Jill Stevens — a career built on trust

Contemplating retirement: Long-serving financial adviser, chartered accountant and associate of BDO, Jill Stevens, contemplates her upcoming retirement and reflects on a career of empowering clients. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

After a working career that has spanned 36 years, Jill Stevens is feeling philosophical as she contemplates what life in retirement might look like for her.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, authorised financial adviser and associate at BDO Gisborne, Jill's dedication over many years has earned her a reputation as a highly valued and trusted adviser to many of BDO Gisborne's clients.

With a science background and a degree in mathematics, Jill's career journey began in 1986 working in a graduate role within the business advisory area of the company. After gaining knowledge, skills and experience, Jill undertook further academic study to become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.

With her love of numbers, maths and research — and after completing further academic studies — Jill specialised in providing investment advice to clients, becoming an authorised financial adviser in 1992.

Building and maintaining trust is an important part of the client relationship, she says.

“Investments can often be challenging and complicated — and providing clients with knowledge and reassurance empowers them to make their own decisions, to have confidence in those decisions and, over the long term, to build their wealth and financial security,” says Jill.

Over the years, she has built and maintained close relationships with a range of clients, some of whom have become friends — understandably, many of these client relationships are also intergenerational.

“Understanding family backgrounds and dynamics is key to being able to give appropriate advice to clients, and to enable them to set their own financial goals — it's important they trust me and feel comfortable talking with me.”

It is clear that Jill will be greatly missed by her colleagues and clients alike. However, she leaves feeling secure in the knowledge that her clients will have the choice of continued support and expert advice with the wealth and investment business, Jarden.

Jarden will provide investment advice and wealth management for existing and new clients, and is now based in the Gisborne office of BDO.

BDO Gisborne and Jarden have a long-standing relationship and the new arrangement with Jarden is a natural progression for both companies.

Looking ahead, the first six months of Jill's retirement calendar are already filled with family catch-ups and spending time with grandchildren. Her love of travel has seen Jill visit some very interesting places in the world already, and a holiday is booked with friends to explore yet another. Once the holiday finishes, though, she's going to take some time out to consider her options for exactly what that next chapter might look like.