Rathbones Group Plc is a
UK provider of personalised
investment management
Investment management is the professional asset management of various securities, including shareholdings, bonds, and other assets, such as real estate, to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of investors. Investors may be institut ...
and wealth management services for private investors and trustees. This includes
discretionary investment management, unit trusts,
tax planning, trust and company management, pension advice and banking services. The company is listed on the
London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index ( "Footsie") is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions and demotions to and from the index occur quarterly in March, June, Septemb ...
.
History

The business was founded by
William Rathbone II
William Rathbone II (22 May 1696 – 1746) was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool, England.
William Rathbone was the son of a sawyer who lived in Gawsworth, Cheshire, and shared his name. Born on 22 May 1696, William Rathbone II t ...
by 1742 as a
Liverpool-based
timber trading business.
[University of Liverpool: Collections]
In the 19th century it became a leading trader in cotton from the
United States and in 1841 it became the
Liverpool agent for the
East India Company.
[ In 1912 it abandoned its trading operations and focused on financial management,][ initially for the ]Rathbone family
The Rathbone family of Liverpool, England, were a family of nonconformist merchants and ship-owners who were known to engage in philanthropy and public service.
The family origins trace back to Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, where the first Willi ...
, but subsequently for the general public. In 1988 it merged with Comprehensive Financial Services Ltd to form Rathbone Brothers plc[ and thereby secured a listing on the London Stock Exchange. It changed its name from Rathbone Brothers to Rathbones Group on 1 December 2021.
]
Operations
The company provides investment management, financial planning, tax and trust services. It has 14 offices located all over the UK and Jersey.
The current CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
is Paul Stockton, who was appointed to the position in May 2019. He had previously worked at the company from 2008, as group financial and managing director.
Responsible business
The Rathbones Group Foundation is the charitable arm of the group, supporting charities that pay particular attention to at risk and vulnerable youths.
References
Further reading
*David Lascelles (2008) ''The Story of Rathbones since 1742''. London: James & James (Publishers) Ltd
*Lucy Nottingham (1992) ''Rathbone Brothers From Merchant to Banker 1742-1992,'' Rathbone Brothers plc.
*Sheila Marriner (1961) ''Rathbones of Liverpool 1845-73'' Liverpool University Press
External links
Official site
{{Authority control
Companies based in Liverpool
Investment management companies of the United Kingdom
Financial services companies established in 1742
Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
Financial services companies based in the City of London
Rathbone family
British companies established in 1742