New director appointed to support financial planning arm of Westcotts

Westcotts Chartered Financial Planners, part of the Westcotts group, has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of a new director.

Andrew Hammond (pictured) has been recruited by the practice, bringing more than 20 years experience in the financial services sector. He is responsible for supporting the strategic growth and future direction of Westcotts Chartered Financial Planners, alongside his fellow directors.

As well as holding the position of director with the financial planning arm, Andrew joins as partner of Westcotts, the South West’s leading firm of chartered accountants and business advisers. He is based in Exeter but will work as part of the wider management team across the network.

Andrew, a Chartered Financial Planner, and member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), comes from PKF Francis Clark where he spent five and a half years and was managing director of the financial planning business. Prior to that, he was based in Nottingham where he worked as a partner and head of investment management for a legal firm.

With an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning (APFS), Andrew has a wealth of business services experience working with SMEs and high net worth individuals with a clear focus on their personal and commercial objectives.

His experience spans a broad range of sectors, working at a strategic level with clients who value his approach in identifying issues and supporting them by implementing clear and straightforward solutions.

Andrew Hammond said: “I am delighted to join as a director of the financial planning team and partner of Westcotts at such an exciting time for the firm. I’m looking forward to helping develop the financial planning practice and bringing my experience to further assist in strategically growing this integral part of the business.”

He added: “I have heard lots of good things about the firm; I like how approachable the team at Westcotts are, their vision and how they look after their people and clients.”

Iain Andrews, Director, and Chartered Financial Planner said: “As we continue to develop the services we offer our clients, I am confident that having Andrew onboard will only serve to support the leadership and future growth of our successful and dynamic practice. He will undoubtedly be a real asset and we’re very pleased to have attracted someone of Andrew’s calibre, whose ethos and values are aligned with our own. His appointment will provide an enhanced level of strategic support and his skills will be invaluable.”

As a father of two children, much of Andrew’s time outside of work is spent on the water enjoying paddleboarding and dinghy sailing, as well as spending time on the South Devon coast with his family and two dogs.

Westcotts Chartered Financial Planners currently have a 17-strong team providing independent, straightforward financial planning advice to a wide range of clients, including business owners, individuals, charities, trustees, and attorneys. This advice includes investment, retirement planning, wealth management, taxation and estate planning, care fees and financial matters in later life.