As Oakglen Wealth continues to grow as a business, we remain committed to celebrating every member of our team — both new and established. Today, we’re delighted to introduce Jody Hollingsworth, who has joined our UK Wealth Team as a Placement Intern through the Oakglen Wealth Internship Initiative. In this interview, Jody offers insight into his personal interests, hobbies, and the motivations that inspire him both professionally and personally.
Thanks for joining us today Jody and a warm welcome to Oakglen Wealth. We would love to find out a bit more about you and introduce you to our ever-growing network of clients, financial advisers and professional connections.
How has your first month at Oakglen Wealth been?
My first month has been really good thanks; I am settling in well. The office atmosphere is professional yet social, as everybody is extremely friendly. In terms of working within the team, everyone is both helpful and supportive. If I ever have a query or need some help on something as I’m not quite familiar yet, I know I can ask anyone on the team for support. Sometimes when a task has been set, which can potentially be obscure in nature and I may currently lack the complete knowledge set, the team are always there to help guide you. It has also been great working closely with some of the investment managers, who have been setting me a variety of tasks, which are both enjoyable and challenging. Some tasks can be quite testing since it is my first time doing them, such as undertaking equity research, however as I’m learning, I am able to apply the knowledge and repeat the process confidently.
What inspired you to select Oakglen Wealth for your internship?
Joining Oakglen Wealth for my internship was really appealing since my connection George Beaumont had previously been a part of the initiative. George spent his placement year with Oakglen in 2023 and spoke so highly of the company, from the people to the overall experience and general wealth management exposure. Although you don’t know what it will be like for you, his recommendation really resonated with me. Already in the first month, I can see that everyone is friendly and helpful, and I have formed some strong connections with people. Also having access to colleagues like the Chief Investment Officer, Jeff Brummette, and Investment Director, Nick Davis, who have given me some great exposure to their decades of experience and vast knowledge.
What was the selection process like?
It was straight forward and followed a good process, with two well formatted interviews. First with Chief Operating Officer, Nick Middleton and Investment Manager, Eloise Rouse, followed by an interview with the UK Managing Director himself, Dominic Tayler. Dominic threw out some challenging questions during our discussion which really got me thinking. This is what excites me about joining Oakglen. I had previously put together an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) project brief around two and a half years ago on some of the themes we discussed, so after the interview I was inspired to go back over it.
How has it been getting to know your new colleagues so far?
Yeh, really good – Nick Middleton is my closest connection, through which I can filter any queries or raise issues first and foremost. I was recently contacted by someone from the Internship Placement Team to check how things were going, and I reported back that the team have all been really welcoming on both a personal and professional basis.
What are your goals and aspirations for the upcoming year?
In terms of soft skills, I hope that by speaking to clients more frequently, I will build up my confidence. I have been added to the team’s caller matrix and will be able to build my personal skills through the various daily interactions that come through.
During my first week, I was fortunate enough to attend the London Concours 2025 automotive event with some of the team, as we were luxury sponsors, although I was quite shy to approach anyone to speak confidently about the company at that point. I intend to grow that confidence over the year.
In terms of work, I would like more exposure to the equity research side and continue to expand my knowledge, which will involve speaking directly to Jeff Brummette and the wider investment team, gaining insights along the way. I will also aim to enjoy my time with the business, getting to know everyone on non-work basis.
That sounds great. Do you have a mentor or anyone to report into?
I report into Nick Middleton for the most part, who is a very supportive and encouraging mentor. We regularly meet to discuss my progression and areas of interest, as well as potential opportunities to develop my skillset. I will also be working closely with different colleagues across the business, who I’m positive will help steer me in the right direction.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
This is a very broad question, but I will hopefully be working in an asset management company, probably more on the buy side, at a firm where everyone is welcoming and friendly like Oakglen Wealth. I have seen many connections become buried in work without any human interaction or even support, which is not sustainable for more than 3 years, so it must be a good balance.
