Financial advice, transformed
Watford-born Shaun didn't take the traditional route into financial services. As a boy, he'd loved aeroplanes, and joined the RAF from school. But, after 10 years in air traffic control, he settled in Yorkshire and married a girl from Leeds. Inspired by a good friend who was himself a successful IFA, Shaun decided a move into this industry would be a good option; his time in the forces had given him a valuable set of life skills which suited financial services. Selected to join Norwich Union's graduate sales consultancy training programme, promotion to Broker Sales Consultant followed, based in Leeds, which was emerging in the late 1980s as a growing, vibrant city.
By 1991, he'd been headhunted to Pearson Jones, then a small IFA firm with an excellent and growing reputation. Over the course of the next 18 years, during a period of significant growth, Shaun rose through the ranks to become a main board director. He relished his five-year term on the board, an exciting period of development and expansion. As one of the UK's leading IFA wealth management businesses the company was acquired by Skipton Building Society. However, with many of Shaun's original mentors nearing full retirement, he felt it was time for a new chapter and fresh challenge in his working life.
Shaun already knew of Robertson Baxter and accepted the invitation to form a joint venture with them as a partner in 2009. RB McLaughlin Financial Services was born. Shaun is using his 20 years' IFA experience and knowledge to look after his existing clients and develop new opportunities.
A competitive individual by nature, Shaun is a keen golfer and cyclist, thinking nothing of jumping on his bike for a 50km spin after a hard day. While his personal motivation is evident in everything he does, Shaun readily admits that he owes his every success to his family; his wife of 25 years and his three teenage sons providing the support, encouragement and inspiration that help to drive him on.