Trained as a barrister, Justin moved into international corporate finance. He specialised in International and EC Law (LLB Hons) and worked in Corporate Finance in Africa and Singapore, and then in Marketing with a focus on Electronic Corporate Cash Management in Europe.This led to him helping to found Broker Services in 1986, which became Barclays Stockbrokers, the largest retail stockbroker in the UK. As Corporate Development Director, his primary role was to develop new business ideas and concepts for the future. In early 2001, Justin set up his own company, a stock-broking business with a focus on long-term financial planning. He innovated the UK investment market with the introduction of the first Sterling Wrap Account. His business focuses on providing access to institutional money management for retail investors.
Justin has a keen interest in developing the investment market to break down many of the traditional barriers for both private investors and smaller companies. He was involved in the founding of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). He is a Trustee of Proshare, an organisation which promotes wider investment understanding. Justin is a founder member of the Entrepreneurial Working Party, a group dedicated to developing and promoting entrepreneurship and new business in the UK.
During his career, he has also been a trade union shop steward and a vineyard manager.
An engaging, lively and entertaining character, Justin is a commentator in the media on market events and developments and appears regularly on television and radio including on:
- BBC1 Business Breakfast
- BBC Radio 5Live – frequent appearances including on Wake Up To Money
- BBC2 – Justin features regularly on Working Lunch
- BBC Radio 4 – the Today programme
- BBC Radio 5Live – regularly on The Financial World Tonight
- Regular appearances on TV to analyse and comment on the Chancellors Budget
- Justin occasionally appears on the ITN News and also on Sky (two weekly slots)
- Regular columnist for Bloomberg Money; weekly columnist for the Express newspaper
Justin is frequently invited by corporate clients to speak at events on a wide range of topics – one of the most popular speech titles being “The Easy Way to Make Money”. He was chosen to open the Private Investor Show and was instrumental in attracting media and press coverage for that event.
In his spare time he writes short stories on the Roman Empire and studies as a very amateur archaeologist. He is married with one daughter and a motorcycle.
The International Herald Tribune referred to him as “a cross between Gordon Gecko and Harry Potter” which only served to increase his popularity!