Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Alisdair Dewar, RBC Brewin Dolphin Edinburgh
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Alisdair Dewar, Head of Office at RBC Brewin Dolphin Edinburgh. He is Head of Office for Edinburgh at RBC Brewin Dolphin, where he leads the office’s strategy, growth, leadership team and day-to-day operations, supporting clients and colleagues across the region.
Tell City Wealth readers a bit about your role.
As Head of Office for Edinburgh at RBC Brewin Dolphin, I’m responsible for leading the entire office, including our private client, intermediary and charity teams. My focus is on delivering exceptional wealth management services while fostering a high-performing, collaborative team environment.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are identical, which is one of the things I love about the role. The variety keeps things interesting, and my days are typically divided between client engagement and leadership responsibilities. I’ll often start with a team update on what lies ahead as I’m always conscious of staying across changes and market developments that affect our clients. Beyond my focus on clients, as a leader my role is also centred on wider business strategy and I find people development a particular passion area.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
We’ve seen a notable uptick in clients seeking clarity around recent policy changes and how these affect their long-term wealth strategies, particularly around lifetime gifting, trust structures, and business succession planning. Clients also often want to understand how their wealth can support charitable causes as part of their overall wealth plan. These requests reflect a more holistic approach to wealth management as clients look beyond investment returns and seek integrated advice that also considers their legacy and purpose.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Our clients face several interconnected challenges. First, complexity: navigating IHT legislation, pension rules, and tax efficiency requires specialist knowledge. Second, uncertainty: volatile markets and legislative changes create complexity around long-term planning. Third, legacy and purpose: increasingly, clients want their wealth to reflect their values and benefit future generations.
We help by providing integrated advice, bringing together specialists, financial planners, and investment managers to give clients a 360-degree view of their wealth. We’re also investing in client education, ensuring they understand recent legislative changes and how these affect their personal circumstances. We offer a bespoke, holistic approach as every client’s situation and personal values are unique and we tailor our strategies accordingly.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
I’m most proud of building a culture of collaboration, continuous development, and client-centricity. Seeing the team gel, develop their expertise, and collectively deliver outstanding client outcomes has been genuinely rewarding. That cultural foundation is what drives business success. Everything else flows from having the right team and people in place.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
I’d highlight several:
- Integrity is non-negotiable. Your team and clients need to trust you completely.
- Authenticity. People respond to leaders who are genuine and admit when they don’t have all the answers.
- Active listening. Understanding what your team and clients genuinely need, rather than imposing solutions, is crucial.
- Commitment to development. Great leaders invest in their people.
- Resilience. Leaders need to model composure and solutions-focused thinking in the face of challenges.
- Humility. The best leaders know they’re part of something bigger and remain open to learning.
Who do you most admire and why?
I admire leaders who combine commercial acumen with genuine care for their people and clients. In the wealth management space, I respect those who’ve built sustainable, values-driven businesses rather than chasing short-term metrics. More broadly, I admire people who lead with integrity, admit mistakes, invest in others’ development, and remain curious and open-minded throughout their careers. Those qualities tend to produce both business success and genuine human impact.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I recently returned from a holiday in Canada, which was wonderful and a perfect chance to recharge. I’m shortly heading to Canada again, this time for work, which I’m looking forward to. There’s something about travel that provides perspective.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
That’s an interesting question. I’m passionate about football and golf but not very good at either! I could see myself involved in sports in some capacity though, maybe at a grassroots level where you’re developing young talent. The principles are similar: bringing people together, helping them improve and creating an environment where they can succeed.
10. How do you relax after a long day?
I’m a keen watcher of sport, in particular football and golf. There’s something genuinely relaxing about focusing on the game rather than work. I also value time with family and friends. The key for me is having activities that are completely separate from work and allow me to decompress and recharge.
Key Takeaways
- Alisdair Dewar leads the Edinburgh office at RBC Brewin Dolphin, focusing on wealth management and team collaboration.
- His typical day involves client engagement and leadership, ensuring the team stays updated on market developments.
- Clients increasingly seek clarity on policy changes and desire integrated wealth management that reflects their values.
- Dewar prioritises integrity, authenticity, active listening, and commitment to development as key leadership traits.
- He admires leaders who balance commercial success with genuine care for people and maintain a curiosity throughout their careers.
RBC Brewin Dolphin’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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