Following my graduation, I took my first employment in Production Management in Warrington. After 8 successful years I moved to develop my career in the Financial Services Industry and joined Hambro Life in 1983. Shortly after joining I developed my career in Sales Management with Hambro Life while at the same time continued to develop my own Practice with the same Company. Over the years Hambro Life evolved to become Allied Dunbar, Zurich Advice Network and finally The Openwork Partnership. Alongside running a successful Advisory Practice, I became a Business Development Director with The Openwork Partnership.

The ever changing landscape of my industry, the...

Success is my passion. I measure success in businesson the ability to offer the right products in a cost effective, efficient and personal manner. I care about what I do and every day I strive to ensure we deliver the best possible service to each one of our clients.

Since graduating from Edinburgh University in 1998 I have been involved with a number of industries. Product delivery and customer service have been integral to my approach throughout my journey and is still ingrained in any business I am involved with today. The ethos at Optasia Wealth Management allows me to continue with my desired approach.

I am a committed person and am focused on working...

I moved to London working at British Aerospace in Kingston Upon Thames for the Industrial Engineers team. Three years later I returned home and took my first job in Financial Services working for Allied Dunbar in the administration team. The company evolved to become Zurich Advice Network, then The Openwork Partnership as it is known today.

My roles included PA to the North West Sales Director, Team Leader, Trainer and I worked from a number of the branches having covered Wigan, Southport, Preston, Bolton, Preston Brook and Manchester.

In August 2004, I was given the opportunity to work at Stuart Gray & Associates as Practice Manager...

My career commenced as a Junior Clerk in a small branch of a regional bank in Southport, progressing through various roles to Branch Supervisor and a qualified Financial Adviser. Leaving the Bank as one of the higher achieving Advisers at the time, to pursue the role on a flexible basis and then as a PA to a successful Financial Adviser and Practice Manager for him for more than 10 years. The opportunity to move Practices and support the Directors and Advisers of Optasia Wealth Management Ltd was perfect personal timing.

I am very fortunate to have family and a diverse circle of friends to share lifes journey with and spend a lot of time with them. Being outdoors, be it in the garden, walking locally or further afield, over fields and fells provides me with peace and relaxation. Reading, travel and music are a few of my other interests.

In life I believe we are all on a journey and people make that journey special and personal - meeting people from all walks of life adds to that journey and an aspect I enjoy about my life and job.

I graduated from university in 2015 with a degree in Accounting and Economics. Subsequently, I joined the Openwork Academy and gained my Level 4 Diploma with the London Institute of Banking and Finance. I joined the family business as a Paraplanner and Client Manager covering North Wales and the North West of England.

Following the Merger of the family business with Optasia Wealth Management, I was pleased to be offered the role as Account Executive working alongside Amanda and Diane. I look forward to working within a growing firm and helping up and coming, passionate advisers in providing a high quality service to both existing and new clients.

I started dancing at the age of 3 and have performed on stage many times including pantomimes and musicals. Since finishing dance school, I used the skills I learnt to take part in acrobatics including aerial hoop and silks and competing in inter-university competitions. Also, since I come from North Wales, I love the outdoors and actively take part in water sports including paddle boarding in Snowdonia, Surfing with the seals and I enjoy taking my sausage dog for walks, although he doesn't like going too far!

After graduating John Moores University studying Media, Culture and Communications I went into the finance industry doing home credit loans with Provident. From granting loans, I realised I wanted progress in the financial industry with mortgages. I gained my CeMap 1 qualification and worked self employed as a mortgage and protection broker before returning to employment as an administration director with Optasia Wealth Management. I look forward to being part of the team here and learning more from my colleagues.

I have a baby boy who I love to spend any free time I have with. We love swimming, garden centers and walks together. I love Italy and anything Italian so I am eager to travel around the country to all the cities and coastal towns.

In 1985 I left South Africa my country of birth and headed for England. My plan was to study here for one year then return home. After more than thirty years later I am still here in England where I am happily married to a Yorkshire lass and the proud father of two adult sons. Four years into my stay in England I joined Barclays working in their Financial Services Division. They provided me with a good background to the industry and ensured I was fully trained up to industry standards. After I had worked for them for 20 years Barclays withdrew from providing financial advice to their customers so my time with them ended. I always believe that when one door closes another opens so in August 2011 I joined Stuart Gray Associates which has now become Optasia Wealth Management. As a Practice Financial Adviser I have thrived with this company ever since joining. Here I enjoy providing clients with a professional service.

High on my list of priorities is my family and we enjoy spending time together whenever possible including visiting friends and relatives still in South Africa. As part of our local church we enjoy doing things together with other church members. Coming from South Africa I have a love for sport and follow football, rugby and cricket in particular. I also enjoy walking, reading and visiting places of interest.

A Southport man born and bred, I graduated from Keele University in 2004. I went on to enjoy a career teaching Science in a number of high schools across the northwest. However after 9 years within the profession, a new challenge and a step in a different direction was just what I needed. The ideas of both problem solving and helping people were important to me and after hours and hours of researching, it was clear that the financial services industry ticked all the boxes. So I took the brave decision to leave teaching behind and retrain as a Mortgage and Insurance Adviser. I am passionate about learning and bettering myself in order to offer the best possible service to my clients.

