Beyond the Bio – Nicole Ralph

Beyond the Bio - Nicole Ralph

What was your career ambition when you were growing up?

I wanted to be lots of things.  Why choose just one career? I loved reading and people always fascinated me. I went to university with the intention of being an anthropologist and focused on economic anthropology. I ultimately chose a career in finance when I realized the same holistic, contextual thinking skills could also help cross border families, like mine, make a better life by making better decisions around money.

Nicole Ralph

What brought you to the UK?

I fell in love with a Brit. We met in Germany in 1992 and tried a long-distance relationship for two years but ultimately decided to be together and “see how it goes” and were married in 1994. Three kids and 26 years later, we’re still together.

What do you miss most about the US?

Without a doubt, it’s friends and family. But I also miss the dusk fireflies, the big night skies above the Midwest, and the easy access to vast wilderness, especially the woods. We used to host bonfires in our  back yard where any neighbors who were home would bring their lawn chairs so we could chat, have a few drinks, and make s’mores for the kiddos until the mosquitoes chased us back indoors. I miss that sense of community and the ease of it all.

What is your favourite experience since being in the UK?

We live in Hove and being a 10-minute walk from the sea is like being on vacation every day. The rare occasions when all three of our children (ages 24, 22, and 12) are under one roof with us again are my true favorite moments. This happens at Christmas when our oldest who lives in the US comes to visit.

What is the biggest challenge being an American living in the UK?

I think it’s disorientating when you move to another country as an adult and have to re-establish yourself professionally, personally, and financially. This is my third transatlantic move and it doesn’t get easier with age but I know from experience the transition period is temporary. Beyond that, being fully present here when social media can keep pulling you back into your former home is a big challenge.

NFL or Premiership OR Cricket or Baseball?

I would have said baseball but attended my first T20 cricket match last September and it was a lot of fun so I might have to switch alliances.

What is it you most enjoy about helping Anglo-American households?

When I realized finance was going to be my career, I quickly learned that Anglo-American households like mine aren’t served well from either the US or UK traditional financial advice sectors. I decided early on to dedicate my career to help this demographic and I love it because every time I solve a complex problem or put a plan together that realizes a long-term goal for a client, it feels like I’m helping our entire global expat community thrive and prosper.

How is the pandemic affecting your work and the clients you serve?

I’m busier than ever and I think it’s because of a couple of reasons. The volatility of the market always brings out a lot of questions but the circumstances of a global pandemic also gave rise to a lot of clients thinking more deeply about their families, what’s important, and how we’re connected. For some of our clients, this means exploring opportunities to move back to the US and for others, they are thinking more about the benefits of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing or how spending more time with family has become a priority so are now considering early retirement or job changes to allow further flexibility. The pandemic has touched everybody and for many of my clients, it’s been a good chance to reflect, re-discover their purpose and meaning in their work, and think about how best to use their financial resources to create their new future.

Tell me about someone who has inspired you and why?

I’ve always been inspired by my mother. She quietly faced a world of discrimination in small town America as a divorced mother of two when she came out of the closet in the 80s. I have so many stories where she demonstrated bravery, integrity, and dignity in very tough circumstances. She unfortunately passed away too young from cancer at age 63. Her funeral was attended by hundreds as so many of the people she helped, inspired, and cared for told us more stories of her kindness. I can only hope my life has such a positive impact on the world as hers did.

What’s the last book you read?

I’m a huge Bill Bryson fan. My son usually gives me one of his books every year and he’s the only author I read over and over again. The last book I read was one of his called “At Home: A Short History of Private Life” and it was brilliant!

Beatles or Beach Boys?

Beatles, for sure.

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Abbas Somji

Abbas Somji

PARTNER AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Abbas moved to London in early 2018 to be with his British wife. Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Botswana, Abbas then migrated to Houston where he attended University. He began his professional career at an RIA in Houston and holds the Series 65 license and US CFP® . He brings with him a decade of experience in advising High-Net-Worth clients and business owners. Abbas is a Partner and Advisor and ensures he’s helping clients navigate the complicated world of being an expat in the UK. He particularly enjoys providing clients with the clarity and confidence to pursue their financial goals. A sports enthusiast, Abbas enjoys conversing about and playing soccer/football and attending Liverpool matches.

Read more… Abbas Somji, Beyond the Bio

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Alistair Jackson

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Alistair joined the team at Tanager in 2019 following his completion of an MPhil in English at the University of Cambridge as a John Crook Scholar. With three years of experience working across our Investment and Financial Planning teams, Alistair transitioned to the Advisor Team in January 2022. His time is now focused on the production and implementation of robust planning and investment strategies for our clients on either side of the Atlantic. Outside of the office, Alistair’s time is divided between exploring East London’s many food markets, spending time with friends and family, and travelling abroad.

