What are your roles at Citywide?

Max: We are both Client Services Assistants and started at Citywide in November 2023.

Can you both tell us a bit more about your degrees?

Max: I studied Financial Trading and Investment Management at Sheffield University and graduated in summer 2023. It was the only course I ever saw myself studying for. I have had a natural interest and passion for trading since a fairly young age and doing my degree solidified it all for me.

Abhi: I studied Maths with Finance Management at Portsmouth University, after which I came across financial advising and it really resonated with me. I love talking to people, getting to know them and having a positive impact on people’s lives. This aligns well with being a financial planner and aligns even better with the values at Citywide, where personal service and  getting to know our clients are at the heart of what we do.

What do your roles entail at Citywide?

Abhi: We support our Client Services Executives by updating client information, investment tracking and preparing packs for meetings. This includes running reports and producing information in graph form. It’s also one of the ways we get to know our clients.

What are you doing as part of your apprenticeship scheme?

Max: We are both starting our paraplanner apprenticeship in September, which is a two-year programme, comprising four exams. Citywide is incredibly encouraging when it comes to Continued Personal Development (CPD) and allows us a certain proportion of our working day to study for our exams. The combination of study time and practical application of the job means we are learning all the time!

What do you think sets Citywide aside from others from your experience so far?

Max: I think Citywide has a true family feel to it and the one-to-one relationships and contact we build with our clients really makes us feel invested in them, and vice versa. We work with the client on an individual basis to build something that will reflect and work for their personal circumstances and help meet their future goals.

Abhi: I think the connection that Citywide has with its clients is particularly unique. Often, a financial advisory business will make decisions which favour themselves over the client, and you see that happening a lot in the industry. I’ve seen firsthand that our clients come first and taking care of them for the long term is the most important thing. This is very rare to find but most certainly one of the reasons clients remain with Citywide for generations.

What are your future aims and ambitions?

Abhi: My aim is to qualify as a fully-fledged financial adviser! I love the combination of learning about investing as well as building relationships with clients and  getting to understand their goals; if I can help them achieve these then it really gives me a sense of achievement and reward.

Max: Once I’ve completed my apprenticeship, I’d like to do the rest of my exams and eventually fulfil my ambition of becoming a financial adviser. Financial trading and investing have always been passions of mine and the excitement they bring me means this will be a very natural progression – and one that I know I will enjoy!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Abhi: I enjoy photography and travelling, and I’m currently battling it out with a sewing machine trying to make clothing from scratch and repurposing pieces I already have. I’m also part of a youth charity organisation where I help organise fundraising events; a great project to be a part of.

Max: Outside of work, it’s pretty much football, football, football for me! Both training and playing. I also love spending time with friends, training in the gym and investing and trading in crypto and gold.