Introduction
Our History
Back in 2001 we had a vision for a different type of financial services business. Barry and William, the founders of Paradigm Norton, having previously worked for firms of chartered accountants, observed that ‘the professional services model’, when delivered well, led to spectacular outcomes for clients.
They had no appetite whatsoever to just build ‘another IFA firm’. The name of the company was promptly decided – Paradigm.
The thinking behind the name was that we wanted to help clients see money from a different perspective – a Paradigm shift. The founding philosophy was based on the fact that ‘you can’t take your money with you’!
Over the last two decades, working with our amazingly talented team, we have helped over 1,300 families recognise that money is simply there to help achieve one’s broader life goals – and nothing more. Our clients have become huge supporters and advocates for our business and what we stand for and most new clients are introduced to us via our existing clients.
We have sought to build a business which stands out from the crowd and where the core purpose that we set out in 2001 remains central to all that the business stands for today. Some 25 years later, the firm has won over 25 awards, serves over 1,300 families, has three offices, has launched a graduate programme, has impacted the lives of many and has been entrusted to manage more than £1.5 billion in clients’ funds.
The firm has built a reputation for being an innovator and a leader of the profession. This was evidenced by our forward-thinking approach to business ownership when in March 2019 the firm became employee owned.
Our journey has not always been straight forward, however. Negotiating the vagaries of global stock markets during the 2008 global financial crisis was a pretty testing time for our team and our clients. We stuck by our values and our clients stuck with the investment programme that we had agreed with them. We made it through, and we came out stronger.
Then and now... the dawning of an idea
2000
William and Barry work on a business plan to create a new purpose led financial planning business. They called it ‘Paradigm’. Encouraging clients to think ‘Money’ from a different perspective.
2005
Paradigm Capital Management and Norton partners merged to become Paradigm Norton.
The annual offsite team day was initiated in June, now a focal point of the yearly team building schedule taking place every July.
William Pratt was appointed as a Director.
The next five years...
2006
The investment committee was established to develop our investment policies and strategies.
We also won the Citywire South West award for the first time.
2007
Paradigm House, our Bristol head office, was purchased and the team moved to their new home, just four miles South West of Bristol City Centre.
Also, the Paradigm Norton Client Board was established to guide the board with decisions on service, communications and development plans.
And finally, the Paradigm Norton Trust was formed.
2008
Barry Horner was elected to serve as President of the Institute of Financial Planning.
2009
We were awarded the Money Management Award for Best Investment Adviser. This is a recognition of the work achieved by the Investment Committee.
2010
We won the Money Management Award for Best Retirement Planner reflecting the great work of our Retirement Planning Committee.
A Devon office was established when we acquired David Jones Financial Planning.
2011 - 2015
2011
We acquired Anning & Co Chartered Accountants enhancing our ability to offer a personal tax service.
2013
Paradigm Norton rebranded to reflect the growing business and refresh the look of the firm.
Matt Fowler was appointed as a Director.
We gained Chartered Financial Planner status in June.
We also purchased Taunton-based Direction Financial Planning in October.
The Paradigm Norton Graduate Programme was launched
2014
Barry Horner was invited to join the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB).
Kevin Gregory was appointed as a non-executive director to the board.
2015
Peter Osborne joined the company as a commercial manager, transitioning his clients across to the team.
2016 - 2020
2017
In May, we appointed the 5th graduate to the graduate scheme.
We completed a values review consulting clients, the team, the Client Board and suppliers. The refresh was completed by the newly created Culture and Values Team.
In December, Paradigm Norton merged with the Red House to form our London office.
2018
Barry Horner became Chair of the Financial Planning Standard Board (FPSB).
2019
In March, Paradigm Norton became an Employee Owned business (EO).
Paradigm Norton becomes a ‘B Corp’. A ‘B’ OR Benefit Corporation is a business which prioritises (along with profit) People, Planet, Community, Clients and Governance.
We won the prestigious Citywire award for the 9th time.
2020
We create and share our first ‘Impact Report’ since becoming a B Corp, showing our progress against some clear and demanding goals and metrics that we had set ourselves.
We successfully navigate Covid 19 and multiple lockdowns. The business hunkers down and we move to home working. No team members were furloughed.
All team members up and running and working from home within a week of the announcements of ‘stay at home’. A massive credit goes to our business services team.
We were awarded the PFS Chartered Financial Planning Firm of the Year 2020.
The Board launched a Governance review, with a goal of ensuring that the business adheres to the best corporate governance practices. The business created a Risk Committee overseen by an independent chair.
2021 - 2025
2021
We launch two new investment portfolios for clients. PNr, our Responsible portfolio and PNi, our Intentional portfolio. Significant interest was immediately expressed by many clients in investing in both of these portfolios.
We merged with Devon and Richmond based Tower Hill Associates. Another great financial planning business.
We merged with Clover Wealth and opened our fourth office in Exeter.
Our Marketing Manager led the business through rebrand and the launch of a new website which better reflected the firms status as a B Corp and employee owned business.
We calculate our carbon footprint as a business, putting down a marker and a goal to see this reduced year-on-year over the coming decade.
2022
We join the Initiative for Financial Wellbeing (IFW) with client wellbeing a matter that we are passionate about, and which is central to our mission. Ruth Sturkey joins the IFW as ‘Vice Chair’.
We sign up to the Better Business Act Coalition which seeks to transform business so that every company in the UK takes ownership of it’s social and environmental impact.
2023
Based on the B Impact re-assessment, Paradigm Norton earned an overall score of 148. The median score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9. This places us in the top 15 firms in the UK.
Philippa Hann and Dave Kelly join the board as non-executive Directors.
2024
Kim Barnard joined as Head of Marketing and Jayne Phan as our new Finance Director.
Published our Impact Report – The Next Chapter.
A New Chapter
2025
Philippa Hann takes over from Barry Horner as CEO in April.
Recognised for our efforts in sustainability with three Sustainability Awards, including the Global Good Finance Awards and the Wealth for Good UK Awards.
The launch of Philippa’s ESG and sustainability podcast, Life Matters More.
Caroline Rainbird joins the board as a non-executive director.