SKYBOUND FINANCIAL PLANNING - Key Persons
Abbi has worked in Financial Services since 1996 and has been an Administrator at SFP for over 13 years.
As a key of the team, Abbi provides guidance to others within the firm and help to clients, if they are uncertain. She is an excellent communicator, taking pride to ensure that she integrates regular updates, into an all round quality service. Abbi is an individual you can rely on. If you have a query she will respond quickly and sort it. Whether supporting the Paraplanning team, providing policy information or offering updated valuations to our Advisers, nothing is too much trouble. It is no coincidence, therefore, that Abbi is held in the highest regard, by all our Directors.
In her spare time, Abbi enjoys socialising, cycling and spending time with her family.
Alex is a dedicated financial planner with over 10 years' experience in helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals.
He holds a Diploma in Financial Planning and is currently working towards Chartered status. Alex's passion for financial advice and his client-centric approach make him a trusted advisor in creating personalised ongoing financial strategies. Alex is committed to guiding his clients towards a secure financial future.
Away from the office Alex enjoys playing golf, winter sports and spending time with his wonderful wife and two small dogs.
Alistair is Diploma qualified and having worked in the Financial Services Industry since 1995, is one of SFP's most senior and experienced Paraplanners. Always available to our trainees and other Paraplanners, he frequently helps, providing advice, training and guidance, whenever colleagues ask.
Away from the office, Alistair is a family man with a son and daughter. He stays fit with Taekwondo and spending time at the beach, swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding.
Anne is a Chartered Financial Paraplanner and a Chartered Insurer and has worked in financial services since 1992. She completed the advanced diploma in Financial Planning at the end of 2014 before achieving her Fellowship of the PFS in 2016. At that time, Anne received an award for the best examination result from the Southampton Chartered Insurance Institute and Personal Finance Society. She brings a wealth of experience to TLB.
Anne enjoys mentoring and helping her colleagues, especially with examinations. She loves problem solving and taking on new challenges. She believes that it is vital to continually look for ways to improve and innovate.
Out of work Anne enjoys visiting her family in Yorkshire and planning home improvements.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Certified Accountant
- Financial Controller
- Member of the Management Team
Ashley is a Chartered Certified Accountant who joined Skybound FP in January 2022 from a local Caravan Company where she was the Financial Manager. She has worked in finance and accounting for 18 years and brings a wealth of experience to our Firm. She liaises with our parent Company and their finance team and manages the finance department for Skybound FP.
Away from the office Ashley is kept busy looking after her two children and is involved in their musical and sporting activities.
Bruce is FPC qualified. He combines in depth knowledge with an experience gained over many years, having worked in financial services since 1989.
Always the professional, Bruce brings a relaxed style to our Office. Establishing a rapport with clients and assisting work colleagues are central to the secure service that he always delivers.
Outside of SFP, Bruce is an all-year round cyclist and to unwind he enjoys travelling to watch live sport.
Claire is one of SFP's Paraplanners, holding over 10 years experience in the Financial Services Industry. She holds the Certificate in Financial Planning and is currently working towards the Diploma.
Claire is focused and prides herself on attention to detail. She works closely with our Head of Research, Melanie Barrett.
Claire is really popular with clients and work colleagues alike. She always empathises and takes pride, to deliver a customer service of quality. Claire believes that communication is key. If you speak to Claire, she takes responsibility and will keep responding until you have the answer that you need.
Before joining SFP Claire lived and worked in Sydney. Her true passion in life remains to travel. When not, however, on an exotic trip she keeps fit, enjoying yoga and running.
Job Titles:
- Compliance Director
- Director
- Chartered Financial Planner
Clifford is a Chartered Financial Planner, a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and Compliance Director at Skybound Financial Planning.
He has worked for Accountants, Solicitors and Tax Planners and is therefore used to liaising with the other professions on his clients' behalf. Today he specialises in Planning for and at Retirement, Inheritance Tax Mitigation and Funding for Care.
Clifford is an Accredited Adviser within The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA). SOLLA was founded in 2008 and is a non profit Organisation whose aim is to ensure that consumers and their families are better informed about the particular financial issues of later life and to assist them in finding Trusted Accredited Planners who fully understand and are sympathetic to those issues. This complements Clifford's Affiliate Membership of STEP, The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners; he holds their Certificate qualification.
His hobbies include skiing, sailing, cycling and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Managing Director
- Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director
David is a Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director of Skybound Financial Planning. He began his career in 1987 as a General Practitioner IFA with a large West End brokerage and moved to the Investment Management team two years later. In 1991 he took the helm of the Investment Management Department and continued to run this when the brokerage was taken over in 1993.
