• Three new appointments to support Stockport firm's continued growth
• Added £50 million in new funds under management in 2017, bringing total to more than £350 million
• Now seeking another financial planner to join existing team

A fast-growing Greater Manchester firm of Chartered Financial Planners has made three new hires. These appointments will further strengthen the support team at Hazel Grove, Stockport-based Prest Financial Planning, which manages assets of more than £350 million on behalf of its clients.

Prest, which last year enjoyed a record 12 months in terms of new funds under management, has recruited Emma Hilton, Shelby Gillespie and Beth Torkington to its financial planning support team. They join an existing 12-strong financial planning support, administration and paraplanning department, bringing the firm's total headcount to 22.

All three new recruits have significant financial services experience, gained in a variety of settings.

Emma Hilton has 20 years' experience working in support roles in financial advice firms, in roles that encompassed both administration and paraplanning. Shelby Gillespie, meanwhile, spent the eight years prior to joining Prest working for a building society, during which time she gained not only broad financial services experience but also highly developed customer care skills.

Beth Torkington has more than five years' experience working in both administration and customer-facing roles at financial advice and discretionary investment management firms. Prior to that she worked in the publishing industry, so she also brings a valuable alternative perspective to her role.

Lisa Livesey, Financial Planning Administration Team Manager at Prest Financial Planning, said, "Prest has had a really successful few years in terms of new business, and we added £50 million in new funds under management last year alone. This has naturally put pressure on our support team so I am really pleased to welcome Emma, Shelby and Beth on board.

"All three have really valuable skills and experience to bring to the table and will be real assets to us. I know they were all attracted by Prest's family ethos and our focus on career and skills development, and I look forward to working with them to continue to provide clients with the very highest standards of service over the years to come."

As well as the recent additions to its support team, the firm is also aiming to appoint another highly qualified financial planner in the near future. Graham Prest, Chief Executive, said, "We are looking for someone who is either already a Chartered Financial Planner or well on the way to attaining Chartered status.

"They also need to be committed to the principles of true, long-term financial planning and to want to join a firm that combines the highest standards of professionalism with a close-knit family culture. If that sounds like you then please get in contact with us."

Prest Financial Planning has been established for more than half a century and provides comprehensive, lifelong independent financial advice to a growing, loyal clientele of individuals and families, predominantly in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and the surrounding area. Specialist areas include retirement planning, pension transfers, estate and inheritance tax planning, long-term care funding and ethical investments.

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Notes to editors

About Prest Financial Planning

Prest Financial Planning is a firm of Chartered Financial Planners. It implements comprehensive financial plans and investment strategies that enable clients and their families to meet their lifetime goals and objectives. It has been based in Hazel Grove, near Stockport in Greater Manchester, for more than half a century and serves a loyal client base of business owners, professionals and retired high net worth individuals based mainly in South Manchester and Cheshire.

The firm has particular expertise in transfers from defined benefit (final salary) pension schemes, with highly qualified specialists who provide independent, authoritative advice on the suitability of exchanging a guaranteed lifetime income for a lump sum that could benefit from the recently introduced "pension freedoms" legislation. In cases where transfers are found to be suitable, Prest implements lifelong investment strategies and provides generational wealth planning advice to ensure transferring remains the appropriate choice.

Another specialist area is socially responsible investment. The firm has a long track record of advising clients on green and ethical options that can generate the investment performance they desire without compromising their socially responsible values.

Prest also provides expert, highly qualified advice on the funding of long-term care.

Prest Financial Planning was established in 1961 by James Prest, the father of its current Chief Executive Graham Prest. After more than five decades Prest retains a strong family ethos that defines all of its relationships with staff, clients and business partners.