Our People

Our services are delivered by skilled investment professionals and we continue to grow our business through the reputation of our people.

Our investment managers, pensions and financial planners, and tax and legal specialists are listed below as well as our Board and Executive team. Alternatively, please call 020 7399 0000 to arrange to speak to one of our team.

Emma Watson

Head of financial planning

Emma Watson

Head of financial planning

London

Emma joined Rathbones in July 2016 as Director of financial planning strategy to oversee the growth of the financial planning team and the development of the strategy. In October 2018 she became the Head of financial planning and has overseen a period of growth with the size of the team more than doubling.

Emma has over 20 years’ experience in financial planning having initially worked in the Financial Planning division of EY and subsequently spent 12 years at Towry where she carried out a number of different roles, seeing the business grow from 40 people to over 1,100. Emma has a degree in linguistics from Reading University and is a Chartered Financial Planner.

Emma joined Rathbones in July 2016 as Director of financial planning strategy to oversee the growth of the financial planning team and the development of the strategy. In October 2018 she became the Head of financial planning and has overseen a period of growth with the size of the team more than doubling.

Emma has over 20 years’ experience in financial planning having initially worked in the Financial Planning division of EY and subsequently spent 12 years at Towry where she carried out a number of different roles, seeing the business grow from 40 people to over 1,100. Emma has a degree in linguistics from Reading University and is a Chartered Financial Planner.

Paul Sayers

Financial Planning Director

Paul Sayers

Financial Planning Director

London

Paul is a Chartered Financial Planner with over 25 years’ experience.

He provides financial advice for clients and their representatives, enabling them to make informed decisions to ensure they maximise their lifestyle without jeopardising their future security.

Paul is a member of the personal injury and Court of Protection team, providing financial advice and tax structuring for personal injury claimants and clients in later life, working with Court of Protection deputies, trustees and individual clients.

In his spare time he is a director for Cranleigh Riding for the Disabled.

Paul is a Chartered Financial Planner with over 25 years’ experience.

He provides financial advice for clients and their representatives, enabling them to make informed decisions to ensure they maximise their lifestyle without jeopardising their future security.

Paul is a member of the personal injury and Court of Protection team, providing financial advice and tax structuring for personal injury claimants and clients in later life, working with Court of Protection deputies, trustees and individual clients.

In his spare time he is a director for Cranleigh Riding for the Disabled.

Bradley Wright

Financial planner

Bradley Wright

Financial planner

London

Brad joined Rathbones as a financial planner in 2021 and provides specialist advice to clients and their representatives within Rathbones’ Court of Protection team. With over 10 years’ experience in helping clients to maximise and protect their wealth, he brings a range of experience from a variety of different roles and is passionate about helping clients to achieve all of their financial planning objectives.

Brad holds a master’s degree in Commercial Law from the University of Edinburgh and prior to this, lived in Denmark and Belgium where he gained a first class honours degree in European Business Management.

Brad joined Rathbones as a financial planner in 2021 and provides specialist advice to clients and their representatives within Rathbones’ Court of Protection team. With over 10 years’ experience in helping clients to maximise and protect their wealth, he brings a range of experience from a variety of different roles and is passionate about helping clients to achieve all of their financial planning objectives.

Brad holds a master’s degree in Commercial Law from the University of Edinburgh and prior to this, lived in Denmark and Belgium where he gained a first class honours degree in European Business Management.

Kirstie McKeown

Senior Financial Planning Director

Kirstie McKeown

Senior Financial Planning Director

Newcastle

Kirstie joined Rathbones in February 2013 to assist in establishing the Newcastle office. Previously she spent over 25 years working for Lloyds Private Banking and Lloyds TSB Independent Financial Advisers. Kirstie is part of the specialist personal injury and Court of Protection team at Rathbones and has advised deputies and trustees in this area for over a decade.

Kirstie qualified as a Chartered Financial Planner in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society in 2008.  She specialises in the provision of holistic financial planning to high-net-worth individuals.

Kirstie joined Rathbones in February 2013 to assist in establishing the Newcastle office. Previously she spent over 25 years working for Lloyds Private Banking and Lloyds TSB Independent Financial Advisers. Kirstie is part of the specialist personal injury and Court of Protection team at Rathbones and has advised deputies and trustees in this area for over a decade.

Kirstie qualified as a Chartered Financial Planner in 2007 and became a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society in 2008.  She specialises in the provision of holistic financial planning to high-net-worth individuals.

Alanah Fleming

Financial planner

Alanah Fleming

Financial planner

Glasgow

Alanah joined Rathbones in 2015 and has over 11 years’ experience in the industry having previously worked for Brewin Dolphin.  

She holds the both the Chartered Financial Planner designation and Fellow status from the Personal Finance Society.  She is also studying towards the Internationally recognised Financial planner TM certification from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.  

Alanah is passionate about proving a holistic financial planning service including matters such as tax planning, Retirement income planning, Inheritance tax and estate planning.  

Alanah joined Rathbones in 2015 and has over 11 years’ experience in the industry having previously worked for Brewin Dolphin.  

She holds the both the Chartered Financial Planner designation and Fellow status from the Personal Finance Society.  She is also studying towards the Internationally recognised Financial planner TM certification from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.  