Are you undertaking anything additional in terms of your professional development?
I was contemplating taking the IMC qualification; however, I didn’t want to over commit myself to the study of an official qualification. This would cause a great deal of extra work when I would rather focus on the actual tasks and theory in my current role at Oakglen. This is a great opportunity to actually ‘do’ things, not just learn the theory. There will also be plenty more time later to undertake further studies. The best opportunity for my progression is to undertake these more practical tasks at hand. I also have access to extra programmes and smaller qualifications which have a great deal more flexibility.
Why did you choose the subject you have selected to study?
I took Economics, Business and PE as they tap into my interests. Economics especially as I am interested in watching how political events and monetary policy implementation have a tangible effect on the global markets. At school, you often just learn the theory side which can become quite boring, however with Economics you get to see the practical application in markets, such as market trends and sentiment. It is interesting to see what drives business and that is what lead me to studying finance at university.
How would your past colleagues and fellow students describe you?
I think they would say I am sociable, outgoing, friendly and open. They would also probably call me persistent, in terms of keeping up with workload and trying my best to gain the best qualifications, whilst still having a social life too.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work and study? Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.
I play a lot of hockey in my spare time. I played field hockey at school and played for my club’s first team. I also like to watch football at the weekend and support Aston Villa, which is quite unique in the office (I seem to be the only person!). I also play cricket too as a former Warwick district level player, having been encouraged by my brothers who also like playing the sport. I’ve played a lot of sports in my time, cricket, rugby, football, hockey, and more recently golf. I worked at a restaurant complex situated on a golf course in the past and thanks to free membership, I caught the golf bug. I even applied to another chain to work in their golf shop, where I enjoyed playing golf throughout the summer after work.
What type of books and movies do you enjoy most?
Reading wise, I am currently reading ‘The Intelligent Investor’ by Benjamin Graham and Stan Weinstein’s ‘Secrets for Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets’.
Movies wise, I like comedies or full-on action films. I’m also closely following the search for the next James Bond.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
This would have to be my mum and my brother, who are both such an inspiration to me.
My mum mainly because she is a foster carer and the commitment she has for this vital service is truly inspiring. She is full of selfless acts, especially for giving up work after she had me and my two brothers, to take care of us. She gave up on a career to dedicate her time to us, as well as branch out further into foster care. As we have all gotten older, we can see what she is facing daily, and it is especially sad to see any child leave and move on after being fostered. Her resilience to continue to foster and provide these children with a stable home, to give them a positive childhood and a decent start, is nothing short of amazing. For the last 3 years, we have provided a longer-term placement for two new siblings (brother and sister), continuing to provide care for others.
My brother has himself faced many obstacles, predominantly with his eyesight, and yet he never complains. He just gets on with things and is also so resilient, especially with how he overcomes obstacles, without any excuses. It makes me reflect on how fortunate I am and continuously re-evaluate my own life, especially with not facing these issues.
Do you have any creative outlets or interests?
I don’t really…I made some IKEA furniture up once, does that count? I am more into physical activities like sports. Maybe this is a sign to start up something…
What are some of your favourite spots in London to visit?
Since I’m not originally from London, I can count on one hand how many times I have previously visited before starting at Oakglen. I have only really been to the usual tourist spots, such as the Shard and Buckingham Palace, however I’m sure that will all change over the course of this next year.
Finally, what is your favourite food?
Greek food is my absolute favourite. I recently moved to London and my first port of call was locating my new local Greek restaurant, where I sampled their skepasti, which is like a modern take on the traditional Greek souvlaki wrap. I also love gyros and halloumi as well.
Thanks again for sparing us your time today Jody and we wish you all the best in your role at Oakglen Wealth.
We hope you enjoyed this quick-fire interview and gained some insights into the new member of our investment team. You can read similar content for our more established team members below:
Under the Spotlight: Tara Le Feuvre – Assistant Investment Manager (Jersey)