About – eightfourtwo

About

Our story starts in 1998, when an employee of Midland Bank became the dedicated adviser to a group of the bank’s valued clients, just before it changed its name to HSBC Bank.

Working closely with his clients for more than a decade, this adviser eventually believed he had the knowledge and experience to offer them a better service away from the hierarchical structure of a global institution.

On 2 January 2013, he set up eightfourtwo, a wealth management company, in a small serviced office off Lombard Street in London. The new company had one employee (himself) and a share value of £1.

Twenty of his clients chose to continue their journey with eightfourtwo rather than remain within the HSBC Group. With no guarantees, they transferred their lives’ hard-earned wealth from one of the world’s largest banks to a start-up with nothing more to offer than a vision.

The simple aspiration was to create a very different and contemporary wealth management company. One only interested in developing lifelong relationships that flourish as a result of the trust that comes from a transparent approach and consistently successful outcomes.

Our aspiration today remains exactly the same.

Why do we call our clients Members?

We use the term ‘Member’ because it better captures the level of service and the sense of community we provide to those we work for. Our financial planners afford a great deal of face-to-face time with our Members. This leads to better-informed decisions and stronger relationships.

This extra attention may well be one of the reasons our Members are so happy to develop long-term partnerships with eightfourtwo. Even though we’re less than 10 years old, we already have more than one instance of three generations of the same family choosing to engage our services.

Everyone has a different story to tell, and we are always fascinated to learn about the unique and unusual pathways that bring each individual to our door. Getting to know them as well as we do, we often introduce Members to one another, for mutual benefit or at occasional gatherings.

The mix of astute business owners, bold entrepreneurs, inspiring artists, up-and-coming professionals and self-made millionaires certainly makes for an entertaining and enlightening company. While there is no obligation for our Members to mix in this way, most enjoy doing so.

That explains why many of the individuals we work for feel as though they are part of an exclusive community. A club, if you like, of which they are Members.

Why the unusual name?

Legend has it that the Beatles song ‘The Long and Winding Road’ was inspired by the meandering Highland route that led to Paul McCartney’s Scottish home. The title perfectly sums up our distinctive approach to wealth management.

For us, it’s all about the lasting relationships we build with our Members and the long and rewarding journeys we take with them, each one presenting different twists and turns.

The starting point, the route taken, and the destination will never be quite the same for any two Members. Nor will the unexpected detours and the bumps in the road along the way. We can never predict those, of course, but we can always plan for them.

And the name of McCartney’s long and winding road? The B842.

A guide for your journey

While it often seems like the job of governments, legislators and tax offices is to make wealth management as complicated as possible, our task is to simplify it for you.

Wherever you are on your journey, and whatever the questions keeping you up at night, we only ask you to share with us what you want out of life. It’s our job to turn your wishes into financially defined aspirations. To achieve that, we build a financial plan to get you where you want to be and help make your dreams come true.

Of course, life takes many unexpected twists and turns. The best plan for you now may not be so in five, ten or fifteen years’ time. That’s why we review your position every year, issue six-monthly Summary Letters and assess your affairs quarterly from an internal perspective, so we can reset your course if and when required.

Our close-knit team have shared beliefs and values that enable us to deliver a consistent service. Our aim is always to exceed your expectations. While you may be considering your children’s security, for example, we will be thinking of your grandchildren’s.

Despite what some might think, wealth management is really not about making you as much money as we possibly can (we can do that, if necessary, but it’s a risky business). It’s about managing your risk to make as much money as you need to fulfil your aspirations.

Our range of services are appropriate not only for multi-millionaires but also for the astute and aspirational. If you are in doubt whether we’re the right wealth management company for your financial requirements, one conversation, with no commitment on your part, will tell you all you need to know.