Get to know us
We pride ourselves on our strong and lasting relationships with our clients. Since we get to know you and your goals inside and out, and since we are proud of our transparency, we would like to give you the opportunity to get to know us in return.
Shannon Currie
MC Dip PFS CFPcm
Chartered Wealth Manager
Director
“It’s a privilege to do what I do. With clients there is a simple rule for me – if I can’t recognise your voice on the phone then I’ve taken on too many clients.”
I grew up in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and South Africa, before coming over to the UK in 1994 to find my roots – theoretically backpacking for a year and here I still am! A ‘temp’ role in a Financial Services firm became a permanent position and shortly after resulted in me becoming Investment Director for the Financial Planning division of a ‘Top Four’ accountancy firm.
I then spent some time in consultancy – in partnership with Phil Billingham – which included work as an expert witness. In 2009, I decided I wanted to return to what I love, which was working with clients, and so Perceptive Planning was born.
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I pride myself on clarity of advice coupled with a transparent, evidence-based approach to Investment Management. My aim is to cut through any complexity and not only help our clients to feel secure about their future but feel comfortable in their relationship with us.
My skills and focus are on delivering highly personalised service coupled with technical competence and this is what actually matters when dealing with clients affairs. In particular, I am well known for my work with Private Individuals & Families, Trustees and Charities. Those with what looks like substantial assets – usually over £500,000 – often have a complexity in their affairs that I find I can help with.
Outside of work, my time is spent on gardening, photography and travel – often visiting my widespread family!
Additional roles and titles
- CISI Chartered Wealth Manager
- CISI Certified Financial Planner
- CII’s Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (Dip PFS)
- UK Society of Investment Professionals’ ‘Investment Management Certificate’ (IMC). (The IMC is a specialist investment qualification for fund management, which less than 1% of financial advisers in the UK attain.)
- The Sunday Times ‘UK’s Top Professionals’ list 2016
- Rated amongst VouchedFor’s Top Advisers.
Phil Billingham
ACII CFPcm Chartered Financial Planner
Chartered Wealth Manager
Director
“I believe in ‘giving something back’ and being part of the increased professionalism of our industry.”
I joined the Financial Services profession in 1982 after a brief stint working as an Industrial Chemist. Since then, I have moved through the ranks as an Adviser, Manager, Trainer, Financial Planner and as a Business and Technical Consultant to other Advisers.
At Perceptive Planning I have a split role. In addition to my Financial Planning role, I oversee operational matters, as well as being the firm’s Pension Specialist.
I believe in ‘giving something back’ and being part of the increased professionalism of our industry. I am a past Director of both the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) and the Society of Financial Advisers (SOFA), and a past member of the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) Regulatory Advisory Panel.
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I enjoy helping other Financial Advisers cope with regulatory change and have been lucky enough to have spoken at conferences and worked with Advisers, Planners and Regulators in the UK, USA, Ireland, Australia, France, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Monaco, Canada and South Africa.
This wide experience, coupled with my own upbringing split between Wales and South Africa, has helped me develop a speciality in helping clients who have financial affairs in more than once country – what we call ‘World Citizens.’
I have served as an expert witness to the Courts of England, Gibraltar and Scotland, and have been a guest lecturer at the City of London University. I have been a judge for ‘Financial Adviser of the Year’ awards for a number of publications, both in the UK and internationally, since 2002.
In 2005 and 2011, the ‘Professional Adviser’ newspaper voted me in the top 50 most influential IFAs in the UK. In October 2018, and again in 2019, International Adviser magazine nominated me in the ‘Top 100 Most Influential Global Figures’.
Outside of work, my hobbies are walking, travel, red wine and Welsh rugby.
Additional roles and titles
- Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII)
- Fellow of the Personal Finance Society
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP™)
- Chartered Wealth Manager
- Chartered Financial Planner
Eleanor Clark
Dip PFS EFA Cert MA
Director
My life in Financial Services started by providing endowment and life insurance illustrations along with arranging policies for solicitors and their clients across England and Wales, a service offered by the Law Society at that time.
