Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA. This month, Garry Lomon celebrates 14 successful years with KBA. And we catch up with Cheryl Clarke as she passes another exam.
Finally, we have been busy raising funds for AquAid and preparing to sleep rough for a night as part of the “National Sleep Out”.
Cheryl Clarke passed her R04 exam
Team Leader at our Nantwich Agency, Cheryl has been working hard towards her Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning from the Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII).
When we spoke to Cheryl in April, she’d just passed her R03 exam. At that time, she admitted that learning didn’t come easily for her, so to have passed the next exam in just a few short months is amazing work.
The R04 exam focuses on pensions and retirement planning. Here’s what Cheryl had to say.
Compared to the other exams you’ve done to date, how did you find this one?
It’s really hard to say as I find them all difficult! Although I think this was probably the second most difficult, with the RO2 being the trickiest.
What did you find hardest for this exam?
Getting my head around all the different parts of defined benefit (DB) pensions. There are so many different types, and they all have lots of rules that I had to learn.
And was there anything that you found relatively simple?
Yes, thank goodness! The pension concept was fine.
Did you rely on the trusted Post-It revision technique that you previously told us about?
I did this as well as reading and had some exercises and tutorials from Openwork. Safe to say, all these techniques paid off!
With only two exams before you’re fully qualified, are you already hard at work studying for the next exam or are you taking a well-earned summer break?
I’m taking a very short break while I wait for my next books to be delivered. As soon as they have arrived, I’ll be straight back to it as I’m eager to get fully qualified!
Cheryl added: “Completing this course has increased my knowledge of this industry and is very complex. I can now see why giving advice to customers about how they can get the best from their savings requires an in-depth knowledge and qualifications to do so. Bring on R05!”
Garry Lomon celebrates his 14-year work anniversary
Garry, one of our Financial Planning Consultants, has worked in the financial services profession for more than 40 years and has now been at KBA for 14 years.
Specialising in pensions and investments planning, Garry talks to us about his work and what he loves most.
What were you doing before you joined the KBA team?
I was a Financial Services Consultant with Prudential and then a Sales Manager at BUPA.
What do you remember about your first day at KBA?
Ken Bates (the Founding Father of KBA) was thinking of retiring. 10 years later, he was still there!
What do you love most about your job?
Helping my clients reach financial freedom.
I’ve met some fantastic people over the years, and I am so grateful for that.
Favourite memorable moment?
There are so many to choose from, I couldn’t possibly pick just one. However, if I could pick an area, it would be when we take on new Financial Planning Consultants. I love sharing our culture with them and having the opportunity to be part of their journey.
One thing’s for sure, working with the guys at KBA helps me to stay young ❤️
AquAid have built an “elephant pump”, gifted by us, to supply clean drinking water to their community in Africa
We like to keep the whole KBA team hydrated throughout the workday to help them perform at their best. As part of our mission to help keep our team in peak condition, in 2017 we decided to invest in water coolers from AquAid for all of our offices.
Our unique relationship with AquAid has also given our company the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Every purchase we make to keep our water coolers topped up, include an automatic donation to The Africa Trust.
These funds are used to build “Elephant Pumps” – a modified version of an age-old Chinese rope pulley system.
At the beginning of August, we received the fantastic news that our first elephant pump has been completed and will be used as a clean source of drinking water for the whole community to enjoy.
We’re gearing up to take part in the “National Sleep Out”
To help those closer to home, a group of us will be taking to the streets and sleeping rough for one night to raise money for the homeless.
The event, set up by The Openwork Foundation, takes place on Friday 9 September.
There are three important reasons we wanted to get involved in this:
1. To raise money for a fantastic cause
2. Create awareness and promote the “National Sleep Out” so it can continue to grow and become an annual event enjoyed by all
3. To understand the difficulties that those who sleep rough endure. That is not to say for one moment that a one-night sleep out makes us understand the problems individuals have, but at least it’s a start.
We’ve always been incredibly grateful to have such generous clients who assist us in supporting charities. Any donation, however big or small, will be greatly appreciated.
Follow this link to make a donation. Alternatively, you can pop into our Nantwich, Bury or Southport agency and donate in person. We’ll update you on how we got on and how much we managed to raise in our next team update!
