Devesh Ambasna, Founder and Principal Partner
Devesh started his financial services career as a graduate recruit with Hambro Life in 1981, recognised at the time for their outstanding business training. With support from clients, he went on to develop his own practice, and has never looked back. Throughout his career, he has garnered significant experience of helping clients with building, preserving, protecting and distributing their wealth. Itās what he loves to do, and this is apparent when you meet him.
āI have built this business on a few simple values and principles: strong relationships, discretion, competence, delivery of service and a duty of care. While some firms have hurried to grow, we have matured patiently and with a constant focus on providing our clients with a first-class service. I have always strived to surround myself with the best people and I place great value on my support team along with other carefully selected, trusted professionals on whom we can call whenever needed. I feel privileged that I have managed to combine an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding career with helping people.
Away from the business environment there is nothing that gives me greater pleasure than being with my family, and exploring the world together. I am also a keen cyclist which, apart from the joy of avoiding public transport, has allowed me to take part in cycle challenges around the world raising much-needed funds for disadvantaged children.ā
Qualifications
Devesh holds the Chartered Insurance Instituteās (CIIās) Diploma in Financial Planning, and his specialist areas are retirement, investment and Inheritance Tax planning. He has been awarded the āStatement of Professional Standingā by the CII, and is one of the few practitioners to gain the internationally recognised ISO 22222 standard in financial planning
Ashit Shah, Financial Adviser
Ashit joined AWS Advice in October 2019 and brings a wealth of valuable and varied experience to the practice. Ashit hails from a strong accountancy background, branching into banking, then working as a financial adviser and eventually culminating into a successful businessman. Ashit has now made a comeback to financial services.
''I believe the ethos and culture of AWS resonates that of mine, which is to offer a highly client focused, solutions based comprehensive advisory service. I am a peopleās person and strive to work and get to know clients well so that I can give the best possible advice to achieve their financial goals. It gives me immense satisfaction knowing I am making a difference to the financial wellbeing of our clientās lives. More often our clients become more like friends and this is a testament to how we treat our clients and the quality of service we provide at AWS.
Outside of work I closely follow Cricket and Football and am a long-standing and passionate Liverpool FC fan. I love watching sports, socialising and exploring the world with my family.''
Qualifications
Ashit is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). He also holds the Chartered Insurance Instituteās (CIIās) Financial Planning Certificate, Mortgage Advice Qualification and Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, and one day aims to hold the title of Chartered Financial Adviser. He also holds a BSc. (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy from Loughborough University.
Giang Carrere, Mortgage and Protection Adviser
Giang has been working in the financial services sector since 2001, where she has primarily specialised in mortgage and protection administration. She joined our team in 2010 and has provided invaluable expertise helping our clients with their mortgage and protection needs. Once a client engages us, Giang takes care of the whole process from initial advice through to implementation. Giang takes great pleasure and pride in delivering the desired results to clients.
āI love to communicate with clients, and their appreciation of the job I do for them provides tremendous satisfaction. Nothing beats the feeling of achievement when I resolve an unusual or complicated matter for a client. The team at AWS Advice also provides me with the confidence that we are all working towards the outcome that a client is after.
Away from work, I enjoy quality time with my family. Whenever we can, we take the opportunity to travel as we love to meet people and learn of other cultures and cuisines and the beauty of the world around us.ā
Qualifications
Giang graduated in Business Information Technology, and in 2010 she was awarded the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) by the Institute of Financial Services.
Malkesh Agheda, Financial Adviser
Malkesh started his career at AWS through an internship in mid 2016. He not only shows great promise and inclination to learn all aspects of the business but also brings a strong set of technical and analytical skills to the team. Malkesh has grown into a trusted sounding board for new and innovative ideas and is always forthcoming with original solutions. Malkesh enjoys being the person who makes life easy for other team members.
āI would never have thought financial services was a career I would want to pursue but joining AWS Advice has been one of the best decisions Iāve ever made. I enjoy being given a problem to solve and working through a solution with the team to make the best outcome for a client. It is one of the best feelings to be part of such an enterprising team and see my input being used to make a clientās life and circumstances better. Iāve gained an insight into the different elements that go into crafting individually tailored financial advice and the value of successful client solutions.
Outside work I like to stay active at the gym and through archery. In my spare time, I focus my energy by building PCs for friends and family and dabble a bit in the kitchen by trying my hand at baking. I also like playing the tabla when relaxing at home.
Qualifications
Malkesh is currently pursuing the Chartered Insurance Institutes (CIIās) Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. He also has a BSc in Physics from Royal Holloway University of London.
John Doherty, Practice Manager
John joined the practice in 2010 and in that time has been instrumental in leading the technological changes that now allow the team to better serve clients with up-to-the-minute information on their financial affairs. He has a probing and questioning mind and analytical approach to his work, and thrives when working on a complicated caseload. John has been working in financial services since leaving university where he acquired the skills that he now applies to his work, and he is always happy to support clients on technical issues.
āI have been working in the financial advice sector since graduating and have gained invaluable experience and knowledge that has allowed me to progress from being a support administrator to Practice Manager with responsibility for the support team. AWS Advice provides me with an intellectually challenging environment and a tremendous sense of job satisfaction to see my work resulting in tangible benefits for clients.
Away from the office, I have a keen interest in endurance sports, and I have completed several challenges that meant I could give something back to the community by raising much-needed funds for charity.ā
Qualifications
John was awarded the Chartered Insurance Instituteās (CIIās) Diploma in Financial Planning in 2011 and is working towards further qualifications to achieve the prestigious title of Chartered Financial Adviser. John has a BSc (Hons) Economics with Accounting where he achieved first class honours.
Emily Aston, Paraplanner
emily@awsadvice.co.uk
Dilip Bhesania - Paraplanner
dilip@awsadvice.co.uk
Charlotte Orpwood, Financial Administrator
Charlotte joined AWS as a Business Admin Apprentice in January 2015; she has settled in and become an invaluable part of the team. While gaining experience in different areas of the company, Charlotte is someone that the team has come to rely on for her helpful attitude and willingness to go the extra mile, assisting with tasks large and small. Charlotteās sunny personality brings out the best in her co-workers.
āI feel that I have been given an amazing opportunity to learn new skills and broaden my knowledge of the financial sector within a successful company. I can see first-hand the value of financial planning and how it benefits and enhances clientsā lives. Working within a well-balanced team wherein each person brings their own personality and strength to the table has helped me to identify my own strength of being a people person who thrives within a dynamic space where mutual respect, commitment and honesty are highly valued.
My interests include socialising with family and friends, fashion, music and keeping fit and healthy.ā
Qualifications
Charlotte holds a Business Administration apprenticeship and is currently studying for a Chartered Insurance Institutes (CIIās) Financial Administration Diploma.