Former manager at JP Morgan and Schroders initiates exclusive consulting firm

Loosened Reins: A Fresh Approach in Advisory Services

Looks like there's a new kid on the block, and it's none other than Steppingstone, a swanky advisory firm which has just kicked off, helmed by none other than William Meadon, a bloke who's got some serious chops under his belt, having been a fund manager at heavyweight firms like J.P. Morgan and Schroders.

Meadon, who put in a decade managing the J.P. Morgan Claverhouse investment trust from 2012 to 2024, ain't afraid to shake things up. With Steppingstone, his aim is clear—to take on the big dogs and give smaller businesses in the UK a one-stop-shop for all their professional needs.

As Mike Tyson might say, "Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth." But according to Meadon, Steppingstone has come out swinging, meeting two unmet needs. Firstly, it's all about convenience—offering flexible access to a roster of affordable expert advisors, including legal eagles, number crunchers, fundraisers, and branding gurus—the works!

Secondly, Meadon reckons professionals in consultancy land are itching for a break from the nine-to-five grind. They want to keep killin' it in their field of expertise without being tethered to corporate shenanigans.

Meadon started his career like many others, slogging it out at KPMG as an auditor, before moving on to Schroders and Newton Investment Management. At J.P. Morgan, he led the core equity team, overseeing a whopping £7bn in global, European, and UK-focused funds.

In his time managing the J.P. Morgan Claverhouse trust, Meadon delivered impressive returns totaling 167%, or 8.3% annually, which dwarfed the 128% rise or 6.9% annual return of the FTSE All-Share index. Other trusts under his management included J.P. Morgan Mid Cap, J.P. Morgan Income and Growth, and J.P. Morgan Income and Capital.

Andrew Ballheimer, former global managing partner at Allen & Overy, chimed in, "SMEs are the lifeblood of a growing economy, but they often lack the support network to reach their full potential. Steppingstone's mission is to provide that much-needed support."

All told, Steppingstone is an exciting new entrant in the advisory services sphere, offering tailored financial advice geared towards UK private companies. With Meadon's extensive investment management background, it's reasonable to assume that Steppingstone will focus on crafting bespoke investment strategies, asset management, and financial consulting for its clients. The firm aspires to disrupt the traditional models of larger investment firms by providing more agile, flexible, and adaptable solutions. However, Steppingstone's specific service offerings and client targets go beyond simply challenging larger firms' models are yet to be fully disclosed.

Steppingstone, a new advisory firm founded by William Meadon, aims to provide a one-stop-shop for professional needs for smaller businesses in the UK, including expert advisors in finance, law, fundraising, and branding.
In his time managing the J.P. Morgan Claverhouse investment trust from 2012 to 2024, William Meadon delivered impressive returns, exceeding the FTSE All-Share index, suggesting that Steppingstone may focus on crafting bespoke investment strategies and asset management.
According to Andrew Ballheimer, former global managing partner at Allen & Overy, Steppingstone's mission is timely and crucial, as SMEs are the lifeblood of a growing economy, but they often lack the support network to reach their full potential.
In addition to its focus on financial advice, Steppingstone also aims to offer flexible, affordable access to expert advisors who are looking to break free from corporate shenanigans and continue thriving in their fields of expertise.