Meet the dream team

Andrew Morgan

Before founding NOW I had decades of experience in the financial sector, having worked in both banking and insurance, and managing a team of financial advisers for a major national organisation. It was there that I met Carl, and together we realised there is a better way of helping people plan their financial futures – focusing on the life they want, and seeing the money as the tool to achieve it. That’s why we started NOW.

I try and apply that philosophy my own life as well. I’m married to Ruth and have 19-year-old twins, Holly and Harry, who are both now planning their own futures. I’m a Leeds United season ticket holder and, when I can’t get to the game I enjoy it from the sofa alongside Skye, our Golden Retriever – a fellow fan. 

I’m also keen to support and mentor young businesses. I’m currently involved with Ben Wild Animation Studios, who are heading for big things in their industry. 

Carl Hilton

I’ve been working in financial services since the mid 80’s and worked my way up to Senior Management of a National Firm where I met Andrew. In 2002 we Founded NOW with a vision of providing clients with a proactive financial planning service.

Since launching NOW we have helped many of our clients live their best lives by helping them understand the concept of ‘Lifestyle Financial Planning’ a far cry from the old days of advisers just selling policies. Our vision is still strong as we constantly strive to provide a world class service to our clients.
 
I have a son who has recently graduated with a physics degree. I’m proud to say he is now working in the renewable energy sector. That’s something I’m also keen to support through NOW as well, via St. James’s Place’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) agenda.
 
In my spare time you will find me outdoors or travelling. When not walking I will swap my shoe leather for my bike leathers and get out on my motorbike. I’m also a qualified skipper and you’ll often find me relaxing at sea…if I’ve gone missing I’ve gone fishing!

Phil Oats

Since joining NOW in 2014, I have spent most of my time working with business owners and their families helping them to achieve their business and life goals.

I love the client-facing, relationship-building we do at NOW and the way we help business owners look beyond their immediate options to things that are relevant to their futures and their wider lives.

I also devote time to supporting financial education and financial wellbeing in the workplace - going out to businesses and presenting to their staff on various topics. 

I’m married to Sam and we have two daughters who are at primary school, Keira and Imogen. We enjoy going on holidays and having days out. Other interests include sport, electronic music, reading non fiction, running, cycling and socialising.

Adam Stott

I have been a financial planner at NOW for five years, having previously run my own Practice in Bolton. 

Old-school financial advice isn’t life-focused enough but I like the challenge of teasing out a client’s true dreams and ambitions. I have found that a lot of business owners never set out to be an owner; they followed their passion and the rest happened by accident. I enjoy giving them a different perspective on how they can run their business and their finances.

I’ve been married to my childhood sweetheart since school. We bought a house at 18 and we’ve raised five kids, now aged 7 to 16. It leaves me too busy for many hobbies, but I still find the time to hit a few golf balls. Recently I’ve got very into slow barbecuing – I even have a recipe for slow-cooked pork shoulder in the new St. James’s Place charity cookbook.

Louise Williamson

I joined NOW in June 2023. In my new role I lead the Paraplanner and Client Services Team. It’s an exciting time to join the NOW family; there is a lot of positivity in the air, new opportunities for clients and colleagues alike. I’m eager to contribute my experience and be part of the Growth.

My background is predominantly within the Legal Sector. Financial planning is a natural next step, as it has similar levels of regularity, but more chance to impact and make a real difference to clients. I wanted something more local, as I have two young children and NOW is the perfect fit.

In my spare time I try to be outdoors as much as I can, and by water if possible! I love anything food related and also travel. I try to explore new tastes and places whenever I can work this around my children's social lives.

Ceri Edwards

I have worked at NOW since 2019 as a Financial Planner with specialisms in supporting women going through a divorce and later life planning. As an associate of the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) I often work with families who have a care need with specialisms in pensions, supporting women going through divorce, inheritance tax and later life planning.

This focus is based on both my previous professional life, as well as personal experience of my grandparent’s later-life care. I started my career as a CIMA qualified accountant, working in the corporate world but took voluntary redundancy to work in the voluntary sector for nearly 20 years.

I’m married to Tim, with two adult sons, Richard and Daniel, and three grandsons. Church is important to me and I am a member of Audacious, a vibrant city congregation in Chester. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, growing my own fruit and veg, and keeping hens. 

Karen Coello

I have been a Mortgage and Protection Planner for NOW since 2011 and in the industry since 1995.  Before that my career was in Hospitality and Hotel Management.

I love the job as it gives me the chance to help improve both the financial and emotional lives of our clients, which I find very rewarding.

