In the spotlight - Equiom's private wealth team

Marie McNeela is managing director at Equiom Guernsey and Vicky Stables is head of private client and family office, Jersey.

As managing director of Equiom Guernsey Ms McNeela is responsible for the overall operation and performance of Equiom in Guernsey, ensuring that the business aligns with the group strategy and remains fully compliant with regulatory and statutory requirements. 

With over 25 years of experience in financial services, including roles as a committee member of the Guernsey Association of Trustees and a non-executive director at Guernsey Finance, she has worked in wealth management, financial structuring, and trust services. 

She also has experience in fiduciary, corporate, and funds businesses, working with high net worth individuals and corporate clients across varying industries and jurisdictions.

Ms Stables oversees a range of assets for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients.

With experience across the financial services industry spanning over 25 years, she has experience in the management and oversight of a range of wealth structuring vehicles, for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients across the globe, especially in Asia and the Middle East. 

Additionally Ms Stable's experience includes board appointments, directorships in managed entities, and roles in risk and compliance committees.

Why are family office services so important to the industry?

Equiom has enjoyed over four decades in the private client sector and, enjoying longstanding relationships, we have experienced a varied evolution of our clients’ structures and family dynamics. Across many jurisdictions, we have witnessed the dramatic change in the landscape and have grown with our clients to become ever-more sophisticated in our offerings, whilst maintaining our core values that form the cornerstone of client relationships. Our client base has grown from the traditional UK-centric stand-alone trusts market and today we see enquiries that reflect the modern phenomenon of multi-jurisdictional and generational families with varying needs that require similarly sophisticated structuring solutions. Family Office services allow us to support our clients at an even deeper level, acting as the go to trusted adviser for all their needs. Equiom develops and broadens relationships across all generations of family office relationships, allowing us to be proactive in supporting sometimes diverse needs across families, from ESG and Philanthropy to luxury assets and global family businesses.

What most excites you about family office services at the moment?

Equiom celebrates the strength and diversity of experience in our private client teams across the leading international finance centres, allowing us to operate as a truly global business. The collective depth of knowledge in managing complex family wealth structures means that our team have had exposure to multifaceted structures across multiple asset classes and that we can offer proven services that are truly bespoke. We value the strength of relationships enjoyed by our clients, who know at all times they have a trusted and dedicated partner, aligned to their success in business. We are also proud to support the development of the exceptional new talent within Equiom to provide our clients with a holistic blend of experience of innovation to perfectly mirror this dynamic environment. The bespoke nature of family office services means that no family office structure is the same and as the industry continues to evolve, Equiom is excited to be part of that journey, supporting our family office clients to meet their ever evolving needs.

What are your favourite ways to relax/switch off from work?

Ms Stables: Time with my family and relaxing spa days

Ms McNeela: Dinner with friends, reading, and ski holidays / time in mountains

Do you have a pet(s)? What are they like?

Ms Stables: A cockerpoo called Nutty

Ms McNeela: A cavapoo called Cooper

If you couldn’t do your current role what would your dream job be?

Ms Stables: My dream job would be a personal shopper. I love nothing more than shopping and it’s even better when it’s with someone else’s money!

What was your student job?

Ms McNeela: Tesco bakery, mainly putting jam in the ‘jam’ doughnuts!

This article was first published on EPrivateClient.

This article has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in general terms and should be seen as broad guidance only. This article cannot be relied upon to cover specific situations, and you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained within this article without obtaining specific professional advice. Please contact Equiom to discuss these matters in the context of your particular circumstance. Equiom Group, its partners, employees, and agents do not accept or assume any liability or duty of care for any loss arising from any action taken or not taken by anyone in reliance on the information in this article or for any decision based on it.