MEET THE TEAM

  • Steve Braidford DipPFS MLIBF Director & Financial Planner

    Specialising in financial planning, investing, pensions and retirement planning, Steve is a Certified Financial Adviser and has been part of the senior management teams for some of the biggest advice businesses in the UK. He’s a well-known face in the financial services community.

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  • Gareth Higton BSc (Hons) CeFA DipPFS Director & Financial Planner

    Specialising in financial planning, investments, pensions and retirement planning, Gareth has been helping his clients meet their lifetime financial objectives since 2010, gaining a huge amount of experience working with many different types of clients.

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  • Bill Ward Financial Planner

    Bill Ward has an enviable reputation of being one of Merseyside’s leading financial advisers. He has been providing independent financial advice for over 30 years. ‘Solving a problem a client doesn’t think is solvable and helping them to get the best life possible with their money. I still get a buzz from making a difference to someone’s life’ says Bill.

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  • Lee Travis DipFA MLIBF Financial Planner

    Lee began giving financial advice in 1999, and has since then held various management positions including building society manager and CEO of one of the largest training academies for financial advisers in the UK. Lee is a Certified Financial Adviser.

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  • Alan Hodgson DipFA, MAQ Financial Planner

    Originally from an insolvency background, Alan joined the firm in November 2014. Bringing a wealth of experience, Alan deals with all aspects of financial planning for the benefit of both individual and corporate clients.

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  • David Jones DipPFS Financial Planner

    An independent financial adviser since 2018, David is passionate about helping his clients make sense of their financial arrangements and to actively plan for the day when they can achieve true financial freedom.

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  • Jackie Williams DipPFS Financial Planner

    Having worked in the financial services industry since 1983, Jackie brings a broad spectrum of experience to Milestone. She is diploma qualified and is currently working towards her advanced diploma. Previously, Jackie was our Head of Paraplanning, where she provided technical support when overseeing the paraplanning team.

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  • Matthew Taylor Financial Planner

    After graduating in 2000, Matt started working in the financial advice sector for a large multinational bank in the UK and Jersey until 2007.  From then onwards, he has provided advice when holding Pension clinics for Group Schemes and by  looking after Private Clients.

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  • Linda Fleming CeFA, CeMAP, DipFA, MLIBF Financial Planner

    Based in Central Scotland, Linda has 25 years’ experience in Financial Services. She has spent the past 15 years working as a financial planner, helping her clients to achieve their financial goals. She works tirelessly to ensure that her clients have a financial plan in place to allow them to live the life they want.

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  • Jenny Allen DipPFS Financial Planner

    Jenny joined the team in 2022. She has worked within financial services since 2021 and is Diploma 4 qualified. Jenny is currently working towards Chartered Status and we are pleased to advise she has been authorised as a Financial Adviser on 1st June 2023.

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  • Carl Gidman FPC CeMap CeRER Independent Mortgage, Equity Release and Protection Adviser

    Having begun his career in financial services in 1981, Carl offers broad experience working with his clients, guiding them through the many complex aspects of mortgage planning to ensure they fully understand their options and desired outcomes.

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  • Ross Welsh MLIBF DipFA
    Ross Welsh MLIBF DipFA Trainee Financial Planner

    Ross has worked within Financial Services since 2017 and joined us in March 2021. He has a Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advice and is a member of the London Institute of Banking & Finance.  He is currently working as a Paraplanner, with his next step in the short term is to become a Financial Planner at Financial Life Planning.

  • Sam Braidford BA(Hons) DipPFS
    Sam Braidford BA(Hons) DipPFS Trainee Financial Planner

    Sam joined us as an Intern in March 2020 whilst studying for his Business Management Degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. Whilst at University he started the exams to achieve the Chartered Insurance Institute Diploma in Financial Planning which he successfully completed in April 2022. He is now working towards Chartered status. Sam is currently working as a Paraplanner, his next step in the short term is to become a Financial Planner at FLP.

  • Tom Price
    Tom Price Trainee Financial Planner

    Tom joined us in June 2023 as a Trainee Financial Planner.  Prior to starting at FLP he was a Membership Relationship Manager at Nationwide Building Society. He is studying to achieve his Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and is currently working with both our Administration and Paraplanning Teams as part of his journey to become a Financial Planner.

