheritance tax planning, Protection – including business and individual.
• Increased client satisfaction by providing personalized financial advice and investment strategies.
• Developed comprehensive financial plans for clients to achieve their long-term financial goals, resulting in increased client satisfaction.
• Tools I use are analytics, cashflow (cashcalc and IO), IO, Mindmapping, sharepoint and papercloud to name a few.
• I am very capable in word, excel and powerpoint.
• I use various platforms including Quilter, Aviva, Aegon, Standard Life, Transact, AJ Bell, Dentons and others depending on the client needs.

• I worked in a small office with one adviser who serviced around 150 – 200 clients and dealt with a large number of referrals in regard to Defined Benefit transfers.
• I passed my Level 4 in Dec 2019, which is when I started advising clients offering full holistic planning and advised on ISA and pension switches.
• My role included: Meeting with clients, Giving holistic advice to clients, Supporting the director, Analysing Defined Benefit Schemes, Producing and issuing suitability reports, Submission and processing of new business, Preparation and research for client meetings, Use of wrap platforms, including monitoring of portfolios run on Old Mutual Wealth, Managing the office, Training other members of staff.
• Areas I have worked within: Individual pensions – including S32, S226, EPP, SIPPS, PPP, Final Salary Schemes, Drawdown, SASSs & TIPs & property within SIPPs, Group pensions – including new members, submitting AE contributions, Salary Sacrifice, Onshore & Offshore Bonds, Unit Trusts, ISAs, share dealing (execution only), Structured Products, EIS, VCT’s & IHT planning, Trusts – DGT, Loan Trusts, Bare Trusts, Will Trusts, Bypass Trust, Individual Protection – TA, DTA, WOL, IP, CIC, Business Protection – RL, Keyman, Shareholder, Group Protection, Mortgages.
• I enjoyed my job and split my time between paraplanning duties and advising client’s which is where I felt my future was.
• My director is sold his book of client’s and wound up his business, which is why I left.

• I worked in a small team supporting a financial adviser and 2 paraplanners.
• I supported the adviser as a PA as well as an administrator.
• My role included: Submission and processing of all new business within the department, Correspondence to clients and providers, Meetings with clients, Communicating with life offices, Producing quotes and illustrations, Updating and managing diary system for adviser and office, MI reporting, Working effectively with the accountancy practice, Putting together systems and processes, Preparation for client meetings including valuations, Use of wrap platforms, Fund switches – online and paper based, Withdrawal requests, Chasing adviser charges/fees, Research funds and providers, Technical queries, Dealing with Death Claims and estate accounts.
• I worked within a variety of areas including corporate, charity, trusts and individual.
• Within my role I developed a good relationship with clients and the accountancy practice that we were linked to.
• I worked very closely with the paraplanners sharing knowledge and working together.
• In addition, I liked to research anything that I didn’t know so that I had a good understanding of it.

• I worked in a very busy office where I supported two of the directors, between them writing around £1,000,000 in commission per annum.
• I was very much a personal assistant as well as an administrator.
• I completed all training for new staff and any ongoing training that was required.
• I supported all admin within the office and answered any queries that arose.
• I also supported the office manager with any queries, attended management meetings and assisted with interviewing new staff.
• My role included: Update and managing diary system including arranging appointments, Correspondence and meeting notes – typing of letters to clients and providers, Liaising with internal/external contacts/clients by telephone and email, Communicating with life offices to request information, Producing quotes online, Updating and managing client database, Submission of new business, online and paper based, Support to directors, managing pipeline and portfolio of existing business, Submission of group pension schemes, Pension contributions online and via email to providers and accountants, Preparation of information for client meetings including valuations, Use of online wrap systems including: Standard Life, Old Mutual Wealth, Nucleus, Fidelity and Transact, Fund switches – online and paper based, Withdrawal requests, Chasing new business and adviser charges/fees, Research funds and providers, Technical queries, Dealing with Death Claims and estate accounts.
• It was a very technical role and I enjoyed it immensely as I liked to stretch myself.
• I felt that I learned a great deal over the last couple of years in the role as it was very much looking at the business from start to finish.

• I worked in a two-person office, where I supported the financial advisor.
• Due to working in a small office, I was very motivated and able to work in a team and individually.
• My position within Edward Jones was very varied therefore I was able to juggle multiple tasks in order to get the job done and stick to deadlines.
• During my time at Edward Jones, I completed various training and enjoyed this as I felt it was very important to constantly expand my knowledge.
• My role included: Communication with Financial Adviser, Answering incoming phone calls, including screening them, Managing walk ins, Setting and confirming appointments, Sort/respond to incoming mail, faxes and emails, Process trade confirmations, Maintain compliance record keeping, Order marketing supplies/literature, Process branch expenses, Process estate accounts, customer accounts and KRC accounts, Process insurance/pension/retirement applications, Enter notes under customer accounts, Prepare for appointments, portfolios, hypos, market information/quotes to clients, Answer clients queries about statements or other inquiries, Plan and execute seminars/branch events, Promote services with accountants/solicitors including probate valuations, Complete online training, Learn and implement system enhancements, Support regional activities, Mentor and train other BOAs.
• Accomplishments in my role: Ability to perform my job to an extent I received outstanding in my appraisals.
• Compiled SOPs for my office to ensure smooth running of office procedures.
• Compiled various spreadsheets in order to process pension transfers more effectively.
• Helped build a successful branch with the financial adviser.
• Attended breakfast meeting and other networking meetings and opened 140 accounts in the one year.
• Left due to Edward Jones leaving the UK to concentrate on the USA.

• January 2007 became Company Director in family furniture business.
• Previous to formally being a company director, role involved: All office administration for the market stores and website, including all financial aspects.
• Producing all advertising and marketing literature.
• Working with web designer to create the online function of the business.
• Continuing to run the website and update this.
• Sales, becoming the most productive salesperson within the company. This involved working closely with members of the general public.

• My role included: Setting up the role and defining the position within the Council.
• Designing and collating all paperwork to be used. This included a general Q&A guide to the process of becoming quality assured.
• Quality assuring childcare providers. This involved home visits, managing my diary, and ensuring objectives were met.
• Assisting childcare providers to become qualified to offer nursery education funding.
• Keeping accurate records in order that the Network could be accredited.
• Working closely with other teams, including presenting our portfolio, and explaining what it was we were aiming to achieve with the new service.
• Advertising for the Network.
• Arranging meetings, including acting as chair, on a regular basis to monitor progress.
• Designed, delivered, and co-ordinated training for childcare providers.
• Created policies for childcare providers regarding getting the most out of the Network.
• Helped to set up a toy library for the sole use of the Network.
• Gained funding for the Network by sourcing different areas that offered funding and compiling proposals in order to obtain funding, including funding for training and a toy library.
• Link with other networks and Councils to benchmark our provision.

• This involved managing finances as had to complete self-assessment forms, working within strict childminding legislation.
• With in the time I was childminding I completed many courses to keep up to date on legislation, which included: First Aid, Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, Child Protection and Data Protection.

• Various roles including P.A. to Managing Director – local company for 6 months, including business meetings in London.
• Office administrator – various companies including local chamber of commerce and colleges.
• Receptionist / secretary – local steel company for 2 years.
• Data input clerk – Tarmac – 6 months, and local steel company for 6 months.