Gary Fawcett
Gary Fawcett on the pricelessness of time
The world of finance is volatile - that we can all agree on. A man who perhaps knows this better than most is Gary Fawcett, a Chartered Wealth Manager and Branch Principal at Raymond James, Monument. Gary’s interest in economic trends goes hand in hand with his desire to support people with financial advice, and it’s one of the reasons he set up his office in the first place. Gary spoke to us about the enjoyment he gets from the human side of finance, the importance of family, and how he tries not to let time escape him.
Edited by Ruby Guyler Photographs by Christopher Owens
Tell me about your background and career.
After graduating with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Business Studies at Northumbria University, I went straight to work for Wise Speke. That was in 2000, and I stayed there for 23 years! I spent my time building relationships with clients and managing their investments, as well as becoming part of the office leadership team.
That all changed this year, when I decided to set up a new office with Raymond James, which launched on 19 June. I wanted to go back to basics - offering tailored investment management and financial planning services.
Tell me about Raymond James, Monument. What do you attribute to its success?
Raymond James, Monument was launched to give individuals, families, business owners, charities and trustees an alternative option when looking for financial planning advice and tailored investment management.
At a time when our sector is seeing consolidation and businesses are getting much bigger, we feel the focus on the client is being lost and that is what we put at the heart of everything we do.
What do you love most about what you do every day?
I love helping people meet their financial objectives! There is no greater buzz than knowing you’ve made a difference to someone’s life. My job means I meet a lot of people and I really enjoy the interaction and getting to know clients and their families.
I also love connecting people where I can and if that makes just a small difference to that person, then that’s a great result.
Have you had to make sacrifices in your chosen career, and have they been worth it?
Ooh, good question. I seem to not be able to say “no”, which can get me into trouble at home! My family has been very supportive; building a network takes commitment and time, which means spending some evenings and weekends away from the family.
I try to balance this, however, by never missing sports days, Christmas plays, parent volunteering opportunities on school trips and the likes. These make me feel a bit happier and appreciative of the flexibility my job provides.
“There is no greater buzz than knowing you’ve made a difference to someone’s life.”
What are some of your daily rituals and why are they part of your routine?
I don’t really have daily rituals as such. My diary tends to get pretty busy as I prefer to be on the go, seeing clients, meeting new people, catching up with contacts and helping those who want to know more about our industry. There is always something to do.
What’s important for me day to day is to keep on top of emails, and I will always respond to a client or query that day. Being accessible and responsive is really important to me.
What does work/life balance look like for you?
Ha ha, some days it’s fine and some days it isn’t! As I’ve said before, my family understands and is supportive when I need to take a call, answer an email, make a client visit in the evening, or attend a charity or business dinner during family time.
However, I try hard to give my family my full attention when I’m at home, as they are the ones I work long days for and it’s important for me not to forget that.
It’s still a work in progress!
How do you stay focused and productive in a world of distractions?
I really do love what I do, so I don’t find it too hard to stay focused. Time is the one thing that can escape you, so it’s about being organised, knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are, and involving the team as much as you can. It’s better for everyone if you work together.
If you had the power to change the world, what would you change?
Wow, that’s a tough question! We are much more fragmented today as a global community than we have been for many years before that, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that people are less happy and less tolerant, and that geopolitics is more extreme and volatile.
I’m a big believer in fairness and compassion (although my wife may disagree!), so I would like to see a fairer and more tolerant world that cares for each other but also respects a difference of opinion. At times, we simply need to find common ground or a compromise that is fair to all those involved.
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