  • Oscar MacFicheallaigh
    Oscar MacFicheallaigh Trainee Financial Planner

    Oscar joined us in June 2023 after completing his degree in Account and Finance at Liverpool John Moores University and is now studying to achieve his Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. He is currently working with both our Administration and Paraplanning Teams as part of his journey to become a Financial Planner.

  • Kieran O’Brien
    Kieran O’Brien Trainee Financial Planner

    Having previously worked as a Service engineer and a Printing technician, Kieran has always had an ambition to work in financial services. He joined us in October 2023 and is now studying to achieve his Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. He is currently working with both our Administration and Paraplanning Teams as part of his journey to become a Financial Planner.

  • Louis Fletcher
    Louis Fletcher Trainee Financial Planner

    Louis joined us in October 2023 after completing a BA Hons Business Management Degree at the University of Liverpool. He is now studying to achieve his Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and is currently working with both our Administration and Paraplanning Teams as part of his journey to become a Financial Planner.

  • Dave Pryce
    Dave Pryce Operations Manager

    Dave has over 30 years’ experience working in financial services. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he worked for several high street Banks including NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and The Co-operative, in both Operational and Regulatory Risk roles and HR. Dave now manages our Operations.

  • Samantha Booyens
    Samantha Booyens Office Manager

    Samantha joined us in March 2022 as our Office Manager. She has over 25 years’ experience in financial services having worked for various firms in South Africa prior to joining us.

  • Hayley Lilliott
    Hayley Lilliott Finance Manager

    Hayley has more than 25 years’ experience working in the financial services industry and in supporting financial planners in all areas. Hayley joined us in May 2019 to help streamline reconciliation and internal finance reporting systems and has recently gained her AAT level 2 qualification.

  • Duncan MacDonald
    Duncan MacDonald Finance Assistant

    Duncan joined us in January 2022 and is a valuable member of our Finance Team with a speciality in data handling and analysis. He studied at the University of Bath and has a Masters in Mathematics, which he obtained in 2021.

  • James Oliver
    James Oliver Paraplanner

    James has 23 years’ experience in the financial services industry and has gained experience of all aspects of financial planning. James is a valued member of the team as a respected paraplanner. James is also currently studying for his Diploma in Financial Planning.

  • Samantha Yaffe
    Samantha Yaffe Paraplanner

    Samantha has been in Financial Services since 2005, having worked for a number of firms in all areas of financial advice. Sam holds both the Certificate and Diploma in Financial Planning and has been a Paraplanner for the past 14 years.

  • Suzanne Bradley
    Suzanne Bradley Executive Support

    Suzanne joined the firm in January 2021. She undertakes the key role as executive support to our financial planners. She brings a wealth of experience with over 30 years’ experience having previously worked for companies such as, MBNA, NatWest Bank and the Co-operative Bank.

  • Paula Delaney
    Paula Delaney Personal Assistant

    Paula joined us early in 2015 as a client services assistant. Bringing 30 years’ of experience working daily with customers in the banking industry, Paula enjoys being part of a team that puts the client at the heart of everything they do. Paula’s role is to support clients with their specific and everyday needs, to process their new business requirements and to keep them up to date with all their arrangements.

  • Ellie Roberts
    Ellie Roberts Administrator

    Ellie started her career in financial services as an apprentice. Having excelled in the role Ellie is now a full-time administrator for Bill Ward our Director. She is motivated to progress further by taking her RO examinations. During her time with us Ellie has established excellent client relationships and always prioritises the client’s needs first.

  • Jessica Braidford
    Jessica Braidford Administrator

    Jess joined Parkgate in August 2019 after completing her A Levels and has become a valuable member of our Administration Team.

  • Jenny Daly
    Jenny Daly Administrator

    Jenny has over 30 years’ experience in Financial Services working in various Administrator and Personal Assistant roles. She works closely with our financial planners and our wonderful support team.

  • Kim Mercer
    Kim Mercer Administrator

    Kim joined our Administration Team in Oct 2022. She has a background in Financial Services having worked for NatWest Bank in client facing roles for over 21 years. After having a family she retrained as Early Years Professional and worked in Education for 22 years, which included the management of a preschool.

  • Barry Caldow AIPW
    Barry Caldow AIPW Will Writer & Estate Planner

    Barry ensures the highest standards of customer service in our estate planning arm, Parkgate Legal Services Limited. With a postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies – and while working as an Independent Financial Adviser and then as a Senior Manager in the public sector overseeing a multi-million pounds operation – Barry has over 30 years’ experience and an impressive record of putting customers first.

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