Talk:Rathbones

Full COI disclosure. I am being paid to edit, as set out on my profile. I propose expanding the "Historical" section with the following additional material (which will be integrated into the current text, and seperated by the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st Century sections):

18th Century

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the firm expanded into broader international merchanting, developing a commission-based trading role and participating in transatlantic trade between Liverpool and the eastern United States.^[1] It was involved in early packet services operating between Liverpool, New York and Philadelphia, and undertook private trade with India as commercial restrictions were relaxed.^[2] In 1824, the partnership formally adopted the name Rathbone Bros.

19th Century

In addition to its cotton activities, the firm developed interests in the China trade, establishing branch houses in Canton and later Shanghai. By the mid-nineteenth century, it had become a large-scale importer of tea into Britain.^[1] The China houses were closed by the 1850s as trading patterns shifted.^[1] Rathbones also retained interests in merchant shipping during this period; however, increasing competition and structural changes in its global trade led to a gradual withdrawal from ship ownership, culminating in the sale of its last vessel in 1889.^[2] From the late nineteenth century, the firm progressively reduced its exposure to overseas trading and shipping and increased its focus on fiduciary and investment services. This transition preceded the formal reorganisation of 1912, which marked the firm’s full commitment to financial management.^[1]

20th century

Following the Second World War, Rathbones expanded its investment management operations under the leadership of Larry Rathbone, who rejoined the firm in 1946.^[2] During the post-war decades, the business grew its private client base and developed services for pension funds and institutional investors, contributing to a growth in client funds under management during the 1950s.^[2] During the 1960s, the firm became known for its advice on capital gains taxation; thus, its client base expanded considerably once again.^[1]

21st Century

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The user below has a request that a significant addition or re-write be made to this article for which that user has an actual or apparent conflict of interest. The backlog is very high. Please be extremely patient. There are currently 482 requests waiting for review. Please read the instructions for the parameters used by this template for accepting and declining them, and review the request below and make the edit if it is well sourced, neutral, and follows other Wikipedia guidelines and policies.

• What I think should be changed (include citations):

Added after "In April 2023, Rathbones agreed to buy Investec's wealth and investment businesses in the UK and Channel Islands for £839 million."

A transaction described by both companies as leading to the creation of the UK’s leading discretionary wealth manager.^[3]

• Why it should be changed:

The current historical section lacks breadth in scope and thus omits well-documented aspects of Rathbones history and development, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, moving from merchant banking to wealth management. The proposed additions to this section are all based on published secondary sources - predominantly from two books, written specifically about the Rathbones history. Overall, hopefully the addition of this new information can improve the article's historical coverage. It does not replace any existing content, but rather adds to it to provide scope on the extensive history of the company.

• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

^[2]

^[1]

^[4]

Kranken145 (talk) 12:18, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Are you connected to the company, an employee or staff member, or do you work for an agency or are you being paid as an individual?

Mostly happy with the edits. Any book about a company needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, the aim being to say how good the company is and how long it has been around, particularly in relation to financial services.

1. The last sentence for the 21st century, remove entirely or reword to have something less fawning, sounds like a press release rather than a Wikipage.

2. The second last sentence for the 20th century maybe just remove entirely and just add 1960s to the previous sentence with 1950s and note the CGT advice for private clients in the same sentence.

Generally tone down the adjectives.

Note Canton is now Guangzhou. Financefactz (talk) 14:00, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for your swift reply. Firstly, I am being paid as an individual. I am not an employee or staff member.

Secondly, the books, I believe, are neutral historical texts. They cover more than just the information on the Rathbones company, but also about the Rathbones family as they were politically and historically relevant in 18th/19th Centuries. I should hope that these books can still be used as references. In my own reading of the texts, they do not appear to explicitly promote the company, but rather provide an extensive and detailed historical account of what led up to the current day.

I am happy to reword the 21st century sentence but unsure of how this can be rewritten. I could remove the 20th century sentence and could note the CGT advice, as you've said. With regard to toning down the adjectives, which adjectives would you like to be changed? I have tried to word this in as neutral/Wiki friendly style as possible.

