Sometimes the most valuable connections start in the most unexpected ways. Picture this: I was just about to go on stage at Women on Top last year, clapping (a little too enthusiastically, maybe) as the Piper, Louise Marshall, made her entrance into the room. I momentarily glanced down at my hand and froze. My engagement ring was empty. The diamond? Gone! Vanished!
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. I remember blinking, not quite trusting what I was seeing or whether it was even real.
Aside from the diamond being big and beautiful, it has enormous sentimental value - a link to my Mum and my Grandma. And it could have been lost anywhere that day... the station, train, en route to the hotel. My head went into a spin.
Scanning the carpet around me, something glinted in the carpet. I reached down not thinking that there's any way it could be right in front of me but thank you god, it was the diamond! I couldn't believe I'd found it, someone was most definitely looking down.
I went on stage and started gabbling to the audience about my lost and found diamond. What a way to open an event!
I had been promised by a jeweller that it had been secured a few years earlier, clearly it hadn't. So I knew I needed to find someone that could do the job properly.
Texting friends and searching on egg, one name kept popping up - Clare Blatherwick. With a career spanning over two decades, including roles in international auction houses, luxury retail, and the world of gemstone dealing, Clare is one of the most qualified and experienced jewellers working in the UK.
We met for a coffee at Steampunk, I was impressed, and reassured, this was the jeweller for me.
After discussion around the diamond repair ended, Clare told me her exciting news; that after a long search, she had secured premises in North Berwick. When I asked if she had a nice landlord, she replied "Yes, I'm my landlord!".
Confused and intrigued I asked how this was possible, Clare explained she had done it all through her pension.
This caught my attention as I've been thinking about my pension for a long time, wanting to amalgamate the few bitty ones I have, get some independent advice. Clare told me she'd been working with Kris Banks at Melville Independent, and that she highly rated him.
Clare is now happily settled into her new home in North Berwick and says, "Kris was recommended to me by a very good client who works in the financial sector, and whose opinion I really trust."
"He has been a fantastic financial advisor both personally and professionally. Without his sage advice I would not have acquired the space we have in North Berwick for my business, which has been a great step for us."
Kris says of their relationship, "Clare had been a client for about a year when she called me looking for some advice on the loan rates her bank had offered for a commercial property in North Berwick. The rates were over 3% plus base and came with numerous conditions.
The call also gave us the chance to explore an option she hadn’t considered: using her pension. Many people don’t realise that the funds within a private pension can, in the right circumstances, be used to purchase physical commercial property.
Whilst this approach isn’t suitable for everyone, for self-employed individuals looking to invest in their own business premises, using a pension can be a powerful way to turn ideas, dreams, and passions into reality."
I’ve now been working with Kris and the team at Melville Independent to manage my own financial setup for several months; they've helped amalgamate my pensions, as well as work out what I can put aside this year towards my pension contribution, something I always find tricky!
Knowing how many of you are looking for advice on pensions and wealth management, and how confusing and overwhelming it can be, I'm thrilled to announce that Melville Independent Plc are now official partners of egg.
Over the coming months, Kris and the team will be sharing expert insights, answering your questions, and providing support for our members. Their team specialise in wealth management, pensions and financial planning. Most importantly, they do it with a calm, human touch that makes everything feel less intimidating.
If you’ve ever wondered;
- What should I do with my old workplace pensions?
- How much do I need for retirement?
- Could my pension be working harder for me or my business?
…then Melville can help.
To find more details about Melville Independent, visit their website. To speak to one of the team, email [email protected].
To get in touch with Clare Blatherwick, click here.
Click here to join the egg business club, a membership which helps you grow your reach, build your brand and connect with a network of women all over Scotland.
