Pictured above: David Ryley of Ryley Wealth Management 

A Nottingham-based wealth manager is bucking the downturn after posting record results in 2010. Ryley Wealth Management, which trades under the St. James's Place brand, saw a huge 54 per cent rise in turnover in 2010, as its distinctive face-to-face strategy paid dividends.

This is the third consecutive year that the business has enjoyed such an increase in turnover. 

David Ryley, who owns the company, says the sustained success can be attributed to its excellent relationship with its clients, with it enjoying a yearly average client retention rate of 97 per cent.

He said: "It can often be overlooked as it is so simple, but our performance over the last year is down to the fact that we have serviced our clients well. We always place great emphasis on face to face advice. However, perhaps the most important aspect in this current economic climate, is being accessible to clients if they need to talk.

"We also try to offer extra services above and beyond the norm. Using our extensive contacts network, we can help our clients by introducing them to other professionals that may be able to help them, such as the very best accountants. We also try to generate business for our clients, via introductions to the company's other clients."

To cope with this extraordinary growth in demand for its services, Ryley Wealth Management is set to expand still further.

David adds: "We are taking on more advisers to cope with new business referrals, which are increasing year on year. They will also work with a financial services initiative that we have been running with the Daily Telegraph, following the awards St. James's Place won via the readership of The Daily Telegraph, in 2007, 2008 and 2010 for Best Wealth Manager of the Year."

Additionally David has invested in his teams' development, with all advisers being qualified to Diploma level already, a minimum requirement, which will come into place in the industry next year. His team is also already working on progressing to Chartered level next year. 

David was one of the youngest Partners to join St. James's Place, with Ryley Wealth Management, which is based on Castle Boulevard in Nottingham. He now heads up a team of three full-time and two part-time staff. 

"We have grown significantly, where many in our industry both locally and nationally are having a difficult time," says David. 

"We saw that the recession meant that we would have to up our game - not cut back, especially on service levels."

Ryley Wealth Management was formed in 1999 and offers both corporate wealth management and private wealth management services. Its clients include SMEs right up to large multinational businesses, in addition to private client individuals.

These excellent financial results follow the announcement of RWM's Adam Langham as 'Young Achiever of the Year' by the city's Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).