In 1995 David left Central London to manage the Financial Planning arm of a West London Law Firm. There he obtained Qualified Person Status under The Law Society in addition to already holding the Chartered Insurance Institute's (CII) Financial Planning Certificate. David left the Practice with Richard Thorpe to set up The Legal Brokerage. David now takes overall responsibility for all the advice offered by the Firm.
Together with his role as MD, David also chairs the SFP Investment Committee.
In 2012 David received the IFA of the Year award from the Managing Director of Tenet. In 2015 at an awards ceremony in Nottingham David again received this accolade. This precedent sets David apart from all of his peers.
Away from the office, David enjoys the country life tending his small tribe of family as well as animals.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- New Member of SFP
Fiona gained her Financial Planning Certificates I and II back in 1999 and puts that knowledge to good use.
As a new member of SFP, Fiona loves her job and is happy to take on any task. Her duties as Receptionist involve answering the telephone, meeting and greeting clients, and taking care of other administrative roles in the office, including filing and assisting with Meeting Packs.
In her space time, Fiona runs her own vintage Etsy shop and loves to line dance.
Hannah joined SFP in 2021 to develop a career in financial services and today is integrated into our administrative team.
Hannah is popular with everyone. Always friendly, her easy style combines efficiency with attention to detail. Assisting her colleagues and providing a first-rate service to our clients, are in her DNA.
So, if you need help or an answer to a query, speak to Hannah. You will be in safe hands.
Away from work Hannah is a big foodie and loves to spend time with family or friends. Formula one is a passion and during holiday time, Hannah can be found on some Greek Island, with glass in hand.
Ian is Diploma qualified and has been employed within financial services for over 35 years during which time he has gained a wide breadth of experience and knowledge working in various capacities within the industry.
He believes that good well-structured financial planning helps give a direction and purpose to financial decisions allowing clients to make informed choices.
Ian is a family man with young twin daughters and he can regularly be found standing on the touch line supporting one of his daughters who plays for a local football team. With his limited free time Ian enjoys cycling, country walks and travelling.
Ian is an experienced financial services professional having worked in the sector for nearly 35 years. He has accumulated a breadth of knowledge, dealing with the needs of clients, in all aspects of their financial requirements. His expertise and experience enable him to offer support any of our clients. He believes that advice should be bespoke, easily understood and linked to excellent service.
Ian is a family man with two daughters, he enjoys walking in the countryside, reading crime novels and enjoys the very occasional game of golf.
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Strategist
- Director
Job Titles:
- Head of Administration
- Member of the Management Team
- Financial Services Administrator
Jacqui is a vastly experienced Financial Services administrator and is the Head of Administration for SFP. She holds the Certificate in Paraplanning and Financial Administration and is presently working towards Diploma status.
Jacqui is technically smart, reliable and very competent. She combines a great eye for detail with hard work and personal pride. Linking an engaging and easy-going approach with efficiency and high standards, Jacqui really is an asset to this Organisation.
Jacqui is married with two young children. Her weekends are spent entertaining her family with swimming, football, parties, days on the beach, trips to the park, the list goes on. When eventually things quieten she enjoys a peaceful glass of wine in the evening.
Jenny has over 12 years experience in the financial services industry from which she has developed a great depth of knowledge.
Customer satisfaction is hugely important to Jenny. With that she always strives to be organised and have her role of supporting the Financial Planners and Paraplanners run smoothly. Jenny always gives her best in her work and with a good sense of humour!
In her spare time, Jenny enjoys walking, watching rugby, travelling and spending time with her family and friends is very important to her.
Joe is one of TLB's Paraplanners. He has completed the Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning and holds Chartered status.
Joe is technically acute, enjoying both research and analysis. He believes that linking intellectual capacity to personal integrity should form the bedrock for all the expertise that he offers.
Away from work, Joe is a keen footballer playing regularly with a local team. He loves skiing, travel and relaxing with a good film.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Team
- Investment Administrator
Julie is one of our senior administrators and is FPC qualified. She has worked in the financial services sector since 1999 and joined SFP in 2012. Julie has terrific organisational skills and is a natural communicator. Her role varies enormously. She processes new business, prepares portfolio valuations, obtains illustrations and often provides a first line of communication to both individuals and companies. Finally, Julie is empathetic and extremely popular with all her work colleagues. Regarding our clients, with her helpful manor and pride in her work, she always forms a genuine and easy rapport.
In her spare time Julie loves both film and theatre.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Head of Client Operations
Karen is one of SFP's senior Paraplanners and as part of our management team, heads up our Administration Department. After a twenty year career, she has built up a wealth of experience in financial services. Karen holds the Diploma in Financial Planning.
