Scholes & Brown is a firm of Certified Financial Planners and Pension Consultants. We specialise in wealth preservation through the generations for our many clients throughout the UK.

The firm deals mainly with professional people, usually introduced to us by their Accountant or Solicitor. We provide expert, impartial advice on investments, pensions, life assurance and tax planning.

In these days of mass marketing of financial products by large institutions, we pride ourselves on finding bespoke solutions for clients.

We offer friendly and easy to understand advice on what can be quite complicated issues. Scholes & Brown is a research-based organisation. Our processes involve an in-depth analysis of selected companies' records and an assessment of whether each one is likely to continue to perform well. The aim is to make clients better off.

The Directors

Lord Michael Bates MBA (Oxon) is Non-Executive Chairman. Michael started his working life in the family-owned insurance broking firm; having failed all his 'O' levels, this was a choice that was bereft of noticeable alternatives. He then went on to build a successful career in financial services for ten years, before being elected to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Langbaurgh parliamentary constituency on Teesside. During his time as an MP he held a number of ministerial posts including Government Whip and Paymaster General.

Having been granted a well earned 'rest' from front-line politics by a grateful electorate in 1997, Michael went on to study at the University of Oxford. On graduating he joined Oxford Analytica, a global network of academics with close links to the University who undertook analysis of the global political economy. Michael was appointed Director of Research & Consultancy at Oxford Analytica in 1999.

Michael is now Managing Director of Walton Bates, a firm of specialist management consultants working with corporate boards. He is an experienced strategic advisor and problem solver, with over twenty years' senior board level experience with several companies in the UK and in the US. He is also a distinguished and much sought-after speaker. As well as serving in the House of Lords as Lord Bates of Langbaurgh, Michael is currently a Non- Executive Director of the Vardy Group of Companies, a Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and a member of the World Bank's Global Corporate Governance Forum.

Stephen Scholes LL.B (Hons), Barrister, CFP graduated in Law and was called to the Bar before embarking on a career as a tax and trust adviser for large institutions in the City of London. Stephen is a Certified Financial Planner^CM and specialises in retirement planning and inheritance tax. Having worked with financial advisers for several years, Stephen felt he could look after clients just as well, if not better and so took advantage of the 1986 Financial Services Act to become an Independent Financial Adviser. Stephen is a technical adviser who takes great care to present complex issues with clarity, so that clients understand the issues and appreciate the solution.

Philip Brown BA (Hons), Dip PFS, CFP graduated in Economics before joining Lloyds Bank on a fast track management programme. Unfortunately Philip's definition of "fast track" differed from Lloyds' and he left the Bank to begin a long and distinguished career as an Independent Financial Adviser.

Philip is also a Certified Financial Planner ^CM  and holds a Diploma from the Personal Finance Society (Dip PFS). Both these are high level qualifications, which as at December 2007 are held by only around 5% of all the 29,000 IFAs in the UK. Indeed while passing the three exams need to qualify for Diploma level usually takes several years, in 2001 Philip became the only person in the UK to sit (and pass!) all three exams in the same week.

Lynn Graham LL.B (Hons), ACA is Operations Director. A law graduate from London University, Lynn subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After many years working for large companies, she now works with a number of small and medium sized firms providing accountancy advice and acting as a management consultant. Lynn's main job is to make sure that our income exceeds expenditures (most of the time at least!)

Lynne Carroll Cert PFS is Private Client Director. Lynne has worked in financial services for 20 years and has passed several highly rated Chartered Insurance Institute exams. She holds the full Financial Planning Certificate and is therefore well qualified to advise clients. Lynne came to us from Ernst & Young Financial Management, which was something of a coup for us to be able to attract someone of her ability and experience.

The Team

We have always regarded the quality of our staff as fundamental to the service we offer our clients and we have sought to recruit and retain colleagues with the highest quality experience within the business. We have dedicated administration and financial planning teams who help the directors to maintain client relationships and manage portfolios.

About our firm

You have found us because you are looking for sound, independent financial advice. As professional Independent Financial Advisers, we are authorised to deal with many forms of financial services, and specialise in giving advice to clients on a wide range of subjects to assist with personal financial planning.

We listen to your needs, and offer clear, no-jargon advice on the most appropriate financial products for your personal circumstances.

Why an Independent Financial Adviser?

As Independent Financial Advisers, we have access to a wide range of products and services available in the UK - as opposed to a Tied Agent or Company Representative, who may only advise and offer products from the company they represent. This means that we are able to give you impartial advice and recommend the most appropriate products for you, so that you will enjoy choice, value for money and our high-quality service.

As and when necessary, we shall also be pleased to introduce you to the services of other professionals such as Solicitors, Accountants and Stockbrokers.

We look forward to being of service to you, meanwhile please enjoy our site with all of its varied and interesting topics.