Doug is a highly experienced and qualified financial planning professional. Having initially trained as a management accountant, he started in Financial Services in 1988 with Prudential. By 2000, Doug realised that he could provide a better service for his clients as an independent, so he left to form Affinity.
Since then he has passed a number of advanced financial planning certificates of the Chartered Insurance.
Doug is married to Norina and they have three daughters, Isabella and Annalise, both of whom attend a local independent school, and Eva born in May 2009.
Doug values time with his family and makes the most of their holidays. Interests include the odd round of golf, visits to the gym (motivation permitting) and watching Southampton FC.
Jon Elkins BSc (Hons.)
Chartered Financial Planner
Holds:
Diploma in Financial Planning;
MAQ – Mortgage adviser qualification;
G10 – Taxation and trusts;
G20 – Savings and investments;
K10 – At retirement planning
K20 – Pension Investment Options;
G60 - Advanced pensions planning;
CF2 – Investment and risk;
ACF5 – Holistic financial planning;
Pension simplification update programme;
Lifetime Mortgages and Equity Release;
Long Term Care.
Jon has been advising teachers and other academics for more around 20 years and specialises in helping them to plan for retirement as well as other forms of investment and family protection.
He continues to refine his technical skills and has been awarded the coveted Chartered Financial Planner status and is an Associate of the Personal Finance Society.
Jon entered the financial services sector after graduating from Bristol University in 1988 with honours in economics. In addition to being an experienced presenter, he also continues to work with a wide range of private clients and receives many referrals from those he has advised.
Peter Andrews
Independent Financial Adviser
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
Peter joined the Financial Services industry in 1987, with a leading home service life office in the North East. He then moved on to join a leading Bank where he spent a number of years advising individual clients on investments, protection and pensions.
Peter says: “while focusing on investments, I am keen to provide a holistic service to my clients.” Peter has two children; a son and daughter. Before entering financial services, Peter ran a small business, so he is well placed to understand the needs of the business community.
Mike Brooks
Independent Financial Adviser
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
Mike has worked in the Financial Services Industry for over 19 years in both an advisory capacity and in various managerial roles. He has been working for Affinity as an Independent Adviser assisting Academic Staff with their personal financial affairs and retirement planning since 2000. He also continues to work with private clients.
Mike is married with two grown up children and two grandchildren. His interests include, Clay Pigeon Shooting both in the UK and Europe, and travelling to Manchester regularly with his son to watch United.
Aleksandr Hulkes
Independent Financial Adviser
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
Certificate in Life & Pensions
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, UCL 1999
Aleks joined the financial services sector in 2002 with a building society, training as a mortgage adviser. He continued to work as a mortgage adviser until joining Affinity in 2006 where he fulfilled his goal of becoming a fully-fledged Independent Financial Adviser. Aleks continues to offer advice in the area of mortgages but is now able to consider the wider aspects of financial planning. He is currently involved with independent schools as well as dealing with private clients.
Rob O'Neill
Senior Mortgage Adviser
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
Rob started in the mortgage sector in 1988 with Royal Life Estate Agents where he stayed for 10 years, before becoming Director of a local independent mortgage broker. He built up the business until he left to join Affinity in June 2007.
He has experience in dealing with all aspects of the mortgage market giving independent advice to clients ranging from first-time buyers, re-mortgagors to experienced portfolio landlords. He continues to specialise in the mortgage field and offers a solid background for professional mortgage advice.
He lives with Mel and their 5 children (ages 13-20), 1 horse, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Hobbies include Golf and going to the Gym.
James Saulsbury
Independent Financial Adviser & Technical Support
Holds:
Certificate in Financial Planning
Certificate in Financial Planning & Long Term Care Insurance
Certificate in Life & Pensions
James has built up over 8 years of financial services experience and joined Affinity in 2007. During this time he has progressed to Competent Adviser Status whilst still maintaining his paraplanning duties.
James is working towards his Diploma in Financial Planning.
John Andrews
Technical Support
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
G10 - Taxation and Trusts
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
Certificate in Life & Pensions
Worked at Lloyds Bank for 5 years before joining Equitable Life in 1987. Enjoyed a variety of roles in a 15 year career before leaving after the sale of Equitable to HBOS plc.
John gained valuable experience working for an Independent Financial Adviser in Watford before joining Affinity in November 2004.
Ian Mundy
Technical Support
Holds:
Diploma in Financial Planning
Certificate in Financial Planning
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
Certificate in Financial Planning & Lifetime Mortgage Activities
Certificate in Financial Planning & Long Term Care Insurance
Certificate in Life & Pensions
Ian has worked in the Financial Services industry for well over 20 years in a variety of roles. After a number of years in high street banking Ian progressed through several roles with Equitable Life before becoming a self-employed mortgage adviser where he gained Competent Adviser Status.
Ian joined Affinity in 2006 as a paraplanner.
Stephen Maxwell
Compliance Manager
Holds:
Certificate in Financial Planning
Certificate in Equity Release
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
Certificate in Financial Planning & Lifetime Mortgage Activities
Certificate in Life & Pensions
Like Doug, Stephen started his career with Prudential, in his case as a commercial underwriter, before moving over to giving advice. He rose quickly to become a Financial Inspector and then Sales Manager for Aylesbury, managing a team of seven advisers.
After more than 20 years with Prudential, he left to join Affinity in 2003 as a Financial Adviser. He has since developed the additional roles of Affinity's Supervisory, Compliance, Training and Competency function.
Helen Green
Sales Support Administrator
Upon leaving school in 1985, Helen undertook a Y.T.S at Rank Xerox, where she learnt her Secretarial Skills. From there she enjoyed a career at Ginn & Co, publishers of primary school books for a year before starting a family. Helen rejoined the workplace when her children were a little older, attended college, where she gained RSA secretarial qualifications. In September 1998 she started working for a shop-fitting designer/manufacturer as an Administrator and worked there for over 4 years.
Helen has worked at Affinity since 2003.
Pippa Rickard
Administrator
Holds:
Certificate in UK Financial Services, Regulation & Ethics
Certificate in Investment & Risk
Certificate in Financial Protection
Certificate in Retirement Planning
Certificate in Mortgage Advice
With over 20 years experience in Financial Services and Civil Service administration, Pippa joined the team at Affinity following a career break. Previous employers include Target Life Assurance Company Ltd, HMC and Cannon Lincoln.
Rachel Sibley Davies
Sales Support Administrator
Holds:
Financial Planning Certificate
Rachel has worked for Affinity since July 2009 and has over 20 years experience in Financial Services. Initially in pensions and employee benefits, but also encompassing a wide range of personal and investment products.
