Glyn Pemberton - Managing Director and Independent Financial Adviser
glyn@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Glyn's career began in 1974 with the Co-operative Insurance Service. He remained with CIS until 1986 when he joined Allied Financial in Guisborough in the very same office that is today home to Active Financial Services. Eventually a director of Allied, Glyn was instrumental in developing its mortgage, life insurance, pensions and investment portfolios, and firmly establishing the company in the Tees Valley area. When Allied closed in 2000, Glyn stepped forward to establish Active Financial Services and to continue serving Allied's customers. Since then, he has helped steer the business through steady growth and development. What's important
"Do not over-promise or under-deliver. There are lots of Financial Advisers in the marketplace, but I'd like to think that what sets us apart from the rest is how we treat our customers. It is not just simply a matter of treating everyone equally and fairly, how can you when everyone's needs are different?, but of ensuring that we always endeavour to deliver what each customer needs relative to their circumstances."
On a personal note
Glyn, 58, lives with his wife in Ingleby Barwick and has two grown-up sons, Karl, an independent financial adviser, and Mark, an accountant. His hobbies include walking and music, but, above all, likes spending time with his family.
Karl Pemberton - Sales & Marketing Director and Independent Financial Adviser
karl@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Karl spent ten years at Yorkshire Bank, latterly as a private banking manager, and two years after that at RBS, as an investment banking manager. Always based in the North-East, his "patch" took him from Alnwick to Humberside. He advises customers across the full spectrum of IFA services but thanks to his extensive background in the higher net worth market, he specialises in bespoke secured lending to personal individuals, commercial and development finance, and also personal investments. "The banking profession provides excellent grounding for a Company Director, as you gain a unique insight into company structure, processes and management," he says. What's important
"I believe that if you can instill your customer with confidence and then deliver what you promise, he or she will be a customer for life. Having a nice personal touch is important, but more important is making sure your processes, procedures and administration are first-class."
On a personal note
Karl, 30, lives with his partner and three-year-old son, Henry, at Ingleby Barwick. Not surprisingly, Henry dominates his spare time, but Karl likes to find time to play football and indulge his passion for motorcars.
Colin Burke - Independent Financial Adviser
colin@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Colin began his career in finance with Prudential, with which he was a general financial adviser for ten years until 1997. That year he joined London and Manchester, which became part of Friends Provident in 1999, and then, in 2001, the division of Friends Provident he worked for was transferred to Royal Liver. Colin fulfilled his ambition of becoming self-employed in 2003 when he began working with Glyn Pemberton under the umbrella of Active Financial Services. "Working for the Pru all those years, a well-liked and trusted organisation, was a valuable experience. I recognised during that period the value of seeing customers in their environment and still prefer to see people in their own homes, where they are most comfortable to discuss matter of personal importance."
What's important
"Keeping customers updated at all times. I like to review their circumstances on a regular basis so we ensure that the plans we laid down at the outset continue to meet their needs. On that basis, you can build long-term relationships with customers."
On a personal note
Aged 49, Colin is married with three sons, aged 17, 21 and 23, and lives in Normanby. A Middlesbrough season ticket holder, watching sport dominates Colin's leisure time. When heâs not at the Riverside, he's supporting his sons playing either football or cricket.
Mark Dobing - Independent Financial Adviser
mark@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Mark began his career in finance in 1993. During his career, he spent five years at the Co-operative Bank and two years with Yorkshire Bank. He has been a fully qualified IFA since 1998 and holds the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate. Mark joined the ranks of Active Financial Services in December 2005 and today advises customers across the full spectrum of investments, pensions, mortgages, life insurance and savings.
What's important
"Trust is everything. Getting financial advice is not a one-stop shop. It takes one or two meetings to fully understand a person's circumstances and needs. I take great pride in that I still have customers who first came to me in 1993 and that's because we have built a relationship based on trust. It is also important to approach your work as a financial adviser as ethically as possible, ensuring you keep fully up to date with the market place, changing legislation and technical advances."
On a personal note
Mark is 36 and lives with his partner in Stockton He has three children. A keen follower of sport, he supports Middlesbrough, plays five-a-side regularly, fitness permitting, and also enjoys a round of golf.
