About Us

 Rutherford Wilkinson plc

Rutherford Wilkinson plc is a leading firm of Independent Financial Advisers and was formed in 2002 from the merger of Wilkinson Hatton and Rutherford Financial Management (formerly Peter Rutherford & Co). 

These two firms were a natural match, combining substantial strengths and resources. Rutherford Financial Management was an investment specialist formed in 1992, and Wilkinson Hatton, established in 1986, had dealt mainly with corporate clients on a fee-charging basis. Both firms placed a strong emphasis on providing quality advice from professionally qualified advisers, matched with outstanding customer care. 

The merger has created a full service financial services organisation that can meet the needs of all types of client, whether business or personal.

A specialist division was created in 2005 when Ray Prince and Graeme Urwin joined the company. This division deals exclusively with the financial planning needs of UK resident doctors and dentists. 

This website has been developed to help medical and dental professionals with all aspects of their financial planning.

The company purchased new offices in July 2006 and is now located next to the A19 on the outskirts of Newcastle Upon Tyne. You can also read some of our media coverage here (link goes to our main site - a new window will open).

As well as holistic fee based financial planning, Rutherford Wilkinson plc offers a wide range of financial services. See the services (link goes to our main site - a new window will open) section for more details.

Ray Prince

Ray grew up in the North East of England and attended Kings School in Tynemouth, an experience he remembers for the cold weather, all year round! After school he continued his studies, completing a Master’s degree in 1999 at Sheffield Hallam University. 

Ray started working as a financial adviser in 1994 with Friends Provident. In 1996 he made the step to become an Independent Financial Adviser, joining medical and dental specialists Baxter Fensham Ltd. It was here that he developed his specialist knowledge, advising doctors and dentists how to get the most from their financial planning.

Ray has presented financial planning seminars to groups within dentistry, including Women in Dentistry, dental health education council, the BDA and both undergraduate & postgraduate schools. He also continues to run workshops and presentations to groups of doctors and dentists. 

In 2004, Ray relocated from the Midlands back to the North East and has since teamed up with Rutherford Wilkinson plc to deal specifically with members of the medical and dental professions.

Ray has continued to pass various financial papers and holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate and the Diploma in Financial Planning accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute. His passion is working with and helping clients who want an unbiased view as to how they can achieve their lifestyle and financial goals and objectives.

He likes to help others less fortunate than himself and has volunteered for Crisis, the charity for the homeless, and did a sky-dive in 2003 for Dentaid, raising funds for under-resourced dentists in the Third World.

Graeme also grew up in the North East, in Chester-le-Street. He remembers very clearly helping out in his father’s newsagents nearby, delivering round upon round of newspapers far too early in the morning!

After working for the Mars group for several years, he joined the Medical Sickness Society in his mid twenties. It was here that he developed a passion for helping medics and dentists with their finances, and became very used to the ins and outs of the NHS Pension scheme. It was this same passion that made him move on after 16 years to become an Independent Financial Planner, as he wanted to offer his clients a broader range of services and a totally impartial advisory service. 

After working in London and Kent for many years, he returned to the North East in 2000 with his family. They are now settled in Rothbury, Northumberland, and have invested in thick fleeces and walking boots!

When not working, Graeme spends a lot of time with his family, and is very aware of the saying “tempus fugit” when his daughter increasingly shows him up with her improving skills and fitness.

His other personal interests are local history, genealogy, archaeology and cartography. He also loves walking and playing racquet sports, and regularly plays squash. He also completed the Great North Run in 2005, raising money for children with cancer.

Go here to contact us.