Paul Simmonds
Harpur Wealth Management
Financial Advisor
I was born in Luton in 1971 and moved to Bedford at the age of 7 when my father was appointed Head of Music at Bedford Modern School. I spent 3 years studying Estate Management at South Bank University before becoming a U.S Treasury Broker for Cantor Fitzgerald in the City. Whilst in London I was playing rugby for Harlequins RFC where I had the 'pleasure' for a while of being Brian Moore's understudy!! When the game went professional Bedford offered me a contract and the lure was too great playing for 2 years as a full time rugby player for Bedford. After my 'sabbatical' I joined Edward Jones in 1998 and built a successful business with them until I decided to go it alone in December 2009 setting up Harpur Wealth Management. We have quickly built a good business providing individuals and business owners in Bedford and the surrounding area solutions to achieve their long term financial goals.
I married Liz on the 16th December 2005 and we have a son George who was born on 20th August 2009. There is (I am told) another on the agenda!!!
In the meantime I'm a keen student of golf and although not perhaps the build for it, enjoy the occasional long run - Liz and I completed the London Marathon in April 2006 raising £7,500 for The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID). Cycling, and now that I have retired completely from rugby, the supposedly gentler sport of 5 a side football, take up my time! Skiing is also an allowable past time as well, now I'm not restricted by my rugby player's contract.
We both have a close family/friends network and enjoy spending time with them as well as travelling the world at every opportunity, sampling fine foods and wine and now, as a committee member of the Bedford Former Players Association watching the Bedford Blues when we can.
I have been a member of Rotary since 1999 in which time I enjoyed a year as President when we raised a further £12,500 for FSID from such events as a Casino Royale Ball and a Cabaret Night. Rotary has been very enjoyable for me, meeting new people, organising events and of course raising money for very worthwhile causes!!
