Prior to setting up Harnhill Wealth Management James MacDonald-Smith spent almost two decades advising Ultra and High Net Worth Individuals as an Investment Manager and Private Banker. Just prior to setting up Harnhill James was with Church House Investments – previously he was part of the Key Clients Group of Lloyds Private Banking where he was employed to help set up a team looking after Lloyds most wealthy clients. Before Lloyds he was at Barclays Wealth, where he was a Director, and at the time of leaving running a team of private bankers as well as chairing the investment committee and weekly meeting for the UHNW/HNW private bankers. Prior to being a Private Banker at Barclays Wealth, James was Global Chief Operating Officer on the Investment Management side of the Private Bank where amongst other duties he was responsible for all product origination, business risk and controls.

He started his career as an Investment Manager managing discretionary portfolios for HNW and UHNW clients and managed a team of portfolio managers. Prior to a career in wealth management James was a management consultant and held a Short Service Commission in the British Army. He is a former Vice Chairman of the London Branch of the Country Land and Business Association and he studied Rural Estate Management at the Royal Agricultural College, he is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, and a Chartered Wealth Manager.