Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
This month, watch our annual Christmas round-up video and discover a whole host of 2024 successes in under two minutes. Plus, thanks to your support, we donated more than 100 new gifts to Wood Street Mission, and find out which worthy charity received our Christmas charity donation, and why.
And there’s more.
Meet new Agency Manager, Daniel Perry, and catch up with Melissa Wright, who ended 2024 on a high note.
Watch KBA’s reel of 2024 highlights
Join us in celebrating the highlights of 2024 with our Year in Review video. And join us in raising a toast to you – our incredible clients and connections who made it all possible.
Charitable Christmas giving
You may recall reading about the collection points we put in place to gather donations for the Wood Street Mission throughout December in the last team update.
Well, thanks to your incredible generosity, we were able to donate 129 brand new gifts to this wonderful cause, helping to make Christmas brighter for many local children and families in need.
Your kindness and support truly embody the spirit of the festive season, and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a caring community.
In other charity news, continuing our tradition of donating money to a local charity instead of sending Christmas cards to our clients, following a thoughtful recommendation from one of our wonderful clients, we donated £500 to Back on Track Manchester.
Back on Track does incredible work helping those in need, and we were thrilled to be able to contribute to their efforts during the festive season.
If you have a specific local charity you’d like us to consider for 2025, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’d love to hear your suggestions.
Finally, a HUGE thank you to our clients, connections, and our amazing team for making 2024 such a fantastic year. Your support means the world to us, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store.
Meet Daniel Perry, KBA’s new Agency Manager in Southport
Late last year, Daniel Perry joined KBA as our Agency Manager in Southport.
Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, and ensuring everything runs smoothly for both customers and colleagues, Daniel is committed to delivering exceptional service.
Wasting no time, we headed over to Southport for a sit-down chat to find out more about Daniel, his background, and what he’s most looking forward to in the coming months…
What is your background, what were you doing before you joined KBA?
I began my career at Debenhams retail stores after leaving school, steadily working my way up to the position of Senior Store Manager.
After 10 successful years at Debenhams, I transitioned to Santander as a Branch Manager, where I once again advanced to become a Senior Branch Manager.
With five years of experience in the branch network, I moved into a new role within the bank as a Fraud Manager, covering all aspects of fraud operations. I continued to grow within the fraud department, eventually becoming a Senior Fraud Operations Manager, working alongside multiple areas of the business.
What attracted you to KBA The Financial Planning Company?
The answer is simple but incredibly meaningful – delivering first-class customer service and supporting people with all their financial needs.
KBA’s culture and priorities are built around putting the customer first while also fostering an environment where staff are supported to achieve their personal and professional goals. The teamwork and collaboration across the business are perfect examples of this, and it’s something that really stood out to me.
Can you tell us a bit about your new role?
As the Agency Manager for our Southport agency, I oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly for both customers and colleagues. My role focuses on delivering exceptional service, helping clients achieve their financial goals, and providing guidance and leadership to the team.
I’m passionate about creating a welcoming and efficient environment where every interaction reflects KBA’s high standards. Whether it’s assisting customers with their financial needs or mentoring colleagues to reach their full potential, my role is pivotal to the success of the Southport agency.
How was your first week?
My first week was a fantastic experience, both personally and professionally.
The entire team across the business was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and their passion for their roles in the company was evident from day one.
So far, what do you enjoy most about working here?
Being part of such a great team and helping the customers who visit our Southport branch.
What’s your main focus right now and what are you most excited about for 2025?
Right now, my main focus is on developing and supporting my branch team by sharing the experience I’ve gained from over 15 years in the banking industry.
Looking ahead to 2025, I’ve already started working on new projects, both at the branch and business level, aimed at driving growth and development. I’m excited to see how these initiatives will contribute to the success of KBA in the coming year.
Congratulations to Melissa Wright, who ended 2024 on a high note after she passed her latest Chartered Insurance Institute exam
Melissa, one of our Customer Consultants in Nantwich, provides exceptional support to clients.
Having previously completed her R01 qualification through the Chartered Insurance Institute, 2025 is off to a flying start as she passed the CF6 in Mortgage Advice.
To celebrate this fantastic achievement, we made a big pot of tea, opened a new packet of biscuits, and sat down with Melissa to hear all the news.
How long have you been working towards this qualification, and did you have to pass other exams to reach this one?
I purchased the CF6 unit at the start of 2024 but didn’t really dive into it until the summer.
CF6 is a unit on Mortgage Advice provided by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), which can be studied and taken regardless of previous qualifications. However, to be able to give mortgage advice, the industry standard is to also have the R01 unit. When combined, they give you the Certificate in Mortgage Advice (Cert CII). I passed R01 back in July 2023, so this has been a long-term goal for me!
How are you at exams, generally?
It might sound unusual, but I actually enjoy exams – they’re an opportunity to showcase my knowledge on a subject I’ve worked hard to study.
My final year of high school was affected by the pandemic, and all my final exams were cancelled, with grades being based on predictions. It felt as though I was robbed of the chance to prove myself.
These CII exams have given me that opportunity again, allowing me to test my abilities and feel proud of what I’ve achieved entirely on my own.
What was the hardest part of preparing for the exam? And the easiest?
The subject matter was genuinely interesting, which made studying much easier.
The hardest part was balancing full-time work, studying during evenings and weekends, and maintaining a personal life – it could be exhausting at times.
The turning point was when I booked the exam date. Having that deadline gave me the push I needed to stay motivated and focused, which made the final stages of preparation much easier.
Can you tell me a bit about how you prepared/whether you have a revision technique or whether you’re simply a natural when learning new stuff?
I took a “little-but-often” approach to revision, finding time in the evenings to break down the study text into manageable chunks. My go-to technique is writing lots of notes as I study – even if I don’t go back to read them, the act of writing helps me retain the information.
For R01, I used the CII’s own textbook, but I found it quite dense and difficult to process. For CF6, I switched to the Bespoke Training Solutions textbook, which was a game-changer. The content was much easier to digest and more interactive, and having the right study materials made a big difference to my success.
How was the exam? Did you have to go somewhere to sit it or was it done online?
In classic CII fashion, the multiple-choice questions often had two answers that seemed correct, so I had to be careful to take my time and read each question thoroughly.
I took the exam remotely at home, and the invigilation process was extremely strict – any interruptions, even looking away from the screen or whispering, could have resulted in the exam being terminated.
The process started with a 30-minute room check, including turning on all the lights and showing every chair around my dining room table (I quickly regretted my chosen location!).
Once the exam started, though, the three hours flew by.
What will it mean for you professionally?
Achieving the Chartered Insurance Institute certificate has broadened my professional knowledge and enhanced my qualifications. This milestone is an important step in my career, particularly in the field of mortgage advice.
Are you now working towards another qualification, or are you taking a break before diving into your next challenge?
I’m considering studying Protection and Insurance next, as it’s a crucial area of financial planning that I find particularly interesting, and it often complements mortgage advice.
However, for now, I’m enjoying some well-deserved free time – getting back to the gym and doing more of what I love!