Happy to also note that Canton is now Guangzhou - I was a little confused hence I left out the link.

Whilst I am talking within this chain - what is the procedure for amending the historical section? Should I rewrite it here and then put it again to you for approval?

I have formulated some other information surrounding various sections, so would be happy for your input on those, too.

Thanks for your advice so far. Kranken145 (talk) 16:18, 15 April 2026 (UTC)

Just include the paragraphs that there is no major question over for now in the article up to the second last sentence in the 1950s and we can edit and review from there. Financefactz (talk) 16:51, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

Okay, no worries. Glad that you can help. Here is the revised version. I have changed:

- A large-scale importer --> large importer

- full commitment --> commitment

- merged 20th Century sentences (1950s-60s)

- Reworded 21st Century merger sentence completely.

18th Century

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the firm expanded into broader international merchanting, developing a commission-based trading role and participating in transatlantic trade between Liverpool and the eastern United States.^[1] It was involved in early packet services operating between Liverpool, New York and Philadelphia, and undertook private trade with India as commercial restrictions were relaxed.^[2] In 1824, the partnership formally adopted the name Rathbone Bros.

19th Century

In addition to its cotton activities, the firm developed interests in the China trade, establishing branch houses in Canton and later Shanghai. By the mid-nineteenth century, it had become a large importer of tea into Britain.^[1] The China houses were closed by the 1850s as trading patterns shifted.^[1] Rathbones also retained interests in merchant shipping during this period; however, increasing competition and structural changes in its global trade led to a gradual withdrawal from ship ownership, culminating in the sale of its last vessel in 1889.^[2] From the late nineteenth century, the firm progressively reduced its exposure to overseas trading and shipping and increased its focus on fiduciary and investment services. This transition preceded the formal reorganisation of 1912, which marked the firm’s commitment to financial management.^[1]

20th century

Following the Second World War, Rathbones expanded its investment management operations under the leadership of Larry Rathbone, who rejoined the firm in 1946.^[2] During the post-war decades, the business grew its private client base and developed services for pension funds and institutional investors, contributing to a growth in client funds under management during the 1950s and 1960s, including advisory work on capital gains taxation.^[1][2]

21st Century - NOTE. This is a possible rewording of the 21st Century sentence

This transaction resulted in the combination of the two firms, leading to approximately £100 billion in assets under management. ^[5]

Hopefully this looks a bit more reasonable? Thanks. Kranken145 (talk) 17:30, 16 April 2026 (UTC)

@User:Dormskirk might have a view as well but in general that looks fine to me. I can make a few copyedits once it has been changed. Maybe some context around this sentence "as commercial restrictions were relaxed" - why were they relaxed? Also this sentence has no context "This transition preceded the formal reorganisation of 1912, which marked the firm’s commitment to financial management." - the "firm's commitment" is very press release speak as well. Financefactz (talk) 13:19, 17 April 2026 (UTC)

Happy to add a context sentence as well as tone down the wording of the firm's commitment. Also more than happy for @Dormskirk to have a look!

There was a Charter act in 1813 and a second one (Government of India Act 1833).

Perhaps I could rephrase as follows:

"as commercial restrictions were relaxed, predominantly due to the Charter Acts of 1813 and 1833."

On the 2nd point - Rathbones properly formalised their structure in 1912 from partnerships to an 'organised' financial firm, which is the context there.

I could rephrase as: ""This transition preceded the firm's formal reorganisation in 1912, reflecting the shift away from merchant trading partnerships towards financial and investment management activities".

I do have a quick question - what is the process for uploading these sections. Would I have to submit another 'topic' on the talk page, or would someone such as yourself upload it?

