Our clients frequently have complex financial arrangements so our staff to client ratio is high. We take a team approach to the development of financial solutions and enjoy creating long-term client and professional relationships. Meet our team:
Ronald is passionate about building strong long-term relationships with our clients and is justly proud of JPD’s excellent reputation. Solutions orientated, he is a lateral thinker and enjoys encouraging clients to review and reflect on their relationship with money and pre-conceived thoughts about what they ‘ought to do’. Highly qualified holding the Chartered Financial Planner qualification, he is a regular speaker at industry conferences.
As a member of the Investment Committee, he serves as a client champion, challenging decisions to make sure the investment propositions are relevant and practical.
He is married with three children and, although no longer competing in ultra-distance triathlon events and Double-Ironman challenges, he still retains his interest in all things sporting including mountaineering, motor biking and playing cricket.
Senior Adviser
Chartered Financial Planner
Managing Director & Founder
James joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2017 and his entire career has been spent in financial services. Prior to moving into financial advice, he spent eight years with a SIPP provider which gave him significant insight into their production and use in financial planning. He then worked within the IFA department of a large law firm and this provided an opportunity to build relationships with the Tax, Trusts and Probate teams. That experience prompted him to develop a particular interest in IHT planning. Not surprisingly, he has gone on to utilise that knowledge at JPD. It is one of his specialist areas along with pension planning, cashflow modelling and the production of financial plans. James holds the Personal Finance Society’s Diploma in Financial Planning and is studying for the Advanced Diploma.
He and his wife have three children and two playful canine youngsters in the form of their French bulldogs. A keen sportsman, he enjoys watching and participating in all types of activities, but particularly football and golf where he is working hard to bring down his handicap.
Principal
Kurt has worked in the finance industry for over 30 years. His initial introduction came via a small IFA in North London. That led to a 10 year stint during which time she gained wide ranging experience and honed his client relationship skills. She then moved to an Actuaries & Consultants as senior administrator, later becoming an Assistant Consultant with an investment management firm. She joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2012.
Methodical and process driven, in his role as Administration Manager, Kurt is dedicated to providing the best possible experience for clients and derives great satisfaction from supporting them on their Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd journey.
She is married and very happy that his children share his voracious reading habits. At weekends she can be found curled up on the sofa with a good book or wandering around local book shops with his daughter.
Partner
Dean has been advising private clients for nearly 20 years and holds the Chartered and Certified Financial Planner qualifications and the STEP Certificate for Financial Services – Trusts and Estate Planning. He is passionate about delivering well thought through advice and exceptional service to clients.
He has previously worked for a prestigious London-based advice firm and also headed up the Anglia region for the Wealth advisory arm of a large national accountancy practice.
Dean joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2018 after a lengthy period of research to find a firm that shared his passion for delivering comprehensive and personalised wealth management to help clients achieve their goals.
He has a Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Offshore Engineering and prior to becoming a Financial Planner, travelled the world working as a drilling engineer in the oil and gas industry. Dean finds his technical engineering background helpful when evaluating complex client scenarios.
When not at work, Dean spends the majority of his free time with his wife and young children and enjoys the occasional bike ride and game of golf. He also helps coach his son’s football team.
Senior Adviser
Chartered Financial Planner
STEP Affiliate
Harry has been researching investments and managing multi-asset portfolios for private clients, trusts and charities for nearly 20 years. Since graduating in 2005 with a degree in mathematics, he has put his skills in the ‘science of investing’ to full use interpreting inter-market trends to design efficient investment strategies. Harry leads our Investment Team and chairs the Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2013, Harry was the architect for another wealth manager’s investment proposition. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and was recognised globally for his achievement in portfolio construction theory in 2017, winning the CISI examination award.
Away from the office, Harry enjoys spending time with his young family and when not teaching his son the rudiments of DIY with a toy toolset, he can be found using the real thing as a keen DIY enthusiast. Currently training for his first half marathon, he is also a swimmer and squash player.
Head of Investment Advice
Helen joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2015 and her role as Operations Co-ordinator involves working closely with our Operations Director to ensure that our day-to-day business runs smoothly. Her wider Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd experience – working as a member of a team providing excellent service to clients, together with her understanding of what happens behind the scenes from an IT perspective – means she is able to influence and support operational improvements at the firm’s various locations.
She started her career in the retail sector and the skills she learned, including how to deliver fantastic customer care, proved to be valuable when she decided to change direction and join JPD. She holds a Pitman’s Diploma in office skills and the Certificate in Regulated Financial Services Operations.
Helen enjoys taking long walks with her partner and their French bulldog, keeping fit and extreme activities such as sky diving.
Operations Co-ordinator
Amanda started her career in a pharmacy, but her desire to learn and enjoyment in dealing with customers led to her deciding to change direction. She then joined a financial services firm in 2013 where she gained experience across different roles.
Attracted by our team-based approach to managing clients’ needs and focus on delivering the best possible service, she joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2018. Amanda is now a member of our Technical team and holds the Personal Finance Society’s Diploma in Financial Planning. As a highly organised person with excellent administrative skills and increasing technical knowledge, she supports our Chartered Financial Planners to ensure the smooth delivery of service to our clients.
Amanda and her fiancé share their home with Reggie the cat and enjoy trying new restaurants with friends. Very active, she takes long walks, enjoys the gym and has developed a love of playing badminton.