My family is my husband, Sean, and our gorgeous cat, Lillaboo. In my spare time I enjoy yoga and pilates. But if that all sounds too relaxing, I like to shake it up with a heady combination of action films and target shooting with my dad.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Bernard O’Brien

I have been in financial services since 1979 and was one of the founding members of St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

I joined NOW in 2019 to ensure that my clients would be looked after when I start to reduce my working hours.

I’m a father to two children and a big rugby fan (and ex-player). Now, I’ve swapped the scrum for the ski-slopes and I also enjoy a round of golf.

Kath Brough

I have worked in finance since 2000, having started in sales at Friends Provident Life Company. Over the years I’ve realised that I thrive in the detail and technical side of things, so – after taking a year out – I decided to retrain as a Paraplanner in 2016.

I have been at NOW in the role since August 2020, supporting the planners, and I’m loving it here. Having worked on such a wide variety of financial products throughout my career, from pensions to protection and investment planning, it’s great to be able to use that to experience to help people without focusing on sales targets.

Outside of my job I enjoy all the usual stuff: dining, going out, socialising with friends, but I have to find the time around caring for my three rescue huskies, Minnie, Poppie and Fynn. When they were younger I would run them, strapping them to a 3 wheel trike and away we go! Those days are behind them, but they take a lot of care, being expert escape artists. 

Andy Skinner

I started with NOW back in 2014, starting as an administrator working my way up to paraplanning assistant and my current role is a paraplanner – mainly providing support to Karen Coello and Phil Oats.

I am continuing to work through my R0 exams and become a fully qualified paraplanner.  I did try my hand at a career in fruit picking whilst travelling around Australia but decided it wasn’t for me!

A couple of my passions include football and running; I completed the Manchester marathon in 2014 and the Amsterdam one in 2015, I now prefer half marathons and completed the Manchester half in September last year.  My dream dinner guest would be Billy Connolly.

Shaheen Jalal

I graduated in June 2021 from Manchester Met with a degree in Business Management and Economics, and then went straight into my role with NOW. I’m part of the Client Support Team but I have goals of becoming a Financial Planner. 

I’m a big fan of online gaming and streaming – generally sports games – and I also play in real life for Village Club, an all-inclusive football team in Manchester. 

Mash Miah

I joined NOW in June 2023. After graduating from Manchester University in 2016, with a degree in Financial Planning, everything I have done since has touched upon the subject. I was a Research Analyst for a large support service network and prior to that I worked in insurance. I joined NOW because I want to work more closely with clients, in a way that genuinely makes a difference.

When I’m not working I love football, both watching and playing. I’m also an avid reader, with a fascination for US and European History. There is a lot to learn and use from the subject.

Sarah Bolton

Since I started at NOW in 2020, I have been a member of the Client Support Team, then Team Leader and now, very recently, I’m managing the team. It’s been quite the whirlwind but I’m delighted with the opportunity and try to bring as much positivity to the office as I can.

I’m responsible for supporting the team in admin and data-submission, upskilling and coaching and any ongoing project to increase client service standards. After 20 years working for a pension provider, I’m thrilled to have a more hands-on role in a client-focused, streamlined organisation.

I have been married to Anthony for the best five years of his life, and we have two cats named Teddy and Chew Chew (formally Chewbacca). We’re keen gym goers and Manchester City fans and I also volunteer at the Sue Ryder shop in Wythenshawe. 

Jasmine Rudden

I started in the NOW Client Support Team in early 2023 after several years working in the Boating trade. I began in narrowboat sales and then progressed to chandlery (like a builder’s merchants for boat parts). Boating to finance might sound like a leftfield move, but there is a lot of overlap, and I’ve always enjoyed working with calculations, analytics and accounting. My role here at NOW is challenging every day, but very satisfying. If I can make someone smile every day, whether a colleague or a client, then I’m happy.

Outside of work I’m all about adrenaline and having fun. I love going out on motorbikes and socialising with my boyfriend and friends in the local pub. Being from North Yorkshire – I am very proud of my roots and there is nothing better than a good cup of Yorkshire Tea.

Jacqui Chambers

I started at NOW four years ago. Before then I worked at Halifax PLC for over 40 years, so it took something special to prompt a move. 

I have two adult children and grandson, as well as two adorable Shi Tzu’s, Ernie and Teddy. I swam often before the pandemic got in the way, but hope to get back to that soon, and I also volunteer weekly at St Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington. 

Karen Allen

Before joining NOW in 2022, I worked for nearly 40 years in the travel industry, 27 of those in managerial roles. I was looking for a new challenge, something different, a chance to work with clients a little more closely. Moving into finance was a major change, but there are plenty of transferrable skills – and both industries thrive on detailed regulation.

Outside of work I’m involved in local community work and I volunteer for Eve Appeal and MacMillan. My husband and I have two grown up sons, a granddaughter and another on the way. We also have two mini schnauzers – Edwin and Max – who run us ragged.