Looking forward to moving onto the next section, once this is fully approved! Thanks, Kranken145 (talk) 13:48, 17 April 2026 (UTC)

Fine with me, subject to Financefactz's comments. Dormskirk (talk) 13:51, 17 April 2026 (UTC)

@Financefactz Were you happy for me to progress to the next step in this project? I would be happy to upload the edit to the page, with your say so. Also, with regard to new edit proposals, should I start a new topic on this talk page, or continue it within this conversation? Thanks Kranken145 (talk) 12:15, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

I'm not really sure what your first question means but if you intend to enter the information into the main wikipage then yes, proceed if you wish. I would say just continue it in this thread. For small edits, like typos, syntax, you can just proceed at your leisure and there is no need to run it by us once you have flagged it your COI as a paid editor. Financefactz (talk) 13:15, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

Thanks for letting me know. I have now updated the historical section on the article, and in the summary box I have formatted it as [PAID]: brief summary, then my username, then approved on talk page. Hope this is okay.

The next section that I'd like to update is the Operations section (with Governance subsection) and then the Responsible Business/Charity work section. Both of these sections are relatively minor, hence I have clumped them together.

My thoughts will be italicised.

Operations

Already a section on 21 offices, would be unwise to name all 21 of them. So, below the line "It has 22 offices located across the UK, the Channel Islands and Ireland:"

Its principal offices include London (head office), Liverpool (historic base), Edinburgh and most recently announced plans to open in Dublin - to allow for greater contact with the EU client base.^[6]

As of late 2025, Rathbones reported £115.6 billion in funds under management and administration, following the integration of Investec Wealth & Investment UK, in 2023.^[7]

Governance (sub-section of operations)

Please note that references 16, 17 and 18 currently on the article will be kept as they suffice here.

Rathbones is governed by a unitary board structure comprising executive and non-executive directors.

The previous CEO to Paul Stockton was Philip Howell (2014-2019).

Clive Bannister is the current chairman, succeeding Mark Nicholls, who served from 2011-2021.

Iain Hooley is the Group CFO and Camilla Stowell is the Wealth CEO. I think I would format this as a list of some kind?

The company is comprised of several committees, including:

• Board of Directors
• Executive
• Audits
• Nomination
• Remuneration
• Group risk

Responsible Business (Charity work)

The Rathbones Group Foundation is the company’s charitable foundation and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (No. 1150432). It operates as a grant-making trust supporting charitable organisations and voluntary bodies across England and Wales.^[8]

According to the company’s disclosures, as of December 2024, £530,000 had been distributed through the foundation.

As always, I'd be grateful for your and @Dormskirk's comments. Thanks, Kranken145 (talk) 15:52, 20 April 2026 (UTC) Kranken145 (talk) 15:52, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

Hi - I am OK with the initial sentences on operations but think the sections on governance and and the foundation should be excluded as they look promotional. Dormskirk (talk) 16:26, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

Okay - thanks for the swift feedback.

Glad the operations section works well. On the governance/foundation sections, I understand the concern about promotional tone, but I'd like to propose a revised structure as opposed to excluding them. My intention with the governance section (listing of CEOs/CFOs/Wealth CEOs was to provide neutral information - which in my eyes, I have done. The board structure agreements also seem like a presentation of facts rather than a promotion.

Similarly with the foundation section, it was intended as a brief factual note - I have chosen to leave out any of the companies actual charitable endeavours as I thought that it could be deemed promotional, rather than just stating that the company has a charitable arm. If you would like me to revise it (which I would prefer to omitting it entirely), what would you propose that I change? (If of course you think that it would be achievable!)

I was thinking perhaps something along the lines of "The Rathbones Group Foundation is the company's charitable foundation and is registered with the Charity Commission... It operates as a grant-making trust. I agree that "supporting charitable organisations..." sounds promotional. Perhaps I could also leave out "registered with the Charity commission"?

I hope that doesn't sound like too much of a pushback, it isn't intended as such, but I do think that a re-structuring of wording as opposed to omitting entirely would be a more suitable option. I am sure that this is up for discussion! Thanks Kranken145 (talk) 23:39, 20 April 2026 (UTC)

We do not normally include governance sections as such information would replicate what is in the company website. Similarly we do not normally include information on charitable giving; most companies give money to charity anyway so such information is not notable. But I am content to give way, if other editors have a different view. Dormskirk (talk) 23:56, 20 April 2026 (UTC)