Happy 60th birthday to me (Karen Jones), and happy 21st to Citywealth!

Date: 14 Oct 2026

Karen Jones

Byline: Karen Jones, founder of Citywealth, has more than 20 years’ experience in global private wealth.

There comes a moment in a woman’s life when she must decide whether to keep her age under wraps or issue a press release. Given my line of work, the press release was always going to win.

On 20 October 2026, I turn 60. Born on 20.10.66, and now announcing it to the industry. There: a little less work for your due diligence teams.

At the recent Powerwomen Awards International, we wondered whether it was a good thing for women to reveal their age and their years in business. Does it convey experience and authority? Why should we even have to think twice about it?

Whether it is a good thing or not, it’s too late. The news is out.

I was born in the Year of the Fire Horse. In Japan, an old superstition held that women born under this sign would be headstrong and unsuitable for marriage. The prejudice was serious enough to prompt many families to avoid having children that year.

A sobering reminder of how threatening a woman with a mind of her own could apparently be.

These days, we might call those same qualities leadership potential. Certainly, a little fire has proved useful in building a business.

And this year brings another birthday: Citywealth turns 21. Officially grown up, although still quite capable of getting excited about a party.

To mark both milestones, we are having a soirée at our new offices, Citywealth Towers. We look forward to welcoming some industry VIP guests for a glass of something and good conversation.

Behind the celebrations is a heartfelt thank you.

To everyone who has helped us, shared their thoughts, attended our events, bought our products and services, or recommended people in the industry: you have helped make Citywealth what it is today.

Across the offshore jurisdictions, the UK, America and beyond, your support has carried us a very long way.

We are a small team at Citywealth, but we have a big heart. We know many of you personally, and it has been our pleasure to work with you for so many years. The relationships are what make the work worthwhile, and what make this birthday feel like something to share.

Who knew that a laptop in my lounge, a fax machine and Skype would turn into a global business? It was hardly the sort of launch that required a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Unless someone wanted to cut the telephone cable because I hadn’t paid my bills. 😉

Citywealth was launched with a credit card and a prayer.

But it grew. Through introductions, recommendations, purchases, conversations and people willing to give us a chance, it became something far bigger than I could have imagined from my sofa. 

That growth owes a great deal to the professionals in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK, who greeted us with such kindness and helped us get underway. It also owes credit to the team both past and current staff who toiled and still toil away each day keeping the ship upright.

I would particularly like to remember the late Andrew Young, formerly at law firm Lawrence Graham, who generously helped me get a foot in many doors. His kindness made a lasting difference.

And a special thank you to Joshua Rubenstein at Katten, who has been Citywealth’s patron and supporter for the entire 21 years. What a kindness to champion Citywealth from the beginning and help it grow.

We have you, and so many others, to thank for that.

So, happy 60th birthday to me, happy 21st birthday to Citywealth, and thank you to all of you.

Sixty candles may fail a risk assessment at Citywealth Towers so we’ll get going with a big “60” ice sculpture instead.

Karen Jones

PS: A short poem about Karen Jones

IF
(with apologies to Rudyard Kipling)

For Karen
on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of Citywealth

If you believe a so-called “balanced diet”
Means a pint of Bollinger in either hand
And, fuelled with Limoncello-Red-Bull chasers
Keep going when the rest of us can’t stand.

If you can take a crowd of City egos,
And bend them to your will with just a smile,
And find, then mine, that vein of gold within them
Which, nurtured, makes them go the extra mile.

If you can charm and blackguard when it’s needed,
And cram more in a day than others, years,
And give of time, commitment, fun, compassion,
And be there for your clients through smiles and tears.

If you love Citywealth with total passion,
And understand success is never luck,
And prove integrity is still in fashion,
And still find time to have th’occasional cup of tea.

If you have warmth enough to melt the Arctic
A joie de vivre that runs right through your bones,
A thousand friends who think that you’re fantastic,
The chances are your name is Karen Jones.

Frances Edmonds
London
1st December, 2015

Karen Jones is the founder of Citywealth and a wealth management commentator with more than 20 years’ experience across global private wealth, family offices and succession. Before founding Citywealth in 2005, she held publishing roles at The Times and The Sunday Times, London; Legal Business magazine and worked on the Asia Pacific Legal 500

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