Independent Financial Adviser celebrates 20 years service

Birkett Long is delighted to announce that Paul Chilver, an Independent Financial Adviser at the firm is celebrating 20 years of service this year.

Birkett Long IFA is part of the wider Birkett Long group, meaning that clients have the advantage of their financial planning manager working together with their lawyer to achieve their financial goals whether it be for individuals or businesses.

Paul advises his clients on wealth management, protecting themselves and their loved ones, retirement solutions, later life planning and protecting their business.

Paul started working at Birkett Long at the age of 17 straight from college. At that time Paul had no idea what he wanted to do for a career but was just happy to have a job! 

Paul said “Quite early on I was encouraged by senior members of the team at Birkett Long IFA to consider a career in financial services as they would support me to study and take my exams whilst working. Those senior members are still with the team today.”

It was a slow process but after a few years learning about financial advice by working with the team alongside studying, Paul qualified as a financial adviser 12 years ago. Paul now finds himself joining those senior team members from 20 years ago as he sits on the Birkett Long IFA Board.

Paul has achieved a great deal in his time at the firm. When he first started out training to become an independent financial adviser there wasn’t a set programme to work towards but following his own qualification, Paul was instrumental in launching a trainee financial planner programme. Paul has developed it over the years with two subsequent graduates of the programme remaining with the firm and another two trainees having joined it in the last 12 months. 

On how Birkett Long and Birkett Long IFA has changed over the past 20 years Paul said: “When I started there was only one office which was in Colchester and Birkett Long IFA was not a separate company but a team within the legal firm. We were even using the legal firm’s back office system! Now with offices throughout Essex and offering further services such as HR and intellectual property I have witnessed it becoming a much bigger company with many strings to its bow.”

On what he likes about Birkett Long Paul said: “They have always encouraged career progression which can be seen in how many people stay at the company for many years. The firm are very supportive of individuals taking qualifications. This is particularly true of my own team with five Birkett Long IFA team members currently being supported to take various exams.”

When asked what his best memory has been of the past 20 years Paul said: “There have been so many but there was a time when I seemed to be encouraged on a regular basis to dress up for press releases and events. This included dressing up as an army officer but the one I remember the most…mainly because the outfit was at least two sizes too small…was dressing up as a racing driver. I can’t remember what it was for mind!”

On hitting 20 years’ service Paul said: “It is a cliché but I don’t know where the time has gone. One positive is that nobody believes I am old enough to have been at the company for 20 years…although they may have been trying to be polite!” 

Birkett Long is here for good. It’s not just about knowing the law. It’s also about the impact we have on businesses and our communities. Birkett Long has offices in Chelmsford, Colchester and Basildon. It provides a wide range of legal and independent financial services for businesses including corporate and commercial advice, regulatory law, dispute resolution, education, insolvency, intellectual property and employment and for individuals: wills and conveyancing, family law, independent financial advice and dispute resolution.

For more information, visit www.birkettlongifa.co.uk or call 01206 217300.

For further press information please contact Jennie Skingsley at Birkett Long on 01206 217605, email: jennie.skingsley@birkettlong.co.uk