Us
We are a boutique, independent financial planning company based in Banbridge helping our clients across Northern Ireland and Great Britain to live the life they want. With our clients at the very centre of our proposition, we believe we can help our clients to achieve their goals through a personalised service. While we are only a small team, we have partnered with companies around the UK to help us to provide our clients with the best possible financial planning experience.
Working Life
I have been working in Financial Planning since 2007 having trained with an international firm of financial advisers and stockbrokers. Since then, I have worked for several firms and have gained a lot of experience working with a range of clients, particularly small business owners. During my career I have been responsible for the entire client journey including admin, report writing, research and client management. Over the years I have built good working relationships with many of the leading accountants and solicitors in Northern Ireland.
I mainly work with small business owners and people in retirement – two groups who are at very different stages in their lives. I like taking the time to sit down and learn about people, what is important to them and helping them get to where they want to be. Being the person clients turn to for help is a great feeling at the end of the day.
Personal Life
I’m a normal guy. I love spending time with my wife, Helen, and two sons, Patrick and Ciaran. We enjoy getting to the beach for family walks and travelling to the same hotel in Lanzarote every year (Pandemics permitting of course!). I try to get out and play golf when I can, quite often with Dale and my oldest son Patrick. I am also involved with my local football club as a goalkeeping coach and am on the Board of Governors of the school my sons attend. I’m also a big fan of Liverpool FC! We’re quite social people and like to have people over – you’ll usually find me with a drink either in the kitchen or at the BBQ cooking (usually my special recipe ribs!).
Working Life
I’ve been working in Financial Planning since I graduated in 2012. I’ve worked my way up from shadowing a financial planner, working in the admin and paraplanning roles, to being a planner in 2014. This has given me a great grounding in every function of the Financial Planning experience. After taking a break from exams and starting to work on everything else which is needed to be a financial planner, I then restarted my studies and achieved Chartered Financial Planner status in 2018.
I enjoy working with small business owners and people preparing for retirement. I have also had a lot of experience of working with clients (alongside their solicitors) who have received compensation after suffering serious personal injuries. I really enjoy getting to know people and discovering what they want to do with their life, and then if I’m able to help them do it then that’s the icing on the cake.
Personal Life
I’ve always been into sports, both watching and playing but I’ve now “retired” from hockey and football due to dodgy hamstrings and a broken kneecap. I’m now mostly found spending time with my wife, Claire, my daughters, Alice and Katie, and our dog, Archie. If I manage to find some time away from my family, I’m probably on a golf course trying to pretend I know what I’m doing or watching any sport that is on. I’m a lifelong Newcastle Utd fan – when I was young, they were exciting to watch! I like to travel and have a list of places I want to see, but I’ve come to accept that it might have to take a backseat for a few years while we raise our young girls.