QED’s owner and principal adviser is Darren Baker
I’ve worked in the financial sector for over 30 years. Prior to becoming a director of a top 100 accountancy and financial services business, I was employed by a major bank. In 1997, I set up my own firm.
My passion is helping people realise their retirement lifestyle goals. I achieve that by developing a structured and bespoke financial plan and by following an effective and tried-and-tested investment management strategy.
I’m proud to be one of an elite group of advisers who hold both Chartered Financial Planner (Fellow) and Certified Financial Planner qualifications. I’m also a Chartered Wealth Manager and have other investment, pension, taxation, financial planning, legal and trust qualifications. Those credentials, combined with my experience, allow me to take the broadest possible view of my clients’ affairs, rather than providing restricted or piecemeal advice.
I am Chair of Evidence Based Investment Solutions (www.ebisgroup.org) — an academic investment and study group comprising independent Financial Planning businesses from across the UK. I’ve written a book for top class athletes (Your Financial Coach), which was nominated for the British Sports Book Awards 2014 and 2015.
My values and goals in life are pretty simple: “It is the quality of our relationships that determines happiness; you are only letting yourself down by not doing something that would enrich your life, and everything is sweeter when you have a sense of achievement”.
Family is very important to me, as is getting the most out of life. I am married and have three great kids. My family and I are lucky enough to live in a smallholding at the bottom of the Mendip Hills, along with an assortment of pets and an abundance of wildlife.
Whilst generally a happy, go-lucky chap, my family and friends may point out, if pushed, that there are a few things that get me going. A few examples, from a long list, include insincerity, pessimists, the ‘herd mentality’, not answering the question, a poorly packed dishwasher, and most TV ads.
I was extremely worried about choosing an investment adviser, but having learnt more about QED’s service and having spoken to several existing clients, I felt confident QED were the right people for me.
We chose Darren specifically because…we preferred his approach of minimising the internal “tax” of high management costs. He has paid us ample attention…His explanations are clear, at the right level of detail, and he has inspired confidence. He has managed to avoid swamping us with unnecessary paperwork and we have a straightforward view of our investments which we can call up on the web whenever we want, all in one place. I have no hesitation in recommending Darren.
Our family has dealt with Darren for over 20 years, he has become a valued and trusted advisor. He offers strong and sound advice and explains everything in layman’s terms. Family businesses and investments are always delicate and can become quite emotive and controversial. Darren navigates his way through these discussions and listens to everyone’s concerns before offering sound solutions. He always follows through everything and does what he promises.
Darren listens really well and takes the time to understand personal goals. His assessment of his clients attitude to risk is the best I have come across from an advisor and very thorough.
When my wife and I needed proper professional advice we looked at other IFAs and realised that…Darren was so far ahead of them in terms of research, seriousness, management backup and probity.
What Darren provides is a focus on a balanced portfolio, tuned to a level of risk tailored to your circumstances and objectives with investment funds that are not like vampires that drain away the value of your portfolio with high fees.