It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Charlie Willcox.
Charlie was Counsel to UMA Wealth, but that title captures only a small part of what he meant to us. Our relationship with Charlie was founded on friendship long before it became a professional one, and over the years he became a trusted and valued part of the wider UMA family. We were fortunate to know him both personally and professionally, and it is the person, as much as the colleague and adviser, whom we mourn.
When Charlie brought his considerable professional experience to UMA, we therefore had the privilege not simply of working with an exceptional professional, but of working alongside someone whose character, judgement and integrity we already knew and trusted.
Charlie spent more than four decades in financial services, building an extraordinary depth of experience across banking, risk management, internal audit, regulatory supervision, compliance and the private wealth sector. His career included senior positions with NatWest, Coutts, the UK Financial Services Authority and Stonehage Fleming, before he continued his work as an independent adviser in Switzerland.
Over the latter part of his career, Charlie became a recognised authority on FATCA, the Common Reporting Standard and the wider international tax-transparency framework. At Stonehage Fleming, he led the implementation of FATCA and CRS across its international group and subsequently oversaw ongoing compliance with these regimes. He went on to advise financial institutions, family offices, trustees and private-client professionals on some of the increasingly complex regulatory issues confronting internationally connected families and their advisers.
At UMA Wealth, Charlie was the person we could turn to when a FATCA or CRS question was complicated, when the rules did not produce an obvious answer, or when we simply wanted the reassurance of an experienced and independent mind looking at an issue with us.
He combined considerable technical knowledge with something much rarer: judgement. Charlie understood that good compliance is not simply about knowing what the rules say. It is about understanding their purpose, identifying the real risk and finding a practical and responsible way forward. He was prepared to challenge assumptions when necessary, but he did so constructively and with the benefit of decades of experience.
But impressive as Charlie’s professional career was, his professional achievements alone do not describe the man we knew.
Charlie had warmth, humour and an unmistakable personality. He was an enormous Star Wars fan — something anyone who heard his distinctive R2-D2 phone ringtone would quickly discover. He enjoyed good company, good conversation and a good beer, and he had a genuine pleasure in bringing people together. He also loved to cook, and those fortunate enough to experience his paella will remember it particularly fondly.
These may seem like small details beside a long and distinguished professional career, but they are the details that remind us of the person behind the expertise: someone generous with his knowledge and his time, engaging company, and a man who valued friendship and the people around him.
That is perhaps how we will remember Charlie best: a highly accomplished professional who took his responsibilities seriously, but never himself too seriously; someone whose considerable expertise was matched by warmth, humour, generosity and humanity.
The private wealth and regulatory community has lost a professional of exceptional experience and integrity. For us, however, the loss is much more personal.
Charlie was our friend before he was our associate. We feel privileged that our friendship eventually became a professional relationship as well, allowing Charlie’s experience, judgement and character to become part of UMA.
Our thoughts are with Charlie’s family and all those closest to him at this extraordinarily difficult time.
We will remember Charlie with enormous respect, affection and gratitude — for his contribution to UMA and for the friendship and memories we were fortunate enough to share with him.
He will be deeply missed.
The UMA Team
