Key Points
- Raymond James Wealth Management has opened a new Chester branch at The Steam Mill.
- The new operation is being led by John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell, who have joined Raymond James from Quilter.
- Willis and Tunstall are described as investment managers, while Morrell is a financial planner.
- The trio brings more than 60 years of combined experience in investment management and financial planning, according to WealthBriefing.
- The Chester team will provide integrated wealth management services to individuals, families, trusts, charities and business owners.
- Its geographical focus covers Chester, Cheshire and the wider North West.
- Raymond James said the move forms part of its wider UK growth strategy and its efforts to attract experienced advisers.
- Kim Jenson, chief executive officer of Raymond James Wealth Management, said the business is focused on attracting wealth managers who value professional choice, long-term client relationships and tailored advice.
- The Steam Mill is a refurbished Grade II listed office building offering more than 52,000 sq ft of office accommodation in Chester.
- The building includes a five-storey atrium, reception facilities, meeting rooms, a lecture theatre, coffee bar, showers and changing facilities, and on-site parking.
Inverted Pyramid: The most significant development is Raymond James Wealth Management’s launch of a Chester operation at The Steam Mill, with experienced former Quilter professionals John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell appointed to lead the new branch. The move expands Raymond James’ presence in the North West and establishes Chester as another location from which the firm will deliver wealth management and financial planning services to private clients, families, trusts, charities and business owners.
Why has Raymond James opened a new branch in Chester?
Raymond James Wealth Management has expanded its presence in Chester by establishing a new branch at The Steam Mill, bringing a team of three experienced wealth management professionals to the city.
As reported by Sophia Panayi of Professional Adviser, Raymond James Wealth Management has opened in Chester with John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell appointed to lead the branch. Panayi reported on 8 September 2026 that the three professionals had joined from Quilter and would be based at The Steam Mill.
The launch is significant because it gives Raymond James a dedicated base in Chester while supporting the firm’s wider expansion across the North West. The company said the move reflects its continuing focus on attracting experienced advisers who place importance on professional choice, long-term client relationships and tailored advice.
The new Chester presence will serve clients across a broad geographical area rather than being limited to the city itself. The team will work with clients in Chester, Cheshire and the wider North West, according to Professional Adviser.
Who will lead Raymond James in Chester?
The Chester operation will be led by John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell.
According to Professional Adviser, Willis and Tunstall are investment managers, while Morrell is a financial planner. All three previously worked at Quilter before joining Raymond James.
Their combined professional background is one of the central features of the new operation. WealthBriefing reported on 9 September that the trio brings more than 60 years of combined experience in investment management and financial planning.
The appointment therefore represents more than a new office location. It also gives Raymond James an established team with experience in investment management and financial planning as it develops its presence in Chester.
The three professionals are expected to work together to provide an integrated service, bringing investment management and financial planning capabilities under the same local operation.
What services will the Chester team provide?
The new Chester team will provide integrated wealth management services to a range of clients.
According to Sophia Panayi of Professional Adviser, the intended client base includes individuals, families, trusts, charities and business owners. The service will extend across Chester, Cheshire and the wider North West.
This broad client base reflects the different financial circumstances typically addressed by wealth management businesses. Individuals and families may require investment and financial planning, while business owners can have additional requirements connected with their companies, personal wealth and longer-term financial objectives.
Trusts and charities can also have specific investment and governance requirements. The Chester operation therefore gives Raymond James a local platform from which it can work with several different types of clients.
The emphasis reported by the publications is on an integrated approach rather than a single investment-management service. The combination of investment managers John Willis and Myles Tunstall with financial planner David Morrell is intended to provide complementary expertise within the new branch.
What did Kim Jenson say about the Chester expansion?
Kim Jenson, chief executive officer of Raymond James Wealth Management, linked the Chester launch to the company’s wider UK growth strategy.
As reported by WealthBriefing, Jenson said that, following the bringing together of the firm’s UK wealth management businesses under a single Raymond James brand, the business was concentrating on its next stage of growth.
Jenson said a key part of that strategy was attracting high-quality wealth managers who share the firm’s values and its emphasis on personal relationships.
Jenson also praised the three new Chester leaders, saying John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell had built strong reputations for their commitment to clients and the quality of their advice. She said their decision to join Raymond James demonstrated the strength of the firm’s proposition and its ambition to become a wealth manager of choice for advisers in the UK.
The comments place the Chester opening within a broader strategy rather than presenting it as an isolated office move.
