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 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 an Independent Financial Advisor 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.

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COLIN TAPLIN Dip PFS, MSC(Econ)

Colin has spent most of his working life in the City as an investment banker. This following on from a short stint working in the Oil & Gas industry as an accountant.
His career in the City began with J P Morgan, continued with BNP Paribas, and more recently included a number of years with the US broker Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette and finally Credit Suisse First Boston. This covered a variety of roles and areas within investment banking, ranging from fixed interest products to equities and derivatives, risk management, I.T and operational project implementation. The most demanding role was hiring into and setting up a new middle office group of 50 or so professionals within International Equities in London. The most enjoyable was a two year assignment in Milan, which certainly improved his skiing and linguistic skills!
After leaving CSFB in 2001, he took a short career break (and a well earned holiday!). He then decided to rejoin the Financial Services sector, but this time on the other side of the fence – helping retail clients and small companies rather than the large financial institutions. This has proved particularly enlightening for him personally, as he has experienced at first hand the amount of job satisfaction that can be achieved in helping people achieve their financial goals. He advises on Investments, Residential and Investment mortgages, Pensions and Protection. He particularly specialises in areas of complex pension and tax planning
Colin has completed all the FPC and mortgage Cemap exams, and has also attained the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (AFPC). He holds two degrees, a BA (Hons) and MSc in Economics from London University.

JANE HALL

Jane has worked at Aspire since the foundation of the partnership in 1998 and has been Personal Assistant to Gary Plein for 13 years, beginning at Abbey Life in 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.