Discretionary managed portfolio provider FE Invest has appointed two senior investment professionals, including a Chartered Financial Planner, to its growing team.

With its assets under management (AUM) having grown to over £2bn in four years and its headcount doubling over the past year, the firm’s staff has further expanded with the appointments of Catherine Makin and Steve Thompson. 
 
Catherine Makin joined FE as a business development manager from Barclays Wealth Management.

A Chartered Financial Planner, she most recently held the position of Vice President, providing a range of wealth management solutions to HNW, corporate and charity clients.

Prior to this, she worked in the wealth management and business development arms of several global organisations, including HSBC, HBOS and Prudential.

Ms Makin has authored FCA-approved workbooks for the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and is currently an examiner for the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) professional qualifications.

Steve Thompson, a Chartered MSCI member with the CISI, also joined as a business development manager.

His role is to work with intermediaries across Scotland and Northern Ireland, to develop their investment and retirement propositions.

With 28 years industry experience, Steve has held many high-profile roles in the industry, including most recently as asset management specialist for Charles Stanley.

Prior to that he worked for Morningstar Europe, providing investment expertise for UK Intermediaries with their MPS solution.

He has also held positions as a regional sales manager for Generali Middle East, MetLife Europe, Hartford Life and Kames Capital.
 
Rob Gleeson, head of FE Invest, said: “Catherine and Steve are joining FE Invest during a very exciting stage of our development.

“Their knowledge, experience and insight will be invaluable as we look to enhance our unique investment proposition and grow our service even further.

“Hiring industry professionals of Catherine and Steve’s stature marks an important milestone for FE Invest, particularly as we move to a structure which allows us to support financial advisers across the whole of the UK.

“Not only will their expertise support our own growth ambitions, but it will allow us to further support our clients in helping them to reach their own client’s investment objectives.

“We welcome them warmly to the FE Invest team.”
 
Catherine Makin said: “FE provides a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting growth phase.

“I am looking forward to supporting intermediaries with an award-winning managed portfolio service.

“FE is truly independent with no affiliation to any asset manager, I am proud to be part of an organisation committed to working with the financial services Industry to provide robust and compliant solutions for their clients.”
 
Steve Thompson said: “With the managed portfolio market proving highly competitive, I am excited to join the FE family that offers an exciting proposition.

“Leveraging of the back of the success of FE’s data and technology history, FE Invest offers something exceptional for advisers.”
 
Since its launch in 2015, FE Invest has seen a 77.9% year-on-year percentage growth in AUM, the second highest among DFMs on platform, according to a report by Platforum, published in July 2019.

The same report also revealed a 39.8% growth in adviser firms using FE Invest’s portfolios over the past year.