Our People

Gary is one of the founders of the business and Independent Financial Advisers of EAFP. He has been advising clients for over 35 years and is a Chartered Financial Planner, Affiliate of STEP and a Resolution (Family Lawyers Group) Accredited IFA.

Before jointly establishing East Anglian Financial Planning Ltd he worked at another local IFA business in Colchester providing advice to clients.

Gary provides holistic independent financial advice particularly to individuals and Trusts and he advises on all areas covering investments, pension funding, retirement advice and inheritance tax planning. He has many years expertise in working alongside fellow professionals in the legal and accountancy world with the aim of providing clients with holistic advice, focused on their personal circumstances and objectives. Gary also specialises in providing advice on the separation of finances for divorcing couples.

Outside of work Gary likes to keep fit especially with running and cycling and has completed the London Marathon twice. He now participates in triathlons and has completed a half “ironman” event. He likes all outdoor activities including canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and he enjoys travelling.

Neil is one of the founders of the business and Independent Financial Advisers of EAFP. He has been advising clients for over 37 years and is a Chartered Financial Planner, Affiliate of STEP and a Resolution (Family Lawyers Group) Accredited IFA.

Before jointly establishing East Anglian Financial Planning Ltd he worked at two regional IFA firms for 10 and 27 years respectively and helped develop their private client offering.

Neil specialises in providing advice on the separation of finances for divorcing couples. He also provides holistic financial advice to individuals, Trust and Charities for investment advice, pension funding, retirement advice and inheritance tax planning often working alongside a client’s tax adviser or solicitor.

Outside of work Neil enjoys playing both Golf and Guitar, regular gym workouts and spending time with his grandchildren.

Grant is one of the founders of the business of EAFP and an independent financial adviser.  Starting his career in the industry over 22 years ago, Grant worked in the in the City for Friends Provident before moving on to become an independent financial adviser with two local businesses before establishing EAFP.

Grant provides financial planning to individuals across a wide range of areas including pension funding, retirement advice, inheritance tax planning, running investment portfolios and specialist tax planning products.  As a chartered financial planner, a lot of Grants work involved collaborating closely with other professionals such as solicitors and accountants. Grant also provides advice to a number of trusts and charities.

Outside of work Grant has two young children, is a keen runner and when time allows enjoys a game of golf.

James has been advising clients since 2014 and prior to this obtained his Diploma in Financial Advice. He is a member of our investment committee and has been instrumental in putting our investment philosophy in place. 

Before jointly establishing East Anglian Financial Planning Ltd he worked at a regional IFA firm for 15 years and helped develop their private client offering. 

James provides holistic financial advice to individuals, Trusts and Charities for investment advice, pension funding, retirement advice and inheritance tax planning. James is often involved in more complex individual or trust cases working alongside a client’s tax adviser or solicitor to achieve the best outcome. 

Outside of work James enjoys spending time with his family, getting out on a bike and watching motorsport.

Matt is one of the founders of the business and independent financial advisers. Having joined the industry in 2010 Matt obtained his Diploma in Regulated Financial Advice in 2016. Before jointly establishing East Anglian Financial Planning Ltd Matt worked at two regional IFA firms for a combined 12 years.

Matt provides holistic financial advice to individuals, Trust, Charities and Corporate entities for investment advice, pension funding, retirement advice and inheritance tax planning, often working alongside a client’s tax adviser or solicitor to help achieve the best outcome for the client.

As well as acting as an adviser and Director, Matt also chairs East Anglian Financial Planning’s Investment Committee and is instrumental in developing our investment offerings and provider relationships as well as making sure these remain suitable and effective for our clients. Matt was voted one of the Next Generation Top 35 financial advisers under 35 by New Model Adviser for 2023.

Away from work, much of Matt’s time is taken up by his Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, but he is also a keen supporter of Ipswich Town Football Club and has recently taken up Golf.

Kurt Walsh, our Head of Compliance and a dedicated Director, injects his expertise and passion into our compliance initiatives. With a knack for navigating regulatory complexities, Kurt ensures that our organisation operates with integrity and transparency.

Kurt holds the Level 6 Diploma for Financial Advice as well as studying for Level 6 Diploma in Investment Compliance, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.

When he’s not immersed in compliance matters, Kurt enjoys unwinding on the golf course, engaging in competitive badminton matches, and exploring new cultures with city breaks abroad.

Christine Clements is a dedicated paraplanner with six years of experience in the financial services industry. She transitioned into this field after initially working as a secretary, bringing strong organizational skills to her current role. Recently, she is working towards her Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, further enhancing her expertise and qualifications in the financial sector.

In addition to her paraplanning responsibilities, Christine also serves as a business coordinator. In this role, she ensures that client cases progress smoothly and efficiently through the team, reflecting her commitment to client satisfaction and her ability to manage complex processes.

Christine is known for her trustworthiness and passion for meeting clients’ needs and expectations. She finds great fulfilment in her career, appreciating the positive impact she has on her clients’ financial well-being.

Outside of work, Christine enjoys socializing with friends, cooking, and traveling, activities that allow her to relax and recharge.

Dalton has spent the past five years working in an accounting role at a local law firm, where his passion for numbers has flourished. He appreciates the clarity that numbers provide and enjoys using innovative methods to achieve accurate results. Dalton is eager to advance his skills and has begun his AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting.

Outside of work, Dalton enjoys volunteering, baking, and seeking out adrenaline-filled activities.

Dean has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in home and car insurance. He is dedicated to putting the customer first and assisting them throughout their journey. Dean also gained valuable experience working for a pension provider within the new business team, where he handled opening new SIPPs and arranging transfers for advisers and clients. Currently, he works closely with the EAFP advisers and his fellow paraplanners to support our clients.