Karen takes great pride in delivering high quality research and offers support throughout the firm. She is empathetic and enjoys building strong relationships with both clients and her colleagues throughout the firm.
Karen is married with 2 children. She enjoys spending her spare time with her family, specifically during her regular breaks on her visits to the Cornish coast.
I am relatively new to the finance industry and already thoroughly enjoying it, I have experience with pensions from my previous employment. I also have over 9 years customer service experience and just over 2 years administration experience.
As I am new to this industry, I enjoy any challenges brought my way and eager to learn.
Lauren joined SFP after completing her BA Honours Degree at Bath Spa University. Lauren has worked across all our departments to receive a thorough grounding as she develops her career in Financial Services.
She has the Certificate in Financial Services and has recently achieved the Diploma in Financial Planning.
Lauren is creative and is an avid camper. When weather permits she is also a keen cyclist, having competed nationally. Lauren's last adventure was cycling from St-Malo to Samur and back.
Lewis has over 10 years of Client Services experience and is a senior member of our Adminstration Team.
Lewis is supportive and discrete. When problems arise he solves them. He is committed to delivering the highest of professional standards and expects no less from all his colleagues. If a client is unhappy Lewis is always available. He responds with courtesy, empathy and action.
Outside of work Lewis is a huge foodie and tries to visit as many new restaurants he can find. To counteract the calories he picks up a tennis racket now and again.
Lisa has worked in the Financial Service Industry since 1997 and holds both the Financial Planning Certificate and the Diploma in Financial Planning.
Lisa is one of our most experienced paraplanners and is heavily relied on by SFP's management team. She assists in completing technical investment and pension reports and acts as a mentor to new members of the Paraplanning team. She enjoys the technical elements of research, believing that advice must deliver investment security.
Away from the office, Lisa enjoys travelling, walking in the countryside, keeping fit and socialising.
Louise has worked with The Legal Brokerage from its launch date in 1999. As the Company's Finance Director, she is responsible for the implementation and development of our internal monetary controls. Externally, Louise provides the financial analysis needed to sign off on any of our acquisitions.
The Accounts and Commissions Department reports directly to Louise. In this role, she maintains the communication channels with all of our Providers and Suppliers alike. Louise believes that a happy team is a successful team. She is at all times keen to develop talent, providing training and support for everyone who works with her.
Louise's family and friends are very important to her and she loves to spend time with them. When away from the Office, she keeps fit at the gym and as time permits, plays golf. Being Irish, Louise enjoys travelling including regular trips to her native Dublin.
Mark is based in Poole although having worked in the financial services industry for over 25 years, he has clients throughout the UK.
Prior to merging with The Legal Brokerage, Mark was the Proprietor of KMW Financial Solutions Limited. He is a vastly experienced Financial Planner adept in both the private and corporate spheres. At all times, he maintains a very close relationship with his clients and his number one priority is always their financial welfare. Service, attention to detail and sensible advice, characterise his approach.
Mark holds the Diploma in Financial Planning.
Away from work, Mark enjoys all sports. He keeps fit by regularly competing in Sprint and Olympic distance Triathlons and is a qualified British Triathlon Federation Coach as well as a Ambassador for his local Triathlon Club.
Job Titles:
- Trainee Financial Planner
Matthew currently holds the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and is studying towards Chartered status.
Outside of work, Matthew enjoys keeping fit, watching sports and socialising with friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Head of Paraplanning
Melanie is a Chartered Financial Paraplanner. She completed the advanced diploma in Financial Planning at the end of 2017 before achieving her Fellowship of the PFS. At that time Melanie was awarded the Fellowship Student of the Year by the Bournemouth CII. She is highly academic, very experienced and extremely proficient.
Melanie believes that attention to detail, keeping up with changing legislation and building a good relationship with clients are the key ingredients for any paraplanner. At SFP as a senior member of our team, she is an individual we can always rely upon when matters are technical or complex.
Out of work Melanie is kept busy by her teenage son and attends regular fitness classes such as Pilates and Kettlebells. She enjoys family holidays to sunny destinations having visited Egypt on many occasions.
Job Titles:
- Accounts Supervisor
- Member of the Management Team
Michelle is our Accounts Supervisor. She has worked within financial services for over 20 years and very little escapes her keen eye for detail! Michelle found her niche working with numbers and if there is an accounts problem that needs to be solved, she is the individual we all turn to for advice.
As Skybound Financial Planning entertains actual and potential acquisitions, Michelle is on the front line working with all the Directors and our FC, Ashley Jiao. Finally, she undertakes the key role of acting as the liaison with our Providers.