Alanah is passionate about proving a holistic financial planning service including matters such as tax planning, Retirement income planning, Inheritance tax and estate planning.  

Alex Welsh

Senior financial planner

Alex Welsh

Senior financial planner

Winchester

Alex joined Rathbones after 10 years with a regional Chartered Financial Planning and Accountancy practice based in West Sussex.

Being a Chartered Financial Planner and one of the few in the UK to be accredited by the legal body Resolution, he has a depth of experience in all areas of planning for every life stage. This ranges from tax efficient investing to retirement planning to estate and long-term care planning.

Working alongside an accountancy practice for many years, Alex has a strong understanding of tax and trust legislation, as well as extensive knowledge of the pensions system which has seen him act as expert witness for the courts on a number of occasions as well as mentoring colleagues. 

In 2015, he was named in the UK’s top 35 financial advisers aged under 35.

Alex is passionate about getting to know his clients, building lasting relationships providing a friendly, personable service. He most enjoys helping clients understand complex financial matters by making them seem simple, explaining concepts in relatable and meaningful terms.

Alex joined Rathbones after 10 years with a regional Chartered Financial Planning and Accountancy practice based in West Sussex.

Being a Chartered Financial Planner and one of the few in the UK to be accredited by the legal body Resolution, he has a depth of experience in all areas of planning for every life stage. This ranges from tax efficient investing to retirement planning to estate and long-term care planning.

Working alongside an accountancy practice for many years, Alex has a strong understanding of tax and trust legislation, as well as extensive knowledge of the pensions system which has seen him act as expert witness for the courts on a number of occasions as well as mentoring colleagues. 

In 2015, he was named in the UK’s top 35 financial advisers aged under 35.

Alex is passionate about getting to know his clients, building lasting relationships providing a friendly, personable service. He most enjoys helping clients understand complex financial matters by making them seem simple, explaining concepts in relatable and meaningful terms.

Alexander Gudiens

Senior financial planner

Alexander Gudiens

Senior financial planner

London

Alex is a Chartered Financial Planner, a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and also holds the Investment Management Certificate (CFA). He joined Rathbones in 2019 and has significant knowledge and experience in providing the advice and direction which enables clients to meet their financial goals.

Alex helps on a broad range of areas including investment structuring, wealth preservation, retirement planning and legacy planning.

Previously, Alex managed the financial planning team at Kleinwort Benson and was awarded “Best Wealth Planning Team” at the WealthBriefing European Awards, 2017.

Alex is a Chartered Financial Planner, a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and also holds the Investment Management Certificate (CFA). He joined Rathbones in 2019 and has significant knowledge and experience in providing the advice and direction which enables clients to meet their financial goals.

Alex helps on a broad range of areas including investment structuring, wealth preservation, retirement planning and legacy planning.

Previously, Alex managed the financial planning team at Kleinwort Benson and was awarded “Best Wealth Planning Team” at the WealthBriefing European Awards, 2017.

Ben Shaw

Financial planner

Ben Shaw

Financial planner

London

Ben joined Rathbones Financial Planning in 2017 and is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He passionately believes in the value of tailored holistic financial planning and working with clients to help them achieve their lifetime objectives. Ben advises clients across a broad range of areas including wealth preservation, investment structuring, retirement planning as well as succession and inheritance tax planning. He takes a proactive approach to ensure clients are reassured that they are making the right decisions with their wealth.

Ben graduated from the University of York in 2009 with a BSc (Hons) in Environment, Economics and Ecology. Ben also has a Masters from the University of Leeds in Engineering Geology. He previously worked as an Environmental Manager on large national infrastructure projects before moving to Rathbones to pursue a career within Financial Planning.

Ben joined Rathbones Financial Planning in 2017 and is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He passionately believes in the value of tailored holistic financial planning and working with clients to help them achieve their lifetime objectives. Ben advises clients across a broad range of areas including wealth preservation, investment structuring, retirement planning as well as succession and inheritance tax planning. He takes a proactive approach to ensure clients are reassured that they are making the right decisions with their wealth.

Ben graduated from the University of York in 2009 with a BSc (Hons) in Environment, Economics and Ecology. Ben also has a Masters from the University of Leeds in Engineering Geology. He previously worked as an Environmental Manager on large national infrastructure projects before moving to Rathbones to pursue a career within Financial Planning.

Christopher Bartlett

Financial planning director

Christopher Bartlett

Financial planning director

Newcastle

Chris joined Rathbones from a national independent financial adviser and as well as being a Chartered Financial Planner is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. Chris has been advising individuals and businesses since 1998 on investment, pension and inheritance tax. His areas of specialism include the planning relating to drawing benefits from pension plans and the use of trusts as part of family financial planning. Chris ensures that all of his clients examine all areas of financial planning to help them and their families plan in an ever-increasing complex world.

Chris joined Rathbones from a national independent financial adviser and as well as being a Chartered Financial Planner is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. Chris has been advising individuals and businesses since 1998 on investment, pension and inheritance tax. His areas of specialism include the planning relating to drawing benefits from pension plans and the use of trusts as part of family financial planning. Chris ensures that all of his clients examine all areas of financial planning to help them and their families plan in an ever-increasing complex world.