Our People
Aspire is a Partnership with the Principal Partners being Jeff Maze and Gary Plein. Together with other colleagues they have in excess of 70 years experience in the Financial Services Industry. We pledge to offer an efficient and high level of service and as a consequence, we are continually recommended to prospective clients.
JEFF MAZE Cert PFS
Jeff was born and educated in Cape Town, South Africa before emigrating to the UK in 1977.He has been working in the Financial Services Industry since 1981, having been associated with a major Life Assurance Company for 17 years before helping to found Aspire in 1998 and becoming a Partner.Over his years in the Industry, he has been fortunate to meet interesting people from all walks of life as well as travelling extensively to all corners of the globe on Company Conventions with his former Company, as well as attending International Industry Meetings in the USA & Canada.
In terms of advice offered to clients, he would liken himself to a General Practitioner, in that he gives advice “across the board” in all aspects of Financial Services. Jeff specializes with mainly family run businesses, Professionals and “high net worth” individuals. He utilizes the Paraplanner and high level of technology available to the Company to good effect.
Jeff is married with three children. His interests include being a keen follower of rugby, cricket and football as well as being an active golfer.
GARY PLEIN Dip PFS
Gary Plein is one of the founders and Principals of the Aspire partnership.
Gary emigrated to London from South Africa in 1986. He joined a large insurance company where he learned the about the life assurance industry and principles of Financial Planning before setting up as an Independent Financial Adviser in 1998.
Gary has been dealing with clients for 21 years, a number of them from the very beginning of his career. He really enjoys watching his clients grow, both as families and businesses.
Gary has gained a number of Financial Planning qualifications, including Dip PFS, and would consider himself a generalist. The only subject he likes to specialise in is customer service.
Gary’s business is generated by way of referral, from Solicitors, Accountants, Trust Companies, Estate Agents as well as from private individuals.
Gary supports the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) by delivering their Making The Most Of Your Money seminars. This forms a part of CFEB's work on Financial Capability aiming to help educate the general public on money matters.
Gary is married to Monique and has two children, Stephanie and Jonathan. In his spare time (never enough) you will inevitably find him on the golf course.
ANDREA RAPPOPORT Dip PFS, BA (Hons)
Andrea has been in the Insurance Industry since 1983, and a Financial Consultant since 1986.
Her areas of work have involved her with three generations of families. The middle generation ask her to speak to their Parents to help with adequate Income in retirement, including costs of care as they become more frail as well as their Inheritance Tax planning.
For themselves, they need to ensure they build up saving to be able to retire in comfort, to ensure the family is protected in the event of death, critical illness or long term illness. They also need advice on tax efficient savings and investments and the most suitable mortgages.
For their children, depending upon age, it may be providing for education through to and beyond university, helping with starting on the property ladder, and provision for weddings.
Andrea works with clients’ professional advisors, such as solicitors and accountants creating a holistic approach to their professional needs. So, as a team, all aspects of clients’ tax and inheritance tax planning are covered. This is also an extremely good approach that supports clients through life changing events.
She works with businesses, planning tax efficient employee benefits and protection for Key People as well as Share and Partnership Protection.
To summarise: Andrea can help you in all areas of financial planning, particularly IHT planning, Retirement Planning and Investing for Growth and Income. Andrea has all the mainstream FPC and mortgage exams, and has recently attained the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC). She also holds a BA (Hons) degree.
JANE HALL
Jane has worked at Aspire since the foundation of the partnership in 1998 and has been Personal Assistant to Gary Plein since 1995. She also worked as Personal Assistant to Jeff Maze for six years.
Jane provides back up and support to Gary and his clients and assists in the day to day running of the office. The role is a varied and demanding one, requiring the ability to keep up with constantly changing legislation and compliance as well as processing new business, following its progress, preparing Suitability Letters and dealing with everyday correspondence and administration.
Jane particularly enjoys the contact with Gary’s clients and helping them with any queries or problems.
Jane has gained her Financial Planning Certificate Paper 1 and plans to write Paper 2 in the near future.
SUSAN REDLAND
Susan joined Aspire in January 2000 as Personal Assistant to the then Managing Partner, a role she held for five years. Susan’s role included assisting in the administration of Corporate and Compliance issues, in addition to client support.
Susan is now Jeff Maze’s Personal Assistant, which involves preparation for client meetings, answering client queries, processing New Business and preparing Suitability Letters, while at the same time continuing to be involved in the day to day running of the office. The job also requires a good knowledge of legislation and compliance requirements.
Susan enjoys the continuing challenges of the job and the daily contact with Jeff’s clients.
