Belgrave's Financial Specialists

Michael Smith, Managing Director

Michael is the driving force behind Belgrave Asset Management. He founded the company in 1997 after feeling frustrated at the lack of independent financial advice firms that believed in offering advice to clients, particularly those in niche market areas, rather than just selling them products. He established from the beginning, a core set of principles that dictate how we at Belgrave operate today. These include his commitment to high levels of service, a thirst for knowledge and an attention to detail.

Michael's understanding of the investment market is both broad and deep. He takes great pride in ensuring he is always up to date with any economic and market developments, as well as changes in the law. His areas of specialism include private client investment advice, personal and corporate pension arrangements and specialist advice for charities and trusts.

In addition to keeping his knowledge at the forefront of the industry, Michael has been proactive in building a team of experts around him, all of whom excel in their own fields.

Prior to Belgrave, Michael has worked in several areas of the financial services sector. His exhaustive CV includes a position as Sales Director for a national stockbroker and a wealth of experience as an independent financial adviser. Michael graduated from Essex University in 1985 with an honours degree in Economics and Politics.

Philippa Mainstone, Investment Director

As our Investment Director, Philippa is responsible for overseeing all investment research at the company. She also acts as quality control, ensuring that all of our processes, which taken together comprise the backbone of our client advice, are the very best that they can be. Philippa's expertise lie in her wide ranging and in-depth understanding of investment, built on her solid experience in both discretionary and advisory portfolio management. Together with her team, she provides investment advice to high net worth clients, including Trustees on pension funds, charities and family trusts.

Philippa graduated from De Montford University in 1989 with a BA Honours in Economics and, since then, has developed her career within the financial services sector in the South West of England. Having met Michael whilst working with him at a previous company, she subsequently joined Belgrave in 2000. Philippa holds the Investment Advice Certificate and Investment Management Certificate.

Gemma Watson, Pensions Director

As Pensions Director, Gemma is responsible for overseeing and coordinating strategic pension advice for both corporate and private pension schemes. Her outstanding strategic vision is built on her detailed knowledge of every aspect of the pensions sector. This includes SIPPs and SASSs, transfers, sharing orders, company pension scheme establishments and retirement options.

Gemma graduated from university with a BA Honours degree in Business Studies. Since graduating, she has worked in the financial services industry in various roles within the pensions sector, and has recently been made a Director of Belgrave.

Her wide ranging experience in the pensions sector, combined with her specialist qualifications in pension design and administration and her work towards achieving the full Financial Diploma, enable her to tackle the most complex technical challenges with confidence and skill.

David Mayne, Independent Financial Adviser

David is a fully qualified independent financial adviser and highly experienced in key financial areas. His approach to financial planning finds innovative solutions helping his clients to maximise their wealth and achieve financial independence. His expertise within the mortgage and re-mortgage market and his targeted focus, enables our clients to act quickly and pragmatically when an opportunity arises.

Having studied building services at college, David decided that he wanted to work in the property market and found his niche when working as a consultant at Friends Provident. He subsequently worked for Countrywide Assured Group and City Financial Planning in Bath as an independent financial consultant prior to joining Belgrave in 2004. His expertise in this area provides a valuable resource for Belgrave and has had a major impact on the financial position of many private clients.