Alison Auld - Independent Financial Adviser
alison@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Alison began her career in the world of finance with Norwich Union, where she gained her qualifications. After leaving the Norwich in 2002 to have her first child, Alison continued working towards her ambition of becoming an independent financial advisor by gaining her CeMAP qualifications. She resumed her career in 2004, working briefly for Tyneside-based estate agents Rook Matthews Sayer before joining the Leeds Building Society in August 2004 as manager of the Northumberland Street branch in Newcastle, where she was responsible for the day-to-day running of the branch. She left the Leeds to join the team at Active in January 2008.
What’s important
“I believe trust is all-important when advising people on something as important as their financial well-being. Throughout my career, I have placed a lot of store by good customer service – finance is personal and a good relationship with a client ensure that he or she is a customer for many years to come.”
On a personal note
Alison, 32, lives with her husband, David, a senior IT analyst with Northern Rock, in the Westerhope area of Newcastle. Understandably, their two young children four-year-old Sophie and Amelia, who is eight months, occupy most of Alison’s time outside of work
Ian Layton - Independent Financial Adviser
ian@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Ian has worked as a financial advisor for nearly a quarter of a century, spending six years at Prudential, a brief spell at Lloyds Bank and 14 years with Yorkshire Bank. However, his is a lifelong interest in finance and he began building his own portfolio of stocks and shares at a young age. "I've always been fascinated by the trials and tribulations of the stock market," he says. In his role at Active Financial Services, Ian uses his experience to advise customers, a lot of them of many years standing, on investments, taxation and trusts, as well as Self-Invested Personal Pensions and Drawdown Pensions. What's important
"With investments, it is important to know when to be bold and when to be cautious. I can be quite aggressive with my own portfolio, but with clients my strategy is always to protect their wealth first and foremost, and to help that wealth grow in a correct and responsible manner. It is essential they are fully aware of all the potential upsides and downsides from the outset, so they can have complete confidence in the advice they are given." On a personal note
Ian is 51 and lives in Guisborough with his wife. They have a son and a daughter, a police officer and a teacher respectively. He plays squash and also enjoys fly-fishing and walking his Labrador.
Chris Leighton - Independent Mortgage Adviser
chris@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
While gaining a 2:1 BSc degree in information technology at Teesside University, Chris enjoyed a successful placement at Huntsman Tioxide, in Billingham, and looked set to embark on an IT career with the company â until a "gap job" with Barclaycard whet his appetite for the financial sector. He joined Active in February 2005, as an administrator, and gained his Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice within nine months. Now, in addition to being a mortgage adviser, he has a supervisory and assessment role as the company's Compliance Officer. He hopes to qualify as an independent financial adviser in 2008.
What's important
"It's vital that the advice you give is accurate, suitable and genuine, most importantly from the point of view of the client, but also in respect of the position of Active Financial Services as a provider of independent financial advice."
On a personal note
Chris, 27, is single and lives in Ingleby Barwick. Football plays a big part of his life and he is a Middlesbrough season ticket holder and continues to play "sociable" football, mainly five-a-side. His other hobbies are music and socialising.
Lindsey Guest - Operations Manager
lindsey@activefinancialservices.co.uk
Career Profile
Lindsey’s career do date has been entirely office-based, though far from being stuck in “the same old role”, she has varied and developed her experience at every opportunity. Before joining Active Financial Services, she spent eight years in project roles with Barclays, the last three years in change management. Prior to that, she was with energy supplier npower for five years in customer service and training management. She is currently working towards qualifications in Human Resources Management through the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Lindsey's role involves all operational issues for the business, including management of the staff and office processes and proceedures. Lindsey will form a pivotal link between client and adviser and therefore further add to our exceptional service that we offer.
What’s important
“Customer service is all about getting the best for customers. In respect of customers of Active’s team of financial advisors, this means ensuring that the business is run in a way that seamlessly supports the advice customers are given and implements precisely any agreed measures.”
On a personal note
Originally from Hetton-le-Hole, near Sunderland, Lindsey, 33, lives with her partner and two-year-old daughter in Norton, near Stockton. With a young child and a challenging new career with Active, Lindsey understandably finds little time for other interests.