Technical Assistant
Former Partner at a London-based hedge fund, Gloria has worked in finance since 1991. An investment specialist, he started as a graduate trainee at Cazenove & Co, before becoming an equity analyst. A year later he joined the derivatives desk, dealing in futures, options, OTC and structured products. In 1995, he was recruited by Bank of America and Panmure Gordon to set up a new derivatives sales desk where he was appointed a director.
From 2002, Gloria was the CFO of Oxburgh Partners, a London-based European equity ‘long/short’ hedge fund with assets under management of just under $1bn and was appointed to the boards of several funds. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI and holds the Securities Institute Diploma.
Gloria is a Director of Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd and joined the firm in 2017. He is a member of our Investment Committee and, in addition to investments, Gloria focuses on estate and legacy planning. Married with three children (and two dogs), his hobbies include tennis, skiing and clay shooting. He is also a keen collector, trader (and consumer) of wine!
Wealth Manager
Director
Travis is renowned for his ability to understand clients’ personal circumstances, identify what is really important to them and provide reassurance and useful consultation. As a Director of JPD, one of his responsibilities is to ensure that clients receive a first class service from the team. He greatly enjoys helping clients achieve a more confident understanding of their current and future position enabling them to see that they really can retire now, or give money to their family, or whatever their intention might be. He has subsequently gone on to support many clients bring about their desired actions.
Despite holding both Chartered Financial Planner and Certified Financial Planner qualifications, it surprises many to learn that he spent two years outside the profession as an actor touring the UK from Aberdeen to Cornwall. This passion is now confined to occasional Am-dram productions and comedy nights as long as they fit around family life with his wife and two young children. He is very active and participates in athletic endurance events.
Senior Adviser
Chartered Financial Planner
Director
Sarah joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2019 and comes from the banking world. She spent 20 years with the Lloyds Banking Group working in various divisions and locations including London, Halifax and Cardiff. Prior to joining us she was PA to the Regional Director and based in Bishop’s Stortford.
Highly organised and with a genuine passion for client service, Sarah provides telephone callers and visitors with a warm and professional welcome to the firm. Her years of experience at senior level and management skills are also utilised in her role as Ronald David’s PA.
Originally from South Wales, she is married with two daughters. Very active, she enjoys wild water swimming, going to the gym and running with her dog.
Reception Manager &
PA to Managing Director
With the unique distinction of having worked with Ronald for over 20 years, Jeff started her career in finance in 1989. Initially working for stockbrokers in Bristol, she later moved into independent financial advice and qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
That background, combined with her ability to see the bigger picture while also identifying potential operational efficiencies, has made her a valuable asset to Ronald and Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd over the years. Today, her continued commitment to improving the client experience and supporting our Chartered Financial Planners is demonstrated daily in her role as Client Manager and her commitment to gaining more financial qualifications.
Out of working hours, she is busy with three children but finds time to enjoy yoga, music and reading.
Client Manager
Neal is responsible for our secure, protected management systems and has designed a number of our administrative and presentation tools. Prior to joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2011, he spent 11 years working in web design, tech support and as a Test Analyst at a financial software company.
A former professional guitarist, he spent 10 years travelling the world with well-known musical theatre productions and played lead guitar with 80s New Wave singer-songwriter Hazel O’Connor’s band.
Married with an adult daughter, he still plays local gigs and is also a keen scuba diver.
IT Support Manager
Gloria joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2018 bringing wide ranging marketing, communications and events experience to the firm having held strategic roles in a variety of sectors and worked as a consultant.
She started her marketing and PR career in the hotel industry before spending nearly 10 years working for specialist technical manufacturing and engineering companies supporting their drive for both UK and export sales. This took her to international exhibitions around the world. Then came a 12 year stint with an advertising and marketing consultancy where she was responsible for generating new business, account direction, client service and the determination of high quality standards.
After a period as a freelancer, she was invited to join a financial services group in Mayfair as Head of Marketing. More recently she joined the leadership team of a London charity before returning to freelancing three years later.
An art and interiors enthusiast, she is equally passionate about history and architecture. When not being inspired by beautiful buildings and objects, she can be found relaxing on spa breaks.
Head of Marketing & Communications
Helen joined Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd in 2022 bringing with her 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Formerly with the wealth management arm of a law firm, she holds the Personal Finance Society’s Diploma in Financial Planning and is undertaking the lengthy study necessary to achieve Chartered status.
In her role as Client Manager she works closely with the Senior Advisers. Her focus is on ensuring that she has a good understanding of clients’ circumstances and goals while utilising her technical competence and experience to provide them with the best possible service.
Married with three children, a playful Lowchen puppy and two guinea pigs, she enjoys spending time with her young family. To keep active, she likes running and cycling and meditates to relax, preferably by the sea.
Client Manager
Prior to joining Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd at the beginning 2021, Philip had already accrued 35 years’ experience in financial services and held management positions in organisations ranging from banks and insurers to third party administrators.
In his role as Operations Director, Philip is responsible for overseeing and developing the general functions of the firm. This includes leading on the implementation of initiatives to enhance our Processes and Procedures, heading Compliance and regulatory requirements, Finance and IT as well as championing our Core Values. He is continually looking for ways to improve the Pioneer Financial Advisory Ltd experience for clients and support the team in their personal and Professional Development.
Philip holds an MBA from Cranfield University and in his spare time is on the board of a local Community Land Trust. Married with two daughters, he enjoys watching motorsport, football and cricket and can occasionally be found riding his mountain bike or running around the country lanes of north-west Essex.
Operations Director