Investment platform AJ Bell has appointed former Financial Planner Charlene Young to the newly-created role of head of technical.
She was previously senior pensions and savings expert at the firm, where she has been for 14 years.
She joined AJ Bell in 2014 from wealth management firm Brunel Capital Partners where she worked with private clients and small businesses as a Financial Planner. Before that she was a Paraplanner with Chartwell Group.
In her new role, Ms Young will lead AJ Bell’s technical capability across pensions, investments, tax, Financial Planning and adviser practice and continue to work closely with AJ Bell’s PR and policy teams, to offer commentary and analysis to the press and broadcasters.
Ms Young is a Chartered member of the Personal Finance Society (PFS), and an associate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
She said: “While changes to tax rules and the wider Financial Planning and savings landscape continue to come thick and fast, they also present an opportunity for us to build on the support we provide to advisers, paraplanners and customers.
“Personalised advice has never been more valuable, whether it’s helping clients discover, articulate and achieve their Financial Planning goals, or providing the clarity and peace of mind needed to cut through an increasingly complex environment.”
Last month AJ Bell said total advised customers climbed 6% year-on-year to reach 191,000 by the end of June. Direct customer numbers rose by 30% year-on-year to 571,000 as at 30 June.
Assets under administration ended the quarter at £121.5bn, a 26% rise year-on-year and a rise of 12% over the quarter. Net inflows into the platform rose 43% year-on-year to £3bn over the quarter, with gross inflows rising 50% year-on-year to end the quarter at £6bn.