Have you ever wanted to know more about the story behind Westcotes Wills and why Rosie started the business? If you have, you’re in luck. In many ways, the story of Westcotes Wills started long before Rosie started the business. Here’s your introduction to the woman behind the scenes and her story so far.
Studying law
Rosie studied law at university and worked for a legal firm to get some experience. After a law degree, the next step to becoming a solicitor is to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC). However, Rosie wasn’t 100% certain this was the right path for her, so she started looking for work instead.
She started working as a temp with Friends Provident, a life company. Management liked her and encouraged her to take financial planning and advanced exams to move into a financial planning role.
Financial planning
Rosie is originally from London and moved back there after studying and working in Manchester for a few years. She got a job working with financial advisers while studying to become a Chartered Financial Planner. She still has that qualification, even though she doesn’t practice as a financial planner anymore.
She worked for different companies, including an accountancy practice with a financial services arm, a private bank in the city, and a firm offering international advisory services as part of the paraplanning team.
Going back to legal work
Rosie moved to Leicester with her husband and joined a small financial advisory firm. Many clients needed wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney as part of their planning. They found it was really expensive to use lawyers, so Rosie trained as a will writer. She worked on a 50/50 basis with her boss, doing wills and LPAs as well as providing financial advice.
Life-changing moments
There came a point when work was hectic, and Rosie felt she lacked general behind-the-scenes support from her employers to do her job, even though they were supportive in other ways. Her children were small, and she wanted more flexibility.
Within six weeks, Rosie’s dad had a stroke, two of her friends and a cousin died, as well as one of her husband’s friends. She was getting stressed and reached the point where something had to give.
The start of Westcotes Wills
In late 2018, Rosie resigned from her job. She took three months off to recover from a very stressful period in her life and enjoyed spending time with her children. Her youngest had 30 hours a week at nursery, and her eldest had started school, so she could balance family time and time to herself.
She started Westcotes Wills when she felt fully recovered in Easter 2019. She was glad she didn’t have to work during lockdown. As her business was in its early stages, she could focus on her family and the challenges that lockdown brought.
How have things changed?
Since starting Westcotes Wills, Rosie has embraced the power of networking to build professional relationships and receive referrals. Networking isn’t just about business. Rosie works at home and doesn’t have an office, so chatting things through with other business owners is equally important. When Colin from Premier Wills decided to wind up his business and retire, it also led to her taking on many of his clients.
When she started the business, Rosie knew that everyone needs a Will. Over time, she’s learned to appreciate the importance of having the right documents in place before you need them. She’s been to see clients who have left it too late to create a Lasting Power of Attorney or are on their deathbed when they make their Will. They’re often really poorly and distressed, and it’s upsetting for their family, too. Writing a Will can involve some difficult conversations, and it’s much harder when someone has health issues and is struggling.
The future
Today, Rosie still has flexibility with kids, and the business is expanding. Her experience is different from other will writers. Her financial services background means she can help clients to plan. She’s had exposure to various types of planning and clients, including high-net-worth individuals, and understands how everything fits into will planning from her accountancy and financial planner roles.
Writing a Will isn’t as straightforward as people think, especially if you own a business. Rosie appreciates how important it is for business owners to have their documents in place and how she can help. She’s looking forward to working with more business clients in the future
If you want to write your will or create a Lasting Power of Attorney, we can help. Get in touch using the form below or call us on 0116 380 0752.