Case Studies

Everyone has their own unique career path to follow. No two people doing similar jobs will have got there by exactly the same paths. These three case studies show how, once someone has reached Killik & Co, we can help employees to achieve their full potential.

Private Client Partner

This employee first became interested in the financial markets while reading Business Studies at university. He soon realised he wanted to be involved in Private Client Stockbroking and Killik & Co was recommended as an innovative, forward thinking firm with a bright future.

On further research, he was particularly impressed by the firm’s entrepreneurial spirit and the open-minded attitude of the senior management team.

On joining Killik & Co in 1998 as an Assistant Broker, he benefited from working closely with one of the Branch Partners who was keen to pass on his knowledge. After completing Securities Institute exams he moved on to take Financial Advisers qualifications and was soon given the opportunity to take on some clients of his own whom he still advises.

His current role is to service existing clients and take on new clients and assets. Promotion to Private Client Partner came in 2006 and within his branch he now has a Junior Broker to whom he is passing on knowledge.

Biggest challenge? "Every day in the markets is different, therefore making for a very exciting and often unpredictable working day."

Business Support Supervisor

After studying art history and training in ceramics, this employee spent nine years as proprietor of a manufacturing firm, spending much of her time travelling to exhibit at trade events worldwide and to promote the firm within the UK.

She joined Killik & Co in 2005 and was initially employed to organise archiving firm-wide, however her role swiftly expanded beyond document control.

She was promoted to being the Supervisor of Business Support and is now in charge of a ten-strong team responsible for tasks such as online support, central facilities, client communication, data management and broker support. In addition, she is responsible for the set up and maintenance of client accounts. She is now studying for the FSA-approved Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ).

Main challenge? "Keeping up to speed with change, both within the firm and industry"

Trading Services Broker

Having first joined Killik & Co in 2004, this employee began working within the operations department, where he gained a good insight into the settlement and stock transfer processes.

In 2005 he transferred to Killik & Co’s Canary Wharf branch as a Junior Broker and assisted the other Brokers within the branch. Here he learned the ropes of the front office side, progressing from handling client literature through to speaking to clients and taking orders.

While at Canary Wharf he passed Securities Institute exams and began to advise clients in the UK equity market. He also started to take an interest in the derivative side of the business and Contracts for Difference (CFDs).

On becoming an Assistant Private Client Broker, he moved to the Head Office in Mayfair. Providing direct support to clients, the new job enabled him to improve his knowledge of standard equity portfolio allocations as well as gaining valuable experience in advising clients.

An additional part of this new role was to aid the newly created Trading Services team which deals with CFDs. As the team developed rapidly, his job evolved to focus more increasingly on CFDs. With increasing demand for tax efficient trading, Killik & Co launched the Spread Betting service, which became encompassed into the Trading Services role.

In 2007 he became a Trading Services Broker and now has direct relationships with clients wishing to deal in the Derivatives markets.

Key challenge? "The need to constantly monitor positions within an ever-changing environment due to market volatility."