Karl is a Chartered Wealth Manager, Chartered FCSI, Chartered