This week we're taking a closer look at Holland Hahn and Wills, a small local financial services business with strong involvement in Kingston's community.

Founded in 1990 by Simon Ainley, Chris Hirsch and Jason Lurie, the company offers financial planning services for people approaching retirement in London and beyond.

As well as ensuring their clients' wealth is safe for generations to come, Holland Hahn and Wills are also helping secure Kingston's future.

As a patron of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, they help provide support to local businesses and sponsor key events including last month's business Expo - a day of seminars, networking and exhibitions for enterprise in our town.

Partner Amyr Rocha-Lima, also started a podcast in 2019 called Inside Kingston , which tells the stories of successful business owners, experienced professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders based in Kingston.

So far, he has done an impressive 81 episodes and the podcast has a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts.

Amyr said: "I've really enjoyed how each conversation has drawn out the interesting personalities of some of the amazing people that live and work in our area!"

In addition, the company provides support and advice to Kingston's youth.

Staff mentor students at Kingston University Business School hackathon' to help students develop business skills.

They also deliver financial education classes and careers talks to pupils in local schools, and help judge the borough's Young Enterprise competitions.

Holland Hahn and Wills also make sure they support local causes and companies wherever possible.

Each Christmas the company gives a donation to a charity with links to Kingston; last year this was Momentum Children's Charity which supports families with seriously ill children in South-West London.

They are also a supporter of Love Kingston, a charity tackling loneliness and mental ill-health in the borough, and last year ran Virtual Afternoon Tea Parties to help fundraise.

All of Holland Hahn and Wills nine-strong team live locally and four of them cycle to work - so environmentally-speaking they're doing their bit!

The company is now expanding and refurbishing their Grade II listed office just over Kingston Bridge, making sure its historical character is preserved while still ensuring it is a comfortable place to work.

"We wanted to maintain our local links while making sure we had the space to keep growing," said Managing Partner Chris Hirsch.

"When the opportunity to acquire the adjacent building presented itself, we jumped at the chance!

"We hope that the restoration of the buildings has achieved a good balance between respecting the past while looking to the future."

Teddington architects WR:AP were hired to help design this and local construction crews have been involved where possible.

The new office will have room for local groups to run activities and the company is looking forward to hosting events for clients and the community there.

Katie Lovatt, Head of Marketing and Operations at the firm, said: "It's exciting to be so involved with the local area and we are delighted to help people achieve their financial goals so they can enjoy their lives.

"We can't wait to be back in the newly refurbished office with all its historical quirks!".

Our new partnership

Holland Hahn and Wills is now set to be further involved in Kingston's community through an exciting new partnership with Kingston Nub News.

Their sponsorship will help us continue providing our high-quality dedicated news service to Kingston residents free of clickbait and intrusive ads.

It's thanks to sponsors like Holland Hahn and Wills that we can deliver high-quality journalism for Kingston.

Nub News Chief Executive Karl Hancock said: "I'm delighted to welcome our new sponsors Holland Hahn and Wills.

"Their focus on community and sustainability make them the ideal partners for us.

"We are thrilled they have chosen to help us continue delivering the great news service Kingston deserves."

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