Murphy Wealth, a Financial Life Planning firm based in Glasgow, has promoted John Moran as its new executive chair and Neil Bage to the new role of chief behavioural officer.

The firm says the two appointments underline its “growth ambitions” following a recent rebranding and client communications revamp.

The company has adopted what it calls a ‘human-first’ strategy and a new-client focus on business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

It says with this approach the happiness of clients is more important than the firm making money from funds under management. 

Adrian Murphy, CEO of Murphy Wealth, said: “I’ve worked with John and Neil for a while on our business plans. I’ve been hugely impressed with their insight, their get-stuck-in attitude, their collaborative approach, their strategic thinking, and their decisiveness.

“These are all qualities that will help Murphy Wealth grow and reach new clients – here in the UK and abroad – with our refreshingly different human-first and evidence-based Financial Planning proposition.”

Mr Moran is a Chartered Accountant and joined Murphy as commercial director in February 2020. In his new role, he will be responsible for “shaping the future” of the business. He will run the board and have responsibility for commercial and operational strategy.

He said: “I’ve been working part-time with Adrian and the team at Murphy Wealth for about a year now, helping them with their new-business strategy and future plans. In that time, it’s become clear to me that this is a business with a different approach to Financial Planning.

“It is focused on the individual rather than products, which means Murphy Wealth is devoted to implementing tailored financial life plans that aim to improve its clients’ general wellbeing and make sure they can afford to lead the contented lifestyle they had planned, now and in the future. This is a Financial Planning and advice business that is clearly different from other firms that often seem to be more focused on how much money they can make from their clients’ investments rather than helping them find happiness.

“Murphy Wealth is going places and I’m excited to be on board for this next exciting part of its journey.” 

Mr Bage said: “Over the years I’ve worked with hundreds of advisers in the UK, the US and South Africa, yet I’ve never worked with a Financial Planning business that has such a laser-focus on evidence-based behavioural insight. Murphy Wealth’s evidence-based approach to their entire business, coupled with their desire to concentrate on the human side of money, is incredibly attractive to me.

“You just need to look at the new Murphy Wealth website to get a feel for how simple and different their service methodology is. I’m looking forward to building on this language and implementing an engaging communications strategy that will set Murphy Wealth in good stead for future growth.”