Introducing: AMP Dynamics Financial Services

James worked at Flight Centre for 14 years and helped establish the Warkworth branch 10 years ago after moving from Auckland.

Starting as a travel agent, he worked his way up to roles in finance and was the national customer relations manager for the company when he left last year.

Although he is now embarking on a new path, he says there are a lot of similarities between the two careers.

“It’s about understanding people’s situations and coming up with solutions that best suit their needs,” he says.

“It’s important to build strong relationships with customers and look after them on a regular basis. If I know the ins and outs of a person’s circumstances it’s much easier for me to negotiate the right deal and for them to have trust in me to fight for their case.”

James moved to New Zealand from England 15 years ago after meeting his Kiwi wife, Avalon, at a ski resort in the French Alps.

They moved to Auckland, but had a caravan at Sandspit where they spent weekends with their three daughters.

“We love the beaches, the parks and the community feel.”

They are often volunteering at regional parks, doing pest control and native plantings to help protect what they love about the area.

AMP offers free financial advice on insurance and mortgages, including an annual review.

“People’s circumstances can change rapidly and that has a big impact on what insurance policy or mortgage structure will best suit and give them value for money,” James says. “By reviewing each client’s situation every year we can make sure they are on the right policy.

“We also negotiate directly with banks to get the best mortgage rate so clients don’t have to spend hours comparing the different options. It’s our job to understand the market and negotiate harder on our client’s behalf.”