Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
This month, combining two of our favourite things for a fun and insightful evening, read about how well our latest Wine and Wealth event went down.
Plus, there are several work anniversaries to celebrate. Elysia Walsh has been on the team for 11 years and James Nelson for 8 years, while Mollie Scotson, Lisa Roberts, and Julie Leeson are all celebrating 4 years with the KBA family.
Meanwhile, Beccy Brooks has been with us for an amazing 20 years. Find out what’s changed since she first arrived as our receptionist in 2006.
Last but by no means least, having upgraded to a bigger space to hold her annual afternoon tea for Breast Cancer Now, Karen Fogg is coming to a screen near you soon.
Wine & Wealth Evening at Evuna Deansgate
We recently hosted a fantastic Wine & Wealth evening at the beautiful Evuna Deansgate, where clients and guests enjoyed an evening of great wine, delicious tapas, and insightful conversation in a relaxed setting.
It was wonderful to spend the evening with some of our lovely clients, and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success.
Events like these are always a great opportunity for us to catch up with clients outside of the office, while also sharing useful financial insights and market updates.
During the evening, Sarah Hogan delivered a Wealth Update covering key topics, market activity, and important considerations for the months ahead. We know not everyone was able to attend, so we recorded the presentation for those who would still like to hear what was discussed. You can view the recording here.
We are excited to be hosting a variety of events throughout the year and look forward to welcoming many more of our clients over the coming months.
So, if you were unable to attend this event, please rest assured that there will be plenty of other opportunities to join us in the future. As you can imagine, we have a large number of clients, and we want as many people as possible to have the chance to experience these events over the next 12 months.
Please keep an eye on your inbox for future invitations and updates. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events very soon!
Beccy Brooks on 20 years with the KBA family
Having started out fielding calls and enquiries on our reception desk (when there were fewer than 10 on the team), today Beccy is a talented Trainee Paraplanner and is working towards becoming a fully-fledged Financial Planner.
In true KBA style, we made her a big cuppa, grabbed the biscuit tin, and invited her to sit down and tell us all about her time here…
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I actually wanted to be a footballer when I was growing up – I was never really the “princess” type of girl!
What was your first role with KBA and how has it changed over time?
I started out as a receptionist, but over time, I began getting involved with protection and mortgages as well.
From there, I moved into processing pensions and investments, and I realised how much I enjoyed the wealth management side of the business.
I’ve now been working in that area for several years, and I’m currently studying towards my exams to become a qualified paraplanner – and hopefully, one day, an Adviser.
How has KBA changed since you started working here?
When I first started at KBA, there were only three administrators, including myself, along with Ken as Practice Principal and a small number of Advisers.
The business has grown enormously since then – so much has changed over the past 20 years that I couldn’t even begin to list everything.
What is your favourite memory of your time on the KBA team?
There have been so many great memories over the years that it’s difficult to choose just one. The team trips away definitely stand out though. They were always memorable and a lot of fun.
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking of applying for a role with KBA?
Don’t be afraid to give something a go. When I first started, I was a nervous wreck just answering the phone, and now I’m dealing with complex cases that I never would have imagined handling all those years ago.
Believe in yourself, take opportunities when they come along, and just go for it.
Karen Fogg’s annual Afternoon Tea grows bigger and better every year – and now it’s coming to a screen near you!
When Karen’s Auntie Christine passed away from breast cancer in 2014, Karen and her daughters, Amy and Lucy, decided to host an Afternoon Tea in memory of Christine and to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.
At their first Afternoon Tea, Karen and her daughters raised £450. Over the last 12 years, the trio have raised more than £16,000.
The annual summer event has become so successful that the trio had to find a bigger location to host all their guests in 2025. The event has gained quite the following, and Breast Cancer Now even sent a film crew to record last year’s event.
If you’re a television lover, keep an eye out for Karen and her daughters popping up on your screen during the adverts. As part of the filming, Karen gave an interview, sharing her powerful story and even revealing the recipe for her famous lemon drizzle cake.
Read Karen’s interview: Fundraising with my daughters has helped us turn loss into action
This year’s Afternoon Tea is on Saturday 6 June. To donate, please visit the JustGiving link, and to find out more about how you could get involved, please email contactme@kbafinancial.com or call us on 0161 260 2002.