Quilter has today announced the appointment of Chris Jones as its Financial Adviser School (FAS) academy director.
Jones joins the Quilter Financial Adviser School from wealth management firm St James’s Place, where most recently he held the role of head of change and prioritisation, having previously been head of academy for the north.
Jones has over 30 years’ industry experience with a track record of developing businesses, advisers and an adviser academy to support the progression of the next generation of financial advisers.
As academy director, Jones will report to Amanda Cassidy, managing director of Quilter Financial Advisers, and will drive forward the evolution of the Financial Adviser School during its transition into an academy.
As part of this, Jones will lead on the expansion of the Quilter Financial Adviser School’s current offering through the introduction of a support programme designed to assist graduates as they enter the financial advice profession.
The Quilter Financial Adviser School supports qualification for both Level 4 and Level 6 through industry recognised programmes. Its recently expanded routes to diploma level qualification provide students with the option to study either part time alongside their current career, or to undertake the full time ‘fast track’ programme which accelerates the time it takes to obtain the required Diploma level qualification to just 16 weeks. To date, more than 500 students have qualified through the school’s programme.
Commenting on the appointment, Amanda Cassidy, managing director of Quilter Financial Advisers, says: “It is a very exciting time for the Quilter Financial Adviser School, and we are pleased to be welcoming someone like Chris to the team given his depth of experience within the financial advice profession. Chris’s expertise will be a real asset as we move forward with the evolution of the school.
“The nation continues to grapple with high inflation and rising interest rates which has had a significant impact on personal finances. Quality financial planning has never been more important, and we are proud to continue playing a key role in the development of the next generation of financial advisers.”
Chris Jones, academy director, adds: “The nation is currently suffering from a huge advice gap, and I am therefore delighted to be taking on the role of academy director to help accelerate the pace of the Quilter Financial Adviser School and ensure students are well supported in their training and beyond to give them the best possible start as they enter the financial planning profession.”
