Paul Etheridge
Paul is Chairman of The Prestwood Group of Companies and a Director of Prestwood Etheridge & Russell Ltd - a pioneer of fee-based comprehensive financial planning. The principal company in the Group now is Prestwood Software Ltd, the developer of lifestyle linked financial planning software with lifelong cash flow forecasts.
He is a Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and still advises about a hundred affluent clients on financial planning and investment matters.
Background
Paul has been in financial services for over 50 years. His early experience included the Stock Exchange section of Royal Insurance Co’s Head Office Investment Department and being Managing Director of one of Towry Law’s companies, responsible for new business development in the Midlands and South Wales, before setting up the Prestwood companies in 1975.
He was the Founder President of the Institute of Financial Planning and a member of its Board of Directors for 20 years. He was also an external examiner for the University of The West of England financial services degree. Paul has also been a member of the PIA Rules Committee and Small Business Practitioners Panel; FIMBRA’s Disciplinary Panel and the Ethics Committee of the Life Insurance Association.
Particular areas of interest on the Panel
Paul is a passionate believer in the benefits to clients of comprehensive financial planning and in structured business models that ensure clients are treated fairly.
He sees the Panel having an important role in keeping the FSA aware of the challenges faced by small firms and feels it is inappropriate for small firms to have to bear high costs arising out of the shortcomings of large organisations.
