60 second-interview with Angus Houston

STEP is profiling Angus this week

Article taken from STEP’s website, Friday 5th August 2016, http://www.step.org/interviews/60-second-interview-angus-houston

What does your firm do?

Pavilion Row is a firm of TEPs that specialises in wills, powers of attorney and estate administration and provides a private client department for our professional introducers.

What has STEP done for you, individually, or as a business?

Individually STEP has provided me with the knowledge to do my job and keep abreast of ongoing changes. As a business it is gives us creditability as specialists in our field, and as an accredited Employer Partner, STEP is helping us shape our learning and development internally.

What is the most important thing STEP does, in your opinion?

It is a benchmark of experience and knowledge in a fragmented and unregulated marketplace.

What do you most like about your job?

Working with clients who sometimes have quite personal and difficult family circumstances and helping them to find a way to plan an outcome they want.

.. and what do you feel is most worthwhile?

Being a point of contact and providing experienced, practical and knowledgeable advice.

What would you say to a young person thinking of a career in this industry?

It is a great opportunity that can be highly satisfying, but if you want a successful career in this area, follow the STEP qualifications, so that you are an elite advisor.

Where do you see future growth, both in terms of sectors and jurisdictions?

I see a growth in specialist firms with specialist knowledge.

What do you feel are the main challenges facing your organisation/practitioners at the moment, and how will you deal with them?

The wealth of freely available information, predominately on the internet, often means that it is a challenge to get clients to understand the value of qualified and experienced advice. I find the best way to deal with this, is to ask relevant questions which help the client think beyond what they might believe are simple requirements

Which social media channels do you use and why?

Linked In is a great way to network with professional peers. As a firm we dabble in other social media, but we do believe that the true way to form long term established relationships is by talking to people.

Angus Houston TEP is the managing director of Pavilion Row Ltd, a STEP Employer Partner, providing private client services across England and Wales. He completed his STEP Diploma in 2008 and is currently Chair of STEP Yorkshire.