Financial Planning Consultant, CFA, DipPFS
I’m a fully qualified financial planner / financial adviser and chartered financial analyst with experience working with clients across the financial services industry since 2011. I’m passionate about helping individuals, families and small business owners, from all walks of life, take confident and fully informed control of their finances and any concerns in what is an increasingly complex financial world. I aim to provide financial peace of mind with clear, personally-tailored and tax-efficient plans that cut through complexity, to help clients plan for and work toward short and long-term financial goals and aspirations and, ultimately, target later life with as much financial freedom and security as possible.
I provide holistic and practical advice for clients in all stages of life, across savings & investments, pensions & retirement planning, tax-efficiency planning (inc trust planning), individual/family/business protection & insurance, and estate/inheritance-tax planning.
I’m based in Darlington and so can easily meet clients in person across the North East and North Yorkshire regions, although I’m also very keen to work with clients further afield/nationally given the flexibility of online video meetings.
In the UK, there are around 3.3 million pension pots that are considered as ‘lost’, containing an average of around £9,500 per pot*. Nobody wants to be missing out on money they have built up in a pension, but there’s good news - this kind of financial hit is completely avoidable.
This one might seem obvious, but it’s easy to lose track of your pension pots, where they are, and what they’re doing. If you make a note of your pension providers, and check your pot(s) regularly, you’re far less likely to lose one of them over time.
Your investment allocation is where and how you’re investing your pension. Often, people will just use their pension provider’s default setting. But this might not actually be right for your retirement goals and risk profile. So, it’s a good idea to revisit this every few years.
If you’ve had a windfall recently, like a pay rise, bonus, or inheritance, putting a portion of it into your pension is a good idea. Not only is it tax-efficient, but you’ll be glad when your retirement comes around.
As an adviser, my role is to help you get all of this done simply, with all the facts and information you need. That might be helping you review your risk profile, consolidating old pension pots, or making a plan to help you retire early. Investing can help your money grow over time, but the value of investments can go down as well as up.
If that sounds good to you, please get in touch.
Approver Quilter Financial Services Limited. June 2026.
Establishing and reviewing trusts, complete personal risk management planning, short- and long-term savings and investments.
Expert advice to help provide comfort in your retirement.
Whole of life and term assurance protection, private medical arrangements, critical illness insurance.
Permanent health insurance to provide a regular income should you be unable to work due to illness or injury.
Wealth management advice to make your money work as hard as it can for you, including making the most of any tax breaks available.
Commercial mortgages/remortgages, workplace pension and employee benefits. Commercial mortgages are by referral only.
Darlington
United Kingdom
Dan is located in Darlington, County Durham and serves the surrounding areas of North Yorkshire and the North East. He can also serve clients further afield (nationally) on a remote basis.
I’ve worn a few different career “hats” prior to becoming a financial adviser. I originally come from a scientific background and started out as an academic research astronomer as part of obtaining a doctorate in astronomy.
After leaving academia I spent the bulk of my career so far in financial services consulting, where I specialised in providing professional investment strategy and risk management advice to the trustees of large occupational pension schemes, which is where I gained my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) professional accreditation with the CFA Institute.
More recently, I decided to switch tracks within the industry and pivot to become a financial adviser to individuals, families and small business owners instead because I enjoy meeting with and directly helping people from all walks of life. To do this I retrained and obtained the necessary Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (DipPFS), became a member of one of the industry’s main professional bodies (the Chartered Insurance Institute) and joined Quilter Financial Advisers.
Outside of work, I like to get out into the countryside for scenic walks/hikes with the family, explore new areas, keep up to date with the latest news in astronomy and technology, keep fit & healthy and meet up with friends in local community groups for various events and charity endeavours.
In advising you, I follow a simple and trusted 3 step process:
We will arrange a time to talk about your goals and plans.
I'll prepare a tailored plan which always takes full account of your goals, and gives you the steps and expert support from me to get there. All explained simply.
I'll be there as your financial adviser to give you the support you need.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some employee benefits, tax planning, inheritance tax planning, estate planning, succession planning, trusts or some buy-to-let mortgages.
The guidance and/or information contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore targeted at consumers based in the UK.
Registered Office: Quilter Financial Advisers, Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4AB. Tel: 0207 562 5856. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 05693185. Lighthouse Financial Advice Limited, Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4AB. Tel: 0207 562 5856. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 04795080.
Quilter Financial Planning Network only: This financial promotion was approved by Quilter Financial Services Ltd & Quilter Financial Ltd on 01 August 2022.
