SUSSEX INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS - Key Persons
Courtney has worked within the financial services industry for five years and has experience in the UK as well as South Africa. She worked previously as a personal assistant and as a technical assistant and has joined Sussex Independent as an administrator. She enjoys researching investment products and coffee.
Jake Beale who has a degree from the University of Brighton and holds a level 4 Diploma in Financial Advice. Jake having previously worked as a protection adviser moved to Sussex Independent to pursue his goal of becoming a Chartered Financial Planner.
Jo has worked within the financial service industry for just over 30 years. A large part of this was at Refuge Assurance dealing with administration, accounts, policy servicing and new business, as well as supporting the District Manager at the Eastbourne branch.
Thereafter Jo moved to the Co-operative Insurance Society carrying out similar work. Jo is involved in dealing with the client database, dealing with day to day administration as well as providing Illustrations for General Insurance and supporting the Admin Function in the progression of client cases.
Jo completed her Certificate In Regulated Insurance in December 2008,her Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice in July 2009 her level 3 qualification Introduction to Securities and Investments in February 2013,FA2 Pension Administration in 2014 and CF8 Long Term in 2015. Jo is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.
Job Titles:
- FP & BM
- SIFA Operations and Compliance Director Explains Our Ethos
Karl is a Chartered Wealth Manager, Chartered FCSI, Chartered Marketer, Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Manager.
Karl Hopper-Young has 36 years experience within financial services, prior to which he served just over 6 years in the British Army.
He has an impressive amount of knowledge and experience within the financial services profession.
Karl was a fellow of the Life Insurance Association by diploma and has held various positions, including Chairman of the Management Development Association for Sussex and Surrey.
Katy has worked in administration for over 10 years. She previously worked for her family's business as administrator as well as helping out on market stalls and packing orders over Christmas.
Katy aspires to follow in her Mother's and Grandmother's footsteps and become a Chartered Accountant.
She loves spending time with her family, especially her little girl. Katy has a passion for learning about ways to live a spiritual lifestyle and natural healing practices.
Job Titles:
- Mortgage Placement & Administration
Kyle has 13 years experience in financial services sector. He previously worked as an adviser for 3 years, he achieved his CeMap level 3 Certificate in 2021 and is currently studying towards his level 3 Certificate in regulated equity release.
Kyle loves the great outdoors regularly camping and often found teaching Axe throwing and Archery in various forests throughout the UK, Most of his free time is spent making memories with his wife and 4-year-old son
Mark Thomas who has been a Chartered Accountant for thirty eight years with extensive experience of the accountancy profession, business and commerce.He has an honours degree in Economics from Leeds University.Mark manages all the accounting aspects of the Company and is available to give tax and accountancy assistance to clients.
Mark has 34 years experience in the accountancy and financial management field. He is an Economics Graduate of Leeds University. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990 and after 9 years of auditing in a London practice took up senior financial management roles in the commercial sector before joining Sussex Independent.
Mark deals with a number of the compliance issues within the firm as well as the financial management and risk controls within the firm and provides clients with advice in relation to self assessment and small business accounts.
Mark was appointed a Director of the company at the beginning of 2008. Now semi-retired Mark acts as a consultant when needed.
As a younger man Mark was a keen sportsman, his sporting career peaked early when he won the Mid-Warwickshire Schools under sevens sixty yard dash. Mark is still a keen follower of sport, mainly cricket and rugby.
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Administrator
Mike has over 17 years' experience in financial services. Previously, he spent 16½ years working in retail banking and securities & derivatives dealing in Hong Kong and some years with his family garment business across Hong Kong, Mainland China and the Middle East.
Mike previously lived and studied in the UK for 7½ years and obtained an MSc in Business Economics and a BA (Honours) in Economics. He also holds an Associate Financial Planner® status in Hong Kong and is now studying towards the Level 4 Diploma here in the UK.
Mike is a Coaching Assistant in Fitness. He loves athletics, Ving Tsun, hiking, cycling and travelling. He also enjoys studying the global economy and the stock market in his spare time.
Job Titles:
- Director and Chartered Financial Planner
Robert has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry, previously in the Wealth Management division of one of the UK's best Private Banks and over the last 10 years as an Independent Financial Adviser for Sussex IFA Ltd.
Throughout his career Robert has gained a vast knowledge across many differing industries where he has tailored financial planning solutions for each of his clients to meet their individual needs.
Robert believes that the most important aspect of assisting his clients is the ability to listen to and understand their requirements to help them build on these aspirations, through cultivating long standing working relationships to advise them of the options available to achieve their objectives.
Sammy has 5 years experience in financial services and is keen to expand his experience within the sector. After previously working within accounts in the healthcare sector, Sammy is interested in gaining real world understanding of the financial sector from both the accounting perspective and financial advice.
As a graduate with a financial services degree, Sammy understands the function of money which enables him to assist clients with tax enquiries and provide a high level of support to the firm and our clients.
Sammy is currently undertaking his professional accountancy qualifications with the goal of becoming a chartered tax adviser and further strengthening his knowledge to ensure clients needs are met to the highest possible standard.
Sammy enjoys studying about the financial markets in his spare time and likes to keep up to date with financial changes and how they can affect the valuation of the market assets over time.
Steve has been in the financial services industry for over 35 years and started life at Andrews Financial Services in July 1989. He also worked for General Accident Property Services and Hambro Countrywide until the early 1990s when he joined Commercial Union Home Link trading as Agency Financial Services where he worked until 1998 and then decided the time was right to become an Independent Financial Adviser and has been with Sussex Independent ever since.
Thomas brings over 20 years' experience within the financial services and retail banking industry, having previously worked as a financial planning manager and customer experience adviser.
Thomas is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and holds this status through the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI), a globally recognised certification in the financial planning industry. Having moved from Hong Kong two years ago, Thomas has been working in a retail bank and is keen to continue his career in the financial planning industry with a Chartered firm.
In his spare time, he enjoys watching football games and spending time with his family.