Dean has a strong passion for running and even participated in the virtual London marathon during Covid.

Joanne has been a dedicated paraplanner for over seven years, with prior experience in retail banking and investment management. She collaborates closely with the EAFP advisers and her fellow paraplanners to support our clients, providing technical assistance and report writing.

 
Joanne is also a valued member of our investment committee, where she excels in handling enquiries, conducting research, and maintaining client contact, earning commendations for her efforts.

In her free time, Joanne enjoys music, baking, hiking, and travelling.

Daryl began his career in financial services 42 years ago with Legal & General and has spent the last 20 years as a dedicated paraplanner. Throughout his career, he has worked with many of our advisers, becoming a valued and experienced member of the team. Daryl’s extensive experience has given him great confidence, and he particularly values the long-standing relationships he has built with clients, some of whom he has worked with for over 15 years.

Outside of work, Daryl enjoys traveling and has recently been on several cruises. He also likes taking walks in Felixstowe and Woodbridge and occasionally enjoys kayaking on the River Deben.

Debbie is a valued member of our paraplanning team, bringing over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. She consistently delivers high-quality service, working closely with our clients and advisers. Known for her dedication, Debbie regularly receives complimentary feedback from clients, appreciating both the administrative aspects of her role and the relationships she fosters.

Outside of work, Debbie enjoys staying active by walking her dog and tending to her garden and allotment. She is also an avid reader and takes pleasure in planning and experiencing holidays, both within the UK and abroad.

Adam has been working in the financial services sector for over 10 years and working with our advisers in the last 5 years. He works closely with the EAFP advisers and his fellow paraplanners to provide support to our clients.

Adam enjoys speaking to clients and having a rappor with them helping our clients reach their financial goals. He likes the technical aspect of financial planning and works closely on pension and divorce cases. He is working towards his Diploma in regulated Financial Planning. He likes keeping up with current affairs, watching question time and watching the political landscape.

Outside of work Adam likes keeping fit by playing football most weekends playing for 13 years for his team and going to the gym.

Having recently completed her A Levels, Thaila is proving to be a great addition embracing the opportunity to learn and support our growing paraplanning team with a variety of administrative tasks.

Outside of work, she enjoys horse riding and spending time catching up with friends.

Marie plays a key role in the marketing, managing our social media and website presence, creatively driving engagement and enhancing our online footprint. Marie is responsible for the creation and production of marketing materials, bringing a creative touch to every project she undertakes.

She specialises in planning and executing client and professional connection events and is passionate about client relations.

 
Outside of work, Marie enjoys spending quality time with her family and exploring new travel destinations.

Jules brings exceptional organizational skills to our paraplanning team, efficiently handling account work and liaising with our providers. Before joining us, she gained valuable experience as an Office Manager and before that working in a school setting.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Jules is deeply involved in the netball community. She plays, coaches, and umpires netball and dedicates her time as the club secretary for a youth netball club.

Byron has over 13 years of experience in the financial services sector and has been working closely with our advisers for the past 6 years. He holds a Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (CII) and a Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma (CISI). As a key member of our investment committee, Byron contributes to project work, report writing, and developing centralized strategies for our advisers. He takes great satisfaction in using his technical expertise to help clients achieve their financial goals.

Byron enjoys working a compressed week, allowing him to fit in a weekly golf session. In his free time, he loves spending quality moments with his wife and two children, staying active through running and going to the gym, and, of course, playing even more golf.

Sharon has over 17 years of experience in the financial services sector and is a key member of our team. She collaborates closely with the EAFP advisers and her fellow paraplanners to support our clients, drawing on her extensive background in customer service. Sharon is known for her patience and her love of engaging with clients.

Always eager to help, Sharon opts to work in the office under our hybrid working scheme and embraces new challenges and procedures.

Outside of work, Sharon enjoys socializing, savouring good food, and walking the family Cockerpoo. She is also her son’s biggest supporter, fully immersed in his passion for football.

Abigail joins us with two years of experience from an IFA department within a legal firm and is currently working towards her Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. She enjoys building relationships with clients and providing them with valuable support throughout their financial journey.

Abigail works closely with the EAFP advisers and fellow paraplanners to provide support to our clients.

Outside of work, Abigail keeps active playing in two netball leagues and loves to travel, especially when visiting family in the United States.

Nick joined the financial services industry 4 years ago and has been diligently pursuing his qualifications since then. He earned his CII Level 4 Certificate in Paraplanning and plans to pursue further qualifications this year.

Having previously worked closely with our advisers, Nick values a modern approach to financial planning, emphasizing excellent client communication.   

Outside of work, Nick is an avid traveller, recently returning from a four-month adventure across Australasia and Asia. He embraces an active, outdoor lifestyle, enjoying winter holidays spent skiing and spending time at local beaches, where he takes part in activities such as swimming, paddleboarding, and sailing.

Rhyanne is an Independent Financial Adviser, supporting our clients in Bury St Edmunds and across Suffolk.

Rhyanne achieved her Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning in August 2020 and is a Resolute Member. With seven years of experience within an IFA department of a legal firm, she has a wealth of expertise in providing advice on investments and pensions for individuals and trusts.

Outside of work, Rhyanne has trained in karate for over 20 years and is also an instructor. An avid cyclist, she has taken part in impressive challenges, including rides from London to Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels.

With 9 years of experience in the industry, Emily has a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for connecting with clients and building strong, lasting relationships.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, unwinding with some dedicated wellness time and getting lost in a good book as an avid reader.