I then became a Financial Adviser for a building society before taking a position with a nationwide IFA followed by a Chartered Accountants with a Financial Services section, where I provided specialist mortgage advice to the other Financial Advisers and their clients.
Following a rather long break (eight years) from Financial Services to have a family, the position at Perceptive Planning came along just as my youngest child was starting school. I took this as a ‘sign’ that working with Shannon and Phil was my destiny and I persuaded them to take me on.
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I started working with Shannon and Phil in 2011 and my role has progressed from that of an administrator to being a Financial Planner and now Director.
I provide holistic advice to our clients, often dealing with multigenerational assets that are being passed on to younger members of the family.
We are busy – boredom is something I have not encountered here and the variety, along with the people I am working with, means coming to work is not a chore.
Out of work I spend much of my time as a taxi service for my children, but I also enjoy travel, socialising with friends and I can often be spotted in north Essex lanes preparing for a run for cancer charities.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Financial Planning (CII)
- Mortgage Advice Qualification (CII)
Kelly Pritchard
Client Services
I have worked at Perceptive Planning since 2015 after I sent a speculative email to the team asking if they had any jobs, following which an interview and job offer came in swiftly after.
I have learned so much at Perceptive, not only from Phil and Shannon but my colleagues and the people and providers we are lucky enough to work with.
During my time here, I have formed some great relationships with my colleagues who are a supportive and friendly team to work with, and some of the lovely clients we look after too.
I took a break in 2020 to start a family, and my little girl was born in August of that year (and right in the middle of a global pandemic!).
Coming back to Perceptive has been a welcome return, however, now I am working part time which allows me to spend time with Isla and enjoy being back in the office.
Alex Brett
Client Services
After achieving a degree in economics at the University of Portsmouth, I worked in the City of London for a large Wealth Management Company for the first ten years of my career.
During that time my roles included working within the Middle Office Division and later as the assistant to the Private Client Fund Manager. During that time I attained the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
In 2010 I took a career break to raise my two children and then in 2018 I joined the team at Perceptive Planning.
At Perceptive Planning I work within the Client Services team which I thoroughly enjoy. My colleagues are very supportive and friendly making the environment a great place to work.
I have always enjoyed working closely with Private Clients and I find my role very interesting; one day is never the same as the next. I have learnt a great deal since I have been here and continue to learn new skills every day.
Outside of work I spend most nights running my children to their various hobbies. When I am not doing that I enjoy spending time with family and friends, swimming, running and eating out!
Louise Lepley
Head of Client Services
I started my career as a secretary for a construction company, leaving there for a career break to have my three children.
For 17 years whilst my children were growing up, I worked part-time for an insurance company dealing with the customer accounts.
In September 2019 I decided it was time for a change and a new career, and I joined Perceptive Planning as Team Administrator. I have been enjoying my time here, using my skills from my previous roles, bringing in new ideas and learning new processes from my colleagues.
I have moved on to more client-based work and with the help of Kelly, Leon and Alex I have been learning the client services role, which I am very much enjoying.
Caroline Walker
Operations Manager
I started my career in the travel industry, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, I decided it was time for a career change. I have a passion for seeing the world but also for bringing the best possible service to clients.
I was lucky to be given the opportunity to join the team at Perceptive Planning and become the Client Services Administrator. This is the perfect job for my skillset as I am very client-focused, a stickler for details and used to working within tight deadlines.
In May 2022 I was promoted to Operations Manager, I now work closely with Phil taking on more responsibilities in the operational side of the company.
I am really enjoying improving my knowledge about financial services, there is so much to learn. No day is ever the same. Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my husband, son, and our dog. I am an avid armchair film critic, love to travel, as well as crafting things. My latest new hobby is diamond painting. I have a passion for seeing the world, so far Antigua is top of my list, but there are lots of places still to see….