 

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David Costello

PARTNER AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR

David arrived in the UK on New Year’s Day 2014 and brought with him fifteen years’ experience advising private clients and business owners. He attained the U.S. Certified Financial Planner designation in 2007. David specialises in building financial plans for UK based households that include US taxpayers and is tirelessly committed to helping Tanager clients maximise their wealth and achieve their stated goals and objectives while navigating the US/UK tax and investment landscape. David is a Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor and is active in volunteering and fund raising for the support toward the treatment and eradication of blood cancers.

Read more… David Costello, Beyond the Bio

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Gail Hamilton- King

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Gail joined Tanager in 2021 as a financial advisor with more than fifteen years of experience in senior investment banking and management consulting roles at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. She enjoys leveraging her financial experience to make a tangible difference for Americans living in the UK by helping to manage their complex finances globally. Gail moved to the UK from Chicago to complete an MBA at London Business School. As a dual UK/US family living in west London, she understands the challenges our clients face.

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Jeremy Bailey

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Jeremy joined the Tanager team in 2019 bringing fifteen years of experience in helping clients align their finances with what is most important to them. He specialises in retirement income strategies and multigenerational planning. Jeremy decided to leverage his US/UK dual citizenship status to relocate to London in 2017. He quickly identified the breadth of financial challenges faced by Americans and US connected families living and working abroad. Jeremy comes to London via Cleveland Ohio and Miami Florida. In his free time, he enjoys running the Thames path, spending time outdoors, and travelling.

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Kristopher Heck

MANAGING PARTNER

Kristopher has lived in London since 2007 and combined his ten plus years of experience in the Institutional Asset Management Industry in the US and Europe and personal experiences as an expat to found Tanager. A founding partner and Chief Investment Officer, Kris has been a guest lecturer at the London School of Economics and has particular interest and experience in portfolio efficiency – encompassing tax, cost, and the optimal risk budgeting of a client’s assets. Kristopher is as avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles and enjoys going back to Maryland whenever he is able to.

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Kyle Pettigrove

PARTNER AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Kyle is a Certified Financial Planner ™ (CFP ®) and joined Tanager in London in 2016 having moved to the UK with his fiancée. A US/UK dual citizen and Philadelphia native, Kyle previously worked as a financial advisor in the US specializing in retirement planning. Now spearheading Tanager’s stateside office in Philadelphia, Kyle brings both relevant personal and professional experience to his role and covers the areas of pensions for US residents, British expats and transatlantic families living in the US. Outside of his work life, Kyle is an avid traveller and craft beer enthusiast.

Read more… Kyle Pettigrove, Beyond the Bio

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Nicole Ralph

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Nicole joined the Tanager team in 2020 and brings over fifteen years of senior leadership and client experience in helping US expats and foreign nationals relocating to the US. Nicole has held the CFP® designation since 2011 and earned an MBA from the Wisconsin School of Business in 2016. As a dual US/UK citizen herself, she is intimately aware of the complex challenges facing families, having moved back and forth three times with her own family. She now lives in Hove with her husband and youngest daughter. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog along the seafront, hot yoga, learning Italian and travelling.

Read more… Nicole Ralph, Beyond the Bio

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Patrick Mulhern

PARTNER AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Patrick moved to Scotland at seventeen to study at the University of St. Andrews and has been picking up knowledge of life on both sides of the Atlantic ever since. A Partner and Financial Advisor, he specializes in complex planning for high-net-worth clients, international estate planning and inheritance issues. Prior to working in Financial Planning, he worked for a trust and estate law firm and co-wrote the book Estate Planning to Die For. Patrick lives in Sussex with his wife and children. He gets back to New England as often as possible and is one mountain short of having hiked all 4,000 Footers of the White Mountains.

Read more… Patrick Mulhern, Beyond the Bio

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Susan Blaylock

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Susan joined Tanager in 2019 upon moving to London. She is a Financial Advisor and has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, mainly as a CPA. What she loves about financial planning is the opportunity to help people understand and achieve the financial goals that are most important to them. She enjoys the challenge of working with the complex situations of US expats. Susan shares Tanager’s philosophy of developing strong relationships with clients and gaining a deep understanding of their financial situations and life goals. Outside of work, Susan enjoys exploring, including hiking in the Alps, canyoning, kayaking London’s canals, cycling, and spending time with friends and family.

Read more… Susan Blaylock, Beyond the Bio

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Tori Bown

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Tori joined Tanager in May of 2022 after moving to London in late 2021 to join her English Husband. Prior to joining Tanager, Tori worked in Dallas, Texas for a large wealth management firm for over five years where she specialized in financial planning for high net worth clients. As a Certified Financial Planner ™ , she’s developed a holistic approach to wealth management that incorporates all aspects of a person’s financial life. Tori enjoys helping clients define and achieve their financial goals by enabling them to put context around their finances.

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