Directors

Ian Mereweather - Director

Ian began his career in financial services in 1983 with a brief spell with Gresham Life in Bournemouth. In 1984 he began work as an IFA and has worked in this sector ever since.

In 1988 he and a colleague set up a small advisory firm building up £8 million funds under management in just under two years. Ian served as company secretary, compliance officer and pensions consultant. In 1990 the business was sold to a well known firm of solicitors and he remained with them until 1997 prior to moving to Wilsons.

Ian is an excellent all rounder with a wealth of experience in individual financial planning particularly for high net worth individuals and small business owners. He has excellent all round knowledge of personal and trustee investments generally and detailed technical knowledge of Pensions’ taxation matters, trustees and individual taxation issues.

Ian is an associate of the Pensions Management Institute. He has passed the Security and Portfolio Management exams under the old Law Society scheme as well as the AFPC G10 Tax and Trust exam and the G60 Pensions paper. Finally in 2000 the PIA requested that Ian complete the basic FPC papers and as a result won the Worshipful Company of Insurers Prize for the highest marks achieved in the FPC 2 exam.

Colin Bannister - Director

Colin was introduced to the pensions business during the early eighties as a management trainee for the then Leeds Building Society, this was followed by two years broking for Campbell Fisk & Partners in Crowborough, East Sussex. During this time he developed strong business referral links with a number of firms of solicitors and accountants one of whom was Cripps Harries Hall in Tunbridge Wells who were just starting their venture into investment management and pensions.

During the latter part of 1988, Colin joined Cripps Harries Hall to help establish their financial services division and in particular their pensions, mortgage and life assurance department. It is here that Colin developed his interest and specialism in self-administered pension arrangements and dealing with members of the Bar. He also passed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Financial Planning Certificate. During his time at Cripps, he helped them grow to become one of the largest financial services operations in the country to work from within a firm of Solicitors.

At the end of 1995, Colin was enticed away from Cripps to join Brachers on 2 January 1996 to set up their pensions department. Here Colin continued with his specialism in self-administered pensions, in particular SIPP’s and his exposure to the legal profession with member’s of the Bar and in particular Queen’s Counsels.

Since joining Brachers, Colin has dealt with the pension issues for a number of corporate clients including those associated with a leading south coast port and publicly quoted companies. He was also instrumental in the set-up and administration of a large self-administered pension scheme for Credit Suisse. Colin holds the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Advanced Financial Planning Certificate in Pensions and retirement options.

In May 2000 Colin transferred to Ashcourt becoming a Divisional Director of Ashcourt Pensions the following year with primary responsibility for the Maidstone clients and self-administered pensions in general. Colin was appointed a Director in 2003.

John Taylor - Managing Director

After university John started his actuarial training in the investment department of the Prudential in London researching Bank and other financial company shares. After a period in group pensions he moved to Legal & General where he completed his actuarial studies whilst working in life and pension product design.

In 1987, soon after qualification, he moved to Barney Wilkins & Howard Ltd to become an IFA, one of very few actuaries to act in this capacity. He stayed until the company was taken over by Ashcourt in 2003 finishing up as the managing director.

John has wide experience of dealing with the financial needs of private clients and small companies. He is involved in a range of investment and pension matters, often using trusts. He is particularly interested in the tax implications of the investment options, and has both UK and international clients. His actuarial background is very useful in dealing with pensions and in analysing insurance companies, products and investments. He is authorised to advise clients on pension transfers and income drawdown.

In addition to being a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, John is also an Associate of the Society of Financial Advisers and holds the Investment Management Certificate.

David Bowman - Director

David joined the investment industry in 1984 to work with life assurance company, Clerical Medical. He subsequently held a number of roles within that company for nearly 17 years, rising to be one of their leading Sales Managers.

In September 2000, he joined BWH becoming a director and shareholder, to spend two years working with actuary Alan Wilkins, taking over responsibility for his clients when Alan subsequently retired. David deals mainly with investment and taxation related matters, advising many clients on various IHT mitigation schemes. An Associate of SOFA, (Society of Financial Advisers,) he holds nine passes and exemptions for various advanced financial planning exams, needing only one further exam to achieve the highest possible qualification of FSFA (Fellowship). David is also one of the IFAs that provides advice to SOFA on the construction and writing of their investment exams.

The majority of David's clients are individuals seeking investment and tax planning advice and live primarily in the North London, Midlands, East Anglia and West Country areas. Internally within AIA he is also the person responsible for monitoring the various with-profit investment bonds that are available to UK investors.

Robert McCarthy - Director

Robert began his career with Lloyds Bank working predominantly within their business centres in South-East Essex, providing advice for the small business community.

In 1991 Robert moved to Commercial Union and having built a successful team of advisers was promoted to branch manager in 1994. He moved on to become an Independent Financial Adviser in September 1995 and joined Barney Wilkins and Howard in January 2000. Whilst retaining some client contact at BWH his responsibilities included Compliance, T&C and overseeing the day to day business operations. During the early part of 2003 Robert increased his client work, this has further increased following the purchase of BWH by Ashcourt.

Robert Holds the AFPC including Pensions G60. In 2002 he worked along side the FSA and a number of professional bodies as part of the working party for the development of the new Financial Services Examination and Career Structure.

David Horder - Director

David joined the Financial Services industry in 1973 with C T Bowring. Between 1974 and 1984 he was a Director of a Lloyd’s Insurance Broker and concurrently Managing Director of the Financial Services Division.

In June 1984 David set up Horder & Company and over 20 years built up a substantial client bank providing expert advice in all aspects of individual financial planning, Corporate Occupational Schemes, GPPPs and Employee Benefit arrangements. During the period 1984 to 1989 he was also an adviser to Gerrard Vivian Gray (Stockbrokers).

As Managing Director of Horder & Company he was responsible for all aspects of running a Limited Company. This means that as well as providing advice he was responsible for overseeing compliance, supervision and money laundering in order to comply with FSA rules.

David has been a member of Lloyd’s (from 1983-1989), a governor of a Hackney school of 10 years (including 5 years as chairman) and a director of a government sponsored Training Enterprise Council (from 1994 to 1999). He is also an Almshouse trustee and the chair of an educational trust fund.

Sir Robert Hutchison Bt - Director

In 1973 Robert joined City stockbrokers J & A Scrimgeour Ltd as a trainee working in private clients and then as a dealer in the gilt-edged market.

His interests were in private client work and in 1978 he left and became an Associate for an Independent Financial Advisers in the West End where he stayed until 1986. In that time he built up a client bank of private clients and specialised in investment, inheritance tax planning, school fee planning and individual pensions.

In 1986 he joined Vivian Gray Financial Services and provided a large number of their clients with independent financial advice working closely with their stockbrokers. Gerrard & National Holdings bought this business when they acquired Vivian Gray & Co and Robert operated from their Ipswich Office. In 1991 Gerrard sold their financial services business to Horder & Company and Robert continued to expand and build up the Ipswich Office. He works closely with solicitors, accountants and stockbrokers and his clients span a broad age range. His local knowledge of Suffolk enables him to offer locally based private clients advice in this fast expanding part of the Country.

Ashcourt Investment Advisers Limited

Registered Office: 11 Tower View, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4UN. Registered in England and Wales with company number 1491795