Carlisle based financial planners and friends of the network, Stan Sherlock Associates, is celebrating two successes to start the new year.

The team has just been shortlisted for the National Family Business of the Year award with Family Business United. Family Business United champion family businesses and their awards recognise the diversity of family firms and celebrate the contribution that they make.

One of the firm’s Financial Advisers, Hannah Heslop, is also celebrating having added a new qualification to her advice portfolio.

Hannah, who lives in Carlisle, used her free time in the first national COVID-19 lockdown to study for her mortgage adviser qualification.  Already a qualified Financial Adviser, advising on investments, pensions and protection, Hannah wanted to broaden the range of advice she could offer to clients and has successfully achieved her Certificate in Mortgage Advice (known in the sector as CF6).

Many financial advisers begin their careers offering mortgage advice, but Hannah has taken the opposite route.  After joining Stan Sherlock Associates, the firm supported her through an academy training programme with the adviser network, Openwork.  A qualified teacher, Hannah’s degree and previous career was in business and IT and her skills and experience transferred well into the financial services sector and helped her gain her level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning with the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Hannah completed her latest mortgage qualification while continuing to work and advise clients remotely throughout the first national lockdown.  She said: “I can now advise and support my clients with every aspect of their financial planning and offer a holistic service to help them achieve their goals.  Be that by growing their portfolios, ensuring they have the most suitable deal on their mortgage or protecting their loved ones.  As a mum of three, I’m particularly keen to encourage younger people to start saving into a pension early and increase their payments as their own careers develop and their earnings increase.”

Bobby Sherlock, Director and Practice Principle, said: “There was once a stereotypical view of a financial adviser and here at SSA we’ve worked hard to change that in recent years.  We’re proud to have so many pro-active, hard-working team members at Stan Sherlock Associates and encourage everyone to learn and develop their careers and ensure the best advice for our clients.”

For more information about Stan Sherlock Associates, please contact the team on 01228 598821 or visit stansherlock.com.