Outside of work, I try to play football at least once a week but I'm probably most content on the golf course. I also play a guitar in the music group at my church and if you can't ever find me, then looking in the nearest coffee shop is usually a good place to start.

Originally from Meols on the Wirral, I attended Liverpool John Moores University studying for a BA (HONS) Drama degree. Upon graduating I decided that a life in the world in the Dramatic Arts was not for me, so I opted to completely change my focus to a career in financial services. I started my career as an Adviser in late 2019 and haven’t looked back since, building relationships with new and existing clients along the way.

My greatest love in life is football and I enjoy nothing more than going to games to support my team. I also have a keen interest in Golf as the ongoing struggle to lower my handicap continues to frustrate me.

After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in Psychology and Criminology I decided to spend some time travelling - travelling around America and Thailand before settling in Newcastle upon Tyne to start my career in Mortgages. Here I trained to become a Mortgage Adviser whilst working for London and Country Mortgages. Once qualified I moved home to Liverpool and advised in a Senior role for Reeds Rains and then spent the next 5 years Advising and learning the world of estate agency before I moved to Optasia.

I love advising on mortgages, the thrill of helping someone complete on their 1st or even 10th purchase still never goes away. I enjoy meeting new people, building connections and looking at new homes.

In my spare time I love to be with my family, I have a little girl with whom I love to spend as much time as possible with. I enjoy keeping fit and any spare time I get away from home I go to gym classes. When I am not working, I am usually booking holidays. My favourite place to visit of recent would be Mexico.

After completing my business degree in 1996, I started working in financial services and chose to follow a career in the mortgage industry. I worked in various businesses and banks during that time, culminating in spending the last 14 years or so as a director of two successful whole of market brokers.

During this time I’ve obtained a vast knowledge and experience of how the UK mortgage industry works and aim to stay abreast of the ongoing, rapid changes in lender and market conditions. I am very fortunate not only to have built up so many long-standing relationships with my clients, but also continue to be able to look after all the new clients they have introduced me to, which has allowed me to grow my business.

I’m delighted to now be a part of the Optasia team and to grow even further. We share a strong focus on customer care and advice and always putting the client first. In my spare time I am an avid reader and enjoy football (watching and coaching) with my two sons.

Originally from South Cheshire, I graduated in 2020 from Cardiff University with a degree in International Relations and Politics. Following this, I worked on a graduate programme for a specialist lending bank in the Management Accounts team for a year. I then took a role at the Openwork Partnership as a technology consultant for financial planning software. This is where I discovered the possibilities of a career in Financial Planning.

I joined Optasia Wealth Management in November 2022 as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser, with a view to expanding my services to pensions and investments in the future. In addition to helping my current clients to finance and protect their homes, I am presently sitting my Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. This will allow me to help a wider range of Clients with a wider range of needs.

Outside of my day job, I play Rugby and Cricket for my local clubs, and enjoy reading and cooking in my spare time. My biggest life ambition is to visit all 50 states in America… only 47 to go!

Originally from Littleborough in Greater Manchester, I spent a year either side of university living in Melbourne, Australia playing cricket. I graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc Economics and Mathematics degree. Once returning from down under, I wanted to put the skills I had gained through university and before into my everyday life. I have always had a mathematical brain but wanted to be able to interact with people and build relationships with them – hence I decided the Financial Services route seemed perfect for me.

I spent 2 years working within The Openwork Partnership Head Office, interacting with Wealth, Mortgage and Protection firms and enhancing my knowledge of the industry. During this time, I gained my Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. I am now enjoying my role as an Adviser, where I can help both existing and new clients achieve their goals by putting a financial plan in place.

Outside of work I have a keen love for cricket, playing for both Edgworth CC and representing the MCC. I am also a keen traveller, having lived in Australia and travelled Southeast Asia. Other than that, I try to spend a lot of time outdoors with family and friends.

Originally starting out as football reporter in 2013 before moving into finance journalism – specialising in wealth management coverage – 12 months later, it was a few years before I realised that I had more in common with my interviewees than my colleagues.

In August 2017 I made a career switch into a Trainee Financial Adviser role with an Openwork firm based in Hertfordshire and haven’t looked back; in February 2020 I moved back to the North, and having qualified as an adviser and with three years of paraplanning experience in independent advice, joined Optasia Wealth Management in September 2023.

Long-term trends mean that building up your own savings pot is now crucial, and helping people make the most of what they have worked for is what wakes me up each day. As a Wealth Management Consultant, I work with our clients on their pensions, investments and protection to ensure they sleep soundly knowing their needs will be met now and in the future.

Outside of finance I try to vary my interests to keep myself challenged, but more often than not you can find me watching live music, playing football, pool, chess and poker, perusing statistics-driven maps (a bit specific, I know) or enjoying scenic drives, something the North West has plenty of.