Why is The Steam Mill important to the new operation?
The new Raymond James team will be based at The Steam Mill, a prominent office building in Chester.
The Steam Mill’s own information describes the property as a landmark Grade II listed building with more than 52,000 sq ft of office accommodation. The building has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment programme and its offices are arranged over five floors around a full-height atrium.
The building’s facilities include a manned reception, meeting rooms, a self-service coffee bar, secure cycle storage, showers and changing facilities, and a 100-person lecture theatre. A 73-space car park is located next to the business centre.
The location also provides access to Chester’s transport network. The Steam Mill is situated close to St Oswalds Way and the A51, while the M53 is approximately two miles away. Chester railway station is within walking distance, according to the building’s published information.
For a wealth management business, the combination of office facilities and accessibility provides a practical base for meeting clients and operating a regional team.
How does the move fit into Raymond James’ wider UK strategy?
The Chester launch comes as Raymond James continues to develop its UK wealth management operation.
Raymond James’ UK leadership structure includes Kim Jenson, listed by the firm’s UK business as interim chief executive officer of Raymond James Wealth Management Group Limited and Raymond James Wealth Management Limited.
The firm’s UK expansion strategy has also been accompanied by organisational changes. A 2025 announcement from Raymond James Wealth Management and Charles Stanley said Jenson had been appointed interim CEO following Paul Abberley’s departure, subject to regulatory approval. The announcement said Jenson had joined from Raymond James Financial in the US and had previously served as chief operating officer of Raymond James’ US Private Client Group.
The Chester opening can therefore be viewed within a broader period of development for Raymond James’ UK wealth management business.
Rather than relying solely on a centralised operation, the company is adding local teams and locations where experienced advisers can develop relationships with clients in their regions.
What does the appointment of former Quilter professionals mean for Chester?
The move brings three professionals with established experience in the wealth management sector into a new local operation.
John Willis and Myles Tunstall bring investment management experience, while David Morrell adds financial planning expertise. Their previous experience at Quilter means the Chester branch is being launched with an experienced leadership team rather than being built entirely from new recruits.
The reported combined experience of more than 60 years also gives the team considerable sector knowledge.
For Chester and the wider Cheshire market, the development adds another established wealth management provider with a local presence. The team’s remit also extends beyond Chester into the wider North West, potentially giving the new office a regional rather than purely city-focused role.
What could the Chester launch mean for the local business environment?
The establishment of a new wealth management operation adds another professional services presence to Chester’s commercial landscape.
The Steam Mill already accommodates businesses from different sectors. The building’s published information highlights its office environment, central atrium and range of facilities, while companies operating from the site include businesses involved in financial services and professional services.
The arrival of Raymond James therefore reinforces The Steam Mill’s position as an office location for professional and financial services businesses.
For Chester, the expansion also reflects the city’s continuing role as a base for regional professional services firms serving clients across Cheshire and the wider North West.
Why is specialist financial knowledge increasingly important for wealth management firms?
The Chester launch also highlights the importance of experienced professionals in financial services.
Wealth management involves decisions covering investments, financial planning, client objectives and longer-term wealth considerations. Firms competing in this market therefore increasingly emphasise adviser experience and the strength of relationships with clients.
Raymond James’ rationale for the Chester expansion, as reported by WealthBriefing, places particular emphasis on experienced wealth managers, personal relationships and tailored advice.
That approach is reflected in the structure of the Chester team, where investment management and financial planning expertise are combined.
For organisations operating in financial services, professional development remains relevant as regulatory requirements, investment markets, client expectations and technology continue to evolve. Training in Accounting, Finance and Budgeting, Management, and Management and Leadership can support professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of financial decision-making, organisational management and leadership responsibilities.
What happens next for Raymond James in Chester?
The immediate focus will be on establishing the new Chester branch and developing its client relationships across the region.
John Willis, Myles Tunstall and David Morrell are now based at The Steam Mill, where they will provide integrated wealth management services to clients across Chester, Cheshire and the wider North West.
The launch also provides Raymond James with a local platform from which to pursue its broader UK growth ambitions.
For Chester, the development adds another specialist financial services operation to the city’s professional services landscape. For Raymond James, it represents a further step in building its UK wealth management presence through experienced advisers and regional offices.
As the financial services sector continues to evolve, businesses and professionals need to keep pace with financial management, governance, leadership and changing commercial requirements. Relevant professional development in Accounting, Finance and Budgeting can help finance and business professionals maintain and strengthen the skills required in increasingly complex financial environments.