TrinityBridge: A wealth of energy and ideas clients can count on

The Herald Scotland

08-05-2025

Indeed, the leading wealth management firm has been working with individuals, families, professionals, and businesses to guide them towards making the right financial choices for their unique circumstances for more than 30 years.
In March, Close Brothers Asset Management unveiled the TrinityBridge name following completion of its sale to funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management LP.
As a standalone, independent business, this year sees the respected institution embark on the next phase of its journey. TrinityBridge has also launched a £35 million investment programme to enhance its technology as it becomes an independent firm.
For Marcelo Rodrigues, Managing Director of TrinityBridge in Scotland, any suggestion that this current era of geopolitical uncertainty is the wrong time to launch as an independent business is quickly swept away. 'There's been uncertainty before – the financial crisis and recession in 2008/09 and, more recently, the Covid pandemic – and it is inevitable that we will face periods of uncertainty in the future,' he points out.
'My view is that during times when there is so much volatility… that is when the value of what we do as a business really comes to life! The world doesn't stop for our clients – they still have decisions to make and businesses to run. Our job is to provide guidance and support, and help them navigate challenges and optimise opportunities provided by an ever-changing external environment.
'We can't control politics or what's happening at home or in other parts of the world – but we can control the service and the advice we provide to our clients, and how these are constantly reviewed and adapted to create the best possible outcomes for their individual circumstances.'
Mr Rodrigues, who joined the company last summer from Schroders Personal Wealth where he was responsible for business development and partnerships, has also held senior management positions at NatWest and Lloyds Banking Group.
As a highly qualified and experienced Wealth Manager himself, he is unapologetic about his belief that a client-centric approach is the only feasible route to sustainable success, and one that benefits all parties involved.
At TrinityBridge, he is 'channelling the energy of the people in the business' to drive it forward and achieve its growth ambitions. 'We have a very powerful business model with our integrated proposition of investment management and financial planning – that makes us stand out in the wealth management space and able to react to market influences,' says Mr Rodrigues.
He also points to TrinityBridge's people as its 'biggest asset', adding: 'We're a people business. We have a great mix of people from various backgrounds – some have trained with the Big Four, others have started their career with us. Our recruitment process is very thoughtful and having such a diverse pool of talent is hugely beneficial for our clients, too. It's a very cohesive approach, combining experience and creativity from a thoroughly diverse set of minds.'
Looking at the wider investment management and financial planning landscape, Mr Rodrigues points to a huge amount of consolidation in recent years, largely driven through increased regulation which makes it more difficult for smaller competitors. 'The UK market has always been very fragmented, which makes it more challenging to regulate,' he explains. 'It makes it difficult to maintain oversight, often leading to poor client experiences and results
'Regulation evolves and that is important if we are to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.'
With offices in Melville Street, Edinburgh and Glasgow's St Vincent Street, TrinityBridge serves clients the length and breadth of the country, from Shetland down to the Scottish Borders, covering the islands, Inverness and Aberdeen, now home to GB Energy, the new, publicly-owned, clean energy company set up by the UK Government.
'Growth is very much on our agenda, and our priority is organic growth. We want to grow the business in a sustainable way,' Mr Rodrigues points out. 'We are focused on our existing client base and what we find is that, when you do that, growth comes through client referrals from their network.
'That is the most sustainable way to grow and ensures that our clients receive what they want and deserve.'
Asked if TrinityBridge will expand its physical presence in Scotland in the future, Mr Rodrigues said: 'We will absolutely explore any opportunities that arise and it is interesting that we've experienced considerable growth in rural areas. We support clients from many different sectors, including agriculture, land management, renewables, and oil and gas. As we grow, we will not rule out opening new offices.'
As part of its growth ambitions north of the Border, the firm has also recently announced the appointment of Andrew Knight as client relationship director for Scotland.
Mr Knight has a proven track record in financial planning and client relationship management and will play a key role in identifying and securing new client relationships, developing strategic partnerships, and enhancing the firm's market presence.
'As we move forward, our key message to our clients is that we have an incredibly strong brand – we may have a new name, but our clients continue to be served by the same people they have built strong, trusting relationships with,' assures Mr Rodrigues. 'There's a new name above the door but it is business as usual.
'However, we know that we need to work very hard to keep raising awareness of the benefits of what we do – for existing and prospective clients. We take nothing for granted in a competitive environment but we do play to our strengths and the fact that we have bespoke investment management and financial planning services under one roof is very much our key point of difference.'
www.trinitybridge.com