Digital advice specialist latest appointment at financial services firm

Somerset financial services firm Old Mill has appointed financial planner and digital advice specialist Hugh Johnson to its wealth management team.

Hugh began his career in financial services in 2008, working as a foreign exchange broker in the City of London before finding his vocation in financial advice.

After a few years as a trainee adviser in London, Hugh – a keen surfer and lover of the outdoors – decided he wanted to move out of the city. He took a role at Bristol-based Jelf where he honed his skills as a paraplanner under the firm’s Chairman Chris Jelf, before joining Sanlam as a paraplanner in 2013.

Hugh’s experience and knowledge quickly saw him promoted, first to team leader, and then in 2016, to head of paraplanning before being appointed head of proposition delivery in 2019.

He designed, implemented, and continuously developed the firm’s advice proposition and built the firm’s technology-driven hybrid advice offering.

Hugh joins Old Mill from Fry Group, where, as head of operations, he was responsible for integrating the firm’s multi-service proposition prior to its acquisition by Progeny.

He will use his experience in wealth management proposition and digital-first advice delivery to drive the expansion and development of Old Mill’s current wealth management and financial planning offering.

He said “One of the things that is really special about Old Mill is that it offers accountancy and tax expertise as well as financial planning and wealth management. Offering clients all their professional advice under one roof is such a powerful proposition, and it is this integration that I have been brought into further develop.

“In my new role within the wealth management team, I will be working on enhancing the current financial planning and wealth management proposition to ensure our services are available to all our clients – especially those who already use Old Mill for business advice – the way they want and at the level that best suits their personal needs.”

Amanda Browning, head of wealth management at Old Mill added: “We are delighted to be able to bring someone of Hugh’s calibre on board.His experience in developing successful wealth management propositions and his knowledge and expertise around digital and virtual advice combined with his belief in the power of Old Mill’s integrated services model will be a huge asset, not just to the wealth management team, but Old Mill as a whole.

 

Close