As one of Ireland’s leading financial services firms, Goodbody has and will always be a people business. Building long term client relationships supported by expert advice is at the heart of what we do – recruiting and retaining great people is vital to our success. We are committed to investing in our staff to support and grow their careers.
Here you can get know our experts a little better – from their position at Goodbody and how they work with clients to their favourite podcasts and TV series, we invite you to Meet the Team.
Tell us about your positions at Goodbody and how long have you been working here?
Dave: I have worked in Wealth Management for over twenty years and was appointed as Senior Director in 2021. I manage a team of eight highly skilled and talented people.
Owen: I am Head of Financial Planning and Pension Technical in Goodbody Wealth. My team and I provide high level wealth extraction, taxation guidance and financial structuring advice to wealthy families, business owners and public limited company executives. I have been in Goodbody for ten years.
How do you work together at Goodbody?
Dave: Owen was part of my team and has recently been appointed to a new role as Head of Financial Planning and Pension Technical. This is an exciting appointment as it means more resources and focus in helping our clients achieve their financial goals and objectives. This involves both our teams working together in the delivery of quality financial advice and plans.
Owen: David’s new and existing clients have issues and financial objectives that they would like our opinion on in order to achieve the best structure and execution. We figure out the mechanics and where everything fits together to avoid unnecessary costs or tax leakage and outline the plan for them. David then implements the investment strategy to fit that plan which we monitor and revisit at regular intervals.
How do you typically work with clients?
Dave: Clients have a wide range of questions ranging from tax, investment and how to protect, grow and pass on their wealth. Happily, we have a huge bank of investment experience and technical knowledge within and outside the team to deal with these questions. Through our network and connections, we also have access to the best outside advice.
Owen: I take a blank sheet of paper and ask them about themselves and their family/business/structure/existing arrangements and most importantly what they want to achieve or what is causing them problems.
What do clients ask you about the most?
Owen: Death and taxes, both come to us all and no one enjoys the thoughts of either. Clients want to know the process and how can they reduce the financial impact.
Have you noticed any current trends with clients?
Dave: With recent dramatic global events clients are seeking more certainty and less volatility. Investment markets have shifted dramatically, and clients can now earn positive returns on cash/bonds which is generating lots of opportunity to improve overall investment returns.
Owen: There is a recurring trend with clients who are exploring the non-resident option and how it would apply to them to fit their desired lifestyle post sale of a business or retirement.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Dave: There are so many parts to the job it’s difficult to pick one. As a team leader I enjoy the role of creating a team culture where we work and support each other. We are fortunate to have individuals on the team with lots of knowledge and experience which helps develop the whole crew. The job is all about our clients and how we deliver quality and consistent service. There is great satisfaction when clients acknowledge this or when as often happens our expertise is acknowledged within the industry.
Owen: When a client has decided that you are their trusted adviser, and they begin to sense check decisions with you that may not even relate to the investments we manage for them. It is a really nice space to be in.
What are your favourite resources that you use for your job?
Dave: Within the team we have fantastic back up and resources to manage our clients. We also draw on the full range of resources available across Wealth Management including of course Owen’s team and their financial planning specialists. We all benefit from the quality of communications which clients receive on current investment themes etc. This is especially invaluable when markets are volatile.
Owen: My ReMarkable notepad. I think in pictures so it is very useful to explain matters and keeps me organised, I would be lost without it.
What are you currently watching?
Dave: My two teenage daughters constantly watch Friends on TV and I often watch this with them. The recent passing of Matthew Perry is very sad news, he was a great actor.
Owen: My pension – no I’m kidding. The last thing I watched was The Lady in the Van with Dame Maggie Smith.
Best podcast?
Owen: Two spring to mind: “Diary of a CEO” a wide range of topics from the benefits of sleep to how entrepreneurs build their businesses and “The Maven Money Podcast” (UK focus but really good and applicable).
A book you really enjoyed…
Dave: An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor by Michael Smith, it’s an epic story of survival.
Owen: Alchemy by Peter Sutherland, an examination of how original ideas dominate in a world of conformists.
How do you think the financial services industry has changed? In what ways do you think it needs to change in the future?
Dave: In Goodbody there has been huge changes with a lot more emphasis on financial and tax planning. This trend is positive for clients who are often not aware of valuable tax reliefs and benefits. There is a need for more education and advice to help everyone make better investment decisions in the future. A good example is Goodbody’s recent involvement with the Gloss Magazine which included lots of advice on money matters.
Owen: Regulation and oversight has increased tenfold and rightly so. It means that investing without the context of the end goal really is a thing of the past. There should be a tax allowance for the cost of independent financial planning advice so that it isn’t just confined to those who can afford to pay for it.
