AJ Bell has appointed Rachel Vahey as policy development head to help advisers navigate the “huge volume” of regulatory changes which show “no sign” of slowing down.
Vahey, who spent stints at Nucleus and Aegon before joining AJ Bell back in 2019 as a senior technical consultant, has taken on the new role today (January 19).
She takes over from AJ Bell’s previous head of policy, Gareth James, who joined the investment platform back in 1997 and will remain at the company in a new role.
James was the first to head up policy at AJ Bell, taking on the role back in November 2020. According to his profile on AJ Bell’s website, he is currently ‘head of technical resources’.
Vahey will now manage AJ Bell’s public policy strategy, breaking down to advisers the changes put in place by the UK government and the Financial Conduct Authority around pensions, investments, taxation and investment platforms.
This will also see Vahey coordinate with industry bodies and policy groups, working closely with AJ Bell’s retirement policy head Tom Selby to help financial advisers understand how these new legislations and regulatory developments affect them and their clients.
The firm said she will also continue her work as an industry commentator and author.
“We’ve seen a huge volume of regulatory change coming out of the FCA and other government departments in recent months and there is no sign of this slowing,” said Vahey.
“Many of these changes have a significant and direct impact on financial advisers and their customers and I’m looking forward to helping them understand the implications of any changes and lobbying for positive and deliverable outcomes which help people invest.”
Charlie Musson, AJ Bell’s brand and PR director, said her knowledge and experience made her “ideally placed” to coordinate the investment platform’s policy work and shape better outcomes for customers, advisers and product providers.
ruby.hinchliffe@ft.com