Outside of work Michelle enjoys reading when time permits, walking the family dogs and travelling.
Job Titles:
- Compliance Manager
- Member of the Management Team
Natalie is Skybound Financial Planning's Compliance Manager.
Natalie has worked in the Financial Services industry since 1987 having held a variety of roles up to the running of the Southern Regional Administration Centre for a previous employer. After taking a slight career change she joined SFP in 2006 as a Paraplanner.
In 2010 Natalie set up a new Compliance Department, with Clifford Gribble, to oversee all the firm's compliance systems and procedures and to monitor the advice provided by Skybound FP.
In her spare time, Natalie enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking and reading. She also loves to travel and go skiing.
Nigel is an experienced IFA and has worked in Financial Services since 1993.
He has a wealth of knowledge across a wide range of financial matters and holds the Diploma in Financial Planning.
His expertise coupled with his experience enable him to offer financial support and advice to corporate and private individuals alike, together with excellent service and sensible advice.
He joined the Legal Brokerage in October 2016 to provide additional options for all his existing and new clients and also to support clients of the firm.
Away from work, Nigel is a family man with three children and his passion is sport and fitness. He represents teams at his local tennis club and also enjoys squash, cycling, and travelling.
Patrick has worked in the Financial Services sector for many years. He is an expert in Investment Management and Retirement Planning. He also holds specialised qualifications to allow him to prepare detailed reports regarding the funding of Long Term Care. Patrick has completed not only the Financial Planning Certificate but also the Diploma in Financial Planning. Currently he is finishing the Advanced Diploma before ultimately moving to Chartered Status.
Patrick is authorised as an IFA to provide Financial Services advice.
Away from work, Patrick is a family man but also finds time to contribute to his local and wider community. He is a keen cyclist, raising money with the Dallaglio Foundation and Cancer Research by cycling across France and carrying sponsorship to benefit those charities. In what little spare time remains to him, Patrick writes fiction and as such in now a published author.
Phillip has worked within the financial services industry since 2000. He Holds the Diploma in Financial Planning and brings both technical together with procedural support to the SFP office.
Delivering the highest level of customer service, throughout his career Phillip has been seen as a "go to" person for colleagues and clients alike. With his amiable style and pride in all aspects of his work, he is a key member of our Paraplanning team.
Away from work Phillip is a big sports fan. As a member of Remedy Oak, he enters their tournaments, with a single figure handicap. He enjoys skiing and often works out in the gym. And of course as a proud Welshman there is only one rugby team.
Job Titles:
- Investment Analyst
- Member of the Investment Team
Rich is Diploma qualified and has been employed within financial services for over 15 years and he is currently studying for his Advanced Diploma. He has gained vast experience and knowledge working in various roles within the industry.
Rich is a firm believer in helping clients achieve their goals and feels a good financial plan goes a long way to achieving this.
In his spare time Rich is kept busy by his two young daughters and with his free time Rich enjoys running and keeping fit with various sports and relaxing with a good book.
A Solicitor by training, until December 2021, Richard was the Managing Director of TLB. In January 2022, he commenced a new role, to lead the Skybound Financial Planning acquisition strategy.
Since 2010 as Individuals retired, on many occasions TLB has worked with them to achieve this goal. Richard believes that honesty and integrity, should permeate any such transition. Both sellers and clients he asserts, should be treated always, with consideration and respect.
Away from work, Richard is an average golfer and poor skier, who compensates for his lack of ability by enjoying decent wine. His real loves remain his family and all his friends.
Ryan joined SFP in June 2022 with five years of industry experience within financial services and had previously worked for an Independent Financial Advice firm in Lytchett Matravers. He has worked in a variety of roles throughout this time, ranging from new business processing to assisting with collating information in client meetings.
Ryan is a keen problem-solver and takes great pride in delivering positive outcomes for clients to help achieve their financial and life goals. Any problem that comes his way is met with a relaxed attitude and an articulate response.
Outside of the office, Ryan spends his time keeping fit, travelling and regularly looks to add to the list of mountains that he has climbed along with Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Cairn Gorm. As a Welshman he is currently having a torrid time watching his side tumble down the Rugby World Rankings
Sandra has worked within the Financial Services Industry for over 25 years. For many years she specialised in credit control, chasing overdue payments, arranging payments plans and resolving customer enquiries. Sandra has also worked as a Finance Assistant, reconciling credit statements and customer invoices. Having moved into the Dorset area, Sandra joined SFP, providing support and help in our Accounts Department.
Outside of work Sandra enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dogs and lake fishing for Carp.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management Team
- Chief Investment Officer / Financial Control