Franklyn Financial Management Ltd was established in 1999 by Andrew Chatterton who still owns and manages the business, working with clients to this day.
From the early days in Congleton when FFM moved to their first office at St. James’s House on Moody Street in 2003, to the state of the art facilities at the new offices on John Bradshaw Court in 2007 which was refurbished in 2017, FFM has continued to go from strength to strength now employing over 40 staff and headed up by a 5 strong Director Team.
Managing Director Andy commented that “being based in Congleton has played a huge part in the success of FFM. Congleton has a real sense of community and the way that we are all pulling together at this unprecedented time is just incredible. It makes me really proud to have our head office here and so many of the staff also live in and around the area”
“Moving to the Moody Street office in 2003 only feels like yesterday. I remember being so excited, yet overwhelmed as I sat at my desk thinking…ok I have the office… what do I do next?”
Andy started his journey as a Financial Adviser in 1998 joining J. Rothschild Assurance as a fresh faced 25-year-old.
“When I first started, the philosophy in the sector was that if I was to contact 100 people then I may be able to get one client. I quickly realised that this was not the sustainable way to do business. FFM’s journey has all been about putting the client, our business partners and friends of FFM at the centre of everything we do. If we get one client and look after them and provide the best possible service, then more prospective clients will come to us.”
This philosophy has never wavered and everyone who joins FFM is trained, developed and nurtured to have the same essential core values.
“The early days were difficult as being so young in financial services is a challenge. Building a reputation and trust takes time as you are dealing with people’s lives and financial future.”
FFM moved to John Bradshaw court, opposite Gym ETC, in 2007 and the office was opened by the late Sir Mike Wilson CBE who co-founded St. James’s Place Wealth Management and was a close mentor of Andy’s.
“This was a hugely significant day for FFM as we knew we wanted to stay in Congleton but needed more space for the company to grow into, whilst also giving us the quality of infrastructure that mirrored the quality of service that we as business pride ourselves on.”
“The new offices really gave us some momentum and opportunities to grow. In 2008 in the height of the financial crisis, we launched the FFM ‘Summer Swing’.”
“I always wanted to run a golf day for my clients, friends and business partners. We believe in giving back and charity work runs through the foundations of FFM. The first event, held at Astbury Golf Course, hosted 64 golfers with 100 joining FFM for a black-tie Gala Dinner in the evening raising £13,600 for the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation.”
Andy and Charlotte Chatterton who founded the event saw the Swing get bigger and bigger each year. In year 2 it raised £19,000, year 3 £22,000 and the event continued to go from strength to strength with 2019 raising £172,000 taking the total raised to over £1m.
The 2019 event hosted over 120 golfers for the day and 380 guests enjoy the evening which was made up of clients, friends, sponsors and business partners.
The FFM Summer Swing has now become one of the leading events in the Cheshire calendar.
The whole team at FFM are incredibly proud that we have supported so many worthwhile causes in and around Cheshire over the last 12 years. In 2018 Congleton based charity, Friends for Leisure, received over £34,000, and last year we were able to support CAFT (Children’s adventure Farm Trust) based in Knutsford who benefitted from over £39,000 which was generously donated by guests on the evening.
With very close, longstanding links to the East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce based in Congleton, FFM were delighted to be recognised in 2010 as winners of the ‘Professional Services of the Year’ award and in 2016 won the coveted ‘Business of the Year’ award.
In 2018, FFM won the ‘Business and Education’ award having hosted the ‘Stock Market Challenge’ for local schools at Congleton Town Hall, along with the other outreach work conducted in schools through the likes of mentoring, assemblies and work experience.
2019 saw FFM recognised for the work we do for charity and the community as they took home the ‘Corporate and Social Responsibility’ Award along with ex head girl of Congleton High School, Chloe Tatton, who is Business Relations Coordinator at Franklyn who also winning ‘Apprentice of the Year’.
In the last few months, FFM now have 4 new offices in Alsager, Sandbach, Crewe and Newcastle Under Lyme which will be the home of Franklyn for Mortgages along with being able to offer financial advice at a location convenient to the local community of each area.
FFM are also a ‘Platinum Partner’ of Stoke City Football Club with many loyal Stoke fans sitting in the Franklyn Stand to cheer on the mighty potters. The relationship we have with SCFC is now 5/6 years strong, and is at the heart of our business, entertaining clients and friends of FFM at the games, providing financial education to the U23 squad, hosting exclusive joint client events at their amazing facilities in the Bet365 Stadium, even taking on SCFC in the Charity Franklyn Football Match where in our inaugural 2019 year raised £4K for The Donna Louise.
Andy commented “looking back over the history of FFM certainly makes me smile. The philosophy I set out for FFM all those years ago has certainly helped make FFM what it is today.
I made a commitment to my clients, their family and friends that FFM will continue to be around to look after them. We are building an intergenerational legacy business and have a real sense of community with everyone we work with. I have been particularly excited with many children of our clients starting their financial careers within FFM, which has certainly intensified the family feel of the company in recent years.”
This is why Congleton is so important to us as we continue on our journey…
All this started over 20 years ago, with humble beginnings in Moody Street, which is why Congleton is so important to us and will continue to be as we carry on our exciting journey…
Franklyn Financial Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.