• CeFA Certificate in Financial Advice

  A regulated qualification covering UK financial services regulation, investment principles and understanding client needs. Provides the core technical and regulatory foundation required to give financial advice in the UK.

• DipPFA Diploma in Professional Financial Advice

  An advanced financial planning qualification building on core advisory knowledge. Covers areas such as investment planning, retirement planning, taxation and protection to support holistic financial advice.

• ICAEW Chartered Accountant

• BSc in Physics and Computer Science

  A graduate degree focused on analytical reasoning, quantitative methods and computational problem-solving, providing a strong foundation for structured analysis and decision-making.

Fellowship of the ICAEW represents a senior level of professional standing, recognising extensive experience, technical expertise and a sustained commitment to the highest standards of integrity, ethics and professional development. Fellows are trusted advisers with deep expertise in accounting, finance, governance and business strategy, often operating in complex or leadership roles.

Chartered Member status is awarded to experienced finance professionals who demonstrate advanced technical knowledge, professionalism and ethical practice across financial services. It reflects a strong commitment to continuing professional development and adherence to the CISI’s code of conduct, supporting high standards in client care, investment management and financial advice.

One of the achievements Alan is most proud of came from supporting a long standing client whose financial arrangements had previously been under optimised. By restructuring the approach, Alan was able to deliver ten years of tax-free income, a result that had not been achieved under the previous advisory relationship.

During the review, Alan also identified that the client’s Lasting Powers of Attorney contained solicitor drafted wording that could have undermined the tax efficiency of the investment strategy. This was corrected to ensure the arrangements aligned with the intended financial planning structure and could continue to be managed appropriately.

Further due diligence uncovered that an investment trading platform had been overpaying fees over an extended period, something the client had been entirely unaware of. The matter was addressed transparently and the overpaid amounts were refunded along with the investment growth those funds could have generated, resulting in a repayment of £8,000.

The client later marked their appreciation with a simple gesture — a bottle of Baileys — a reminder that diligent, ethical advice and long-term stewardship can make a meaningful difference.

Another example, a client had agreed to purchase a nursing home and exchanged contracts before securing the full level of bank finance required. The lender was only prepared to provide £800,000, rather than the £1,000,000 initially promised, leaving a significant funding gap that the client was in no position to cover personally.

Through direct negotiation with the local health authority, Alan was able to strengthen the financial case for the transaction. This resulted in the bank increasing its lending to the full £1 million needed to complete the purchase.

Without this intervention, the client would have been exposed to serious financial consequences. The vendor could have pursued them for any shortfall if the sale had collapsed or proceeded with another buyer, putting the client’s personal assets, including their home, at risk.

The outcome ensured the transaction could proceed as intended while protecting the client from potentially life-changing financial loss.

During a company merger, one client initially believed they would be entitled to just 33% of the shares in the newly formed business. Recognising the imbalance, Alan provided strategic guidance and negotiation support to ensure the client’s contribution and long-term value were properly reflected.

By shaping the discussions and creating the right commercial environment, agreement was reached for the client to receive a 40% equity stake, with the opportunity to increase this shareholding over time through a structured incentive arrangement. In addition, the client secured entitlement to 50% of the dividend income.

The outcome delivered a significantly stronger ownership position and income stream than first anticipated, ensuring the client was rewarded fairly for their role in the merged company’s future growth.

In a complex business sale involving the Romany family, Alan secured a significantly higher valuation than initially anticipated, strengthening the client’s overall exit position and long-term financial outcome.

A further challenge arose following the share sale, when tax treatment became a point of contention. Applying detailed knowledge of anti-avoidance legislation, Alan constructed and defended a position that protected the client’s interests. Even their own tax consultant, a former head of tax at a top-20 accountancy firm, believed the case was unlikely to succeed.

However, the approach proved sound. The position was upheld, ultimately saving the client hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax in today’s terms and reinforcing the value of rigorous, technically informed advice in high-stakes transactions.