Client Testimonials

David Yeend

David Yeend began his career in computing more than three decades ago and has seen at first hand the dramatic shift from the days when computers were still something of a novelty to a time when no business or home is complete without one.

But although he enjoyed his work – which included 22 years at the Greater London Council and latterly as a systems programmer and IT consultant with Capgemini, a multi-national specialist in consulting, technology and outsourcing – when he was offered an attractive redundancy package in 2004, he was happy to take the opportunity.

David, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, was introduced to Birchwood Investment Management through Penna Consulting, the outplacement company brought in by Capgemini to help people in David’s position prepare for a new way of life.

Birchwood’s Trevor Simms ran a finance workshop which David describes as “very interesting”. He says: “It covered the kind of things I needed to take into account in working out the best way to invest my money to make up a useful return.”

David subsequently met Trevor to discuss in more detail his options for his redundancy package and his GLC and Capgemini pensions. As a result Birchwood, put together a portfolio of products and David has since consulted them on other issues.

For example, when David celebrated his 60th birthday in 2007 he was offered the option of taking a lump sum with a reduced pension: he chose to take the lump sum, using it to fund further investments through Birchwood.

David likes the way Birchwood keep in regular contact, with quarterly reports on his portfolio. As a computer expert, he’s also comfortable with logging on to the secure client area of the Birchwood website to “to keep an eye on how things are ticking over”.

He also appreciates the straightforward language of Birchwood’s material. He says: “I like that it is easy to understand and the regular contact. They keep you in the loop with emails and newsletters and it’s easy to pick up the phone – I’ve thrown a couple of questions at them and the response has been very good.”