Chartered Financial Planner

• May 2017 - Present

Independent Financial Adviser

• Apr 2013 - Apr 2017

I specialise in Lifetime Financial Planning. Making sure people can do the things they want to do now, and in the future, no matter what happens. First and foremost I put my client's goals, dreams and aspirations at the heart of my planning process. Only once I understand these in detail do I have any right to make a financial recommendation which will support them and ensure they are achieved. I use cutting-edge technology and processes to make sure my recommendations are robust and remain so in the future. For example, recently I have helped a couple to have the confidence that they can retire early and spend more time living the life they want and doing the things they enjoy, with the people they love. I am also helping many people who are approaching retirement to understand what they want to do with their time, and what resources they will need now and in the future to achieve this. I also help them to de-mystify their options and create a bespoke plan which is right for them. Finally I am working with many younger, successful people, not only to help them look ahead at their future and create something worthwhile, but also to make sure that once plans are in place, they are not threatened by unforeseen events. I take great pride and satisfaction from working in this way, and really adding on-going value to my clients. For me the outcome is not a product, the outcome is a set of happy, secure and financially confident clients.

Associate Adviser

• Jul 2012 - Nov 2012

IFA specialising in Pensions, Trust Work and Corporate Financial Advice for SMEs and Business Owners. Fully qualified and exceeding RDR minimum standards and working hard towards Chartered Status. Providing holistic whole of life financial planning to professionals, business people, those approaching retirement and others facing significant life changes. Particular focus on working alongside clients on an ongoing basis to identify, quantify, and build their financial dreams whilst protecting what they have worked hard to achieve.

Business Consultant

• Apr 2012 - Jun 2012

- Promoting innovative and market-leading protection solutions. - Enhancing the lives and financial security of IFA clients. - Opening up highly profitable new-business streams for IFAs in Business and Personal Protection. - Helping IFAs work through RDR to become profitable and resilient. - Promoting innovative and market-leading protection solutions. - Enhancing the lives and financial security of IFA clients. - Opening up highly profitable new-business streams for IFAs in Business and Personal Protection. - Helping IFAs work through RDR to become profitable and resilient.

Business Development Manager

• Jun 2011 - Mar 2012

• Forged strong relationships from scratch with ‘cold’ firms and IFAs to identify and incubate new WRAP adopters; develop ‘3rd-Way’ Guaranteed product business; sell-in the Architas risk-rated investment solutions as well as a range of other financial products including 3rd-way retirement solutions.. • Achived 95% of target within 8 months of taking over an unproductive client panel. • Increased new business flows from almost zero to over £1m a month, from ten firms, within a four month period, including those with no prior relationship. • Helped IFAs to work through the implications to their business of RDR, the FSA Investment Suitability Papers and other current industry challenges; help them to investigate the options; work with them to formulate a plan and then implement it, to help their businesses transform in good time. • Responsible for introducing internal specialists where appropriate to help selected IFA firms through a structured business consultancy process leading to the adoption of the AXA Wealth Elevate Wrap platform and investment solutions. • Gained commitment to adopt both these solutions with my largest account. Agreed with four more to implement the process with a view to adopting imminently, and started working closely with several other potential Elevate adopters. • Built relationships with key people within IFA firms to understand their business and identify mutually beneficial business partnership opportunities.

Regional Account Manager

• Dec 2006 - Jul 2011

Responsible for managing and developing the relationship between Wealth Managers and key retail banks across the MidlandsWorked together with UHNW and HNW business-writers to develop new business opportunities from a wide range of introducers including Investment Managers, Private Bankers, Solicitors, Accountants and Corporate Banking Specialists.Trained business partners in legislative changes to various areas including the pensions and estate-planning arenas.Presented training courses to large and small groups of varying experience and knowledge to increase referral rates. Developed and ran training and educational workshops to a wide range of audiences from business writers, professional connections, internal business introducers and end customers.Developed significant flows of Offshore Bond and SIPP business from a standing start.First point of contact for solving technical and unusual financial planning queries.Researched, understood and communicated on a range of tax-wrapper solutions and helped IFA customers to understand where they can be used most appropriately for their clients.Developed a strong ethical foundation of appropriate, TCF-compliant and RDR-ready advice solutions.Achieved DipPFS in October 2009.Contributed strongly in a team environment sharing success and helping colleagues with presentations or other technical support.Enabled high-quality and effective personal performance management by maintaining up-to-date and accurate records of activity and results.Sought out and developed new opportunities above and beyond normal day to day activity. Worked with external specialists to help develop relationships at all levels within client organisations.

Regional Account Manager

• Dec 2006 - Dec 2010

Managing the relationship between Standard Life and key Wealth Managers and Retail Banks across the centre of the UK. I build relationships with key stakeholders throughout their businesses; focus hard on the Financial Planners, and train and develop their introducers to increase the flow of quality referrals.I strive to exceed targets, and focus activity accordingly.

Associate IFA

• May 2006 - Dec 2006

Holding G60 I was the pension specialist within this local IFA firm, and also provided a full range of financial advice. Developed a strong understanding of the issues facing IFAs in the marketplace today, and how to manage my time effectively. Holding G60 I was the pension specialist within this local IFA firm, and also provided a full range of financial advice. Developed a strong understanding of the issues facing IFAs in the marketplace today, and how to manage my time effectively.

Account Manager

• Aug 2004 - May 2006

My first face to face Broker Consultant role, responsible for achieving targeted sales through a wide panel of IFAs across the West Midlands.Pension-focused across the full spectrum from individual personal pensions through to DC and DB schemes with SMEs. Achieved a top-ten result and earned a place on the company incentive trip in 2005 to Bermuda.

Regional Account Manager

• Aug 2004 - May 2006

Developed significant pension business from a wide panel of IFAs across the Midlands. Secured corporate pension schemes ranging from small GPPs to substantial Final Salary schemes.Achieved a top-ten sales position and secured a place on the annual incentive trip in 2005. Travel - Australia & New

Telephone Account Manager

• May 1998 - Oct 2003

Initially worked as a Business Analyst for two years, specifying, testing and implementing IT systems. Then moved into a Telephone Account Manager Role. consistently smashing sales targets, and managing the phone relationship with many IFA accounts in conjunction with locally-based Broker Consultants. Initially worked as a Business Analyst for two years, specifying, testing and implementing IT systems. Then moved into a Telephone Account Manager Role. consistently smashing sales targets, and managing the phone relationship with many IFA accounts in conjunction with locally-based Broker Consultants.

Business Development Consultant

• Jul 2002 - Dec 2002

Identified and contacted potential new corporate clients and held introductory meetings with a view to developing business from them. Identified and contacted potential new corporate clients and held introductory meetings with a view to developing business from them.

Telephone Account Manager

• Jul 2000 - Jul 2002

Achieved over 160% of my personal sales target in 2000, and over 110% of my target in 2001. Presented to internal sales teams and their managers on many occasions, gaining strong personal feedback and creating improved understanding of roles and responsibilities across the team. Worked closely with up to 15 aligned field-based consultants and jointly developed business from a large panel of IFAs. Achieved over 160% of my personal sales target in 2000, and over 110% of my target in 2001. Presented to internal sales teams and their managers on many occasions, gaining strong personal feedback and creating improved understanding of roles and responsibilities across the team. Worked closely with up to 15 aligned field-based consultants and jointly developed business from a large panel of IFAs.

Business Analyst

• May 1998 - Jul 2000

Managed several small cross functional projects from inception to implementation. Worked within large cross-functional teams enabling the company to be one of the first major players in the group stakeholder market. Helped to design, specify and test an automated Income Drawdown Annual and Triennial Review system, thus eliminating costly manual administration and improving service standards. Managed several small cross functional projects from inception to implementation. Worked within large cross-functional teams enabling the company to be one of the first major players in the group stakeholder market. Helped to design, specify and test an automated Income Drawdown Annual and Triennial Review system, thus eliminating costly manual administration and improving service standards.

Customer Service Representative

• May 1993 - May 1998

Improved service levels to provide a consistent one-day turnaround for new Income Drawdown cases Presented results of Culture Change project to the board of directors. Improved service levels to provide a consistent one-day turnaround for new Income Drawdown cases Presented results of Culture Change project to the board of directors.

Pub Manager

• Oct 1987 - May 1993

Managed a micro-brewery and pub turning over £0.5m+ p.a. VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING DipPFS - Level 4 Qualified FPC 1, 2 and 3 AFPC G60 - Pensions AFPC G10 - Taxation and Trusts CF9 - Pensions Simplification J02 - Trusts At-work training including : sales training, presentation skills, communicating and influencing, project management, business analysis. Part time foundation course on identifying training needs and developing and delivering appropriate training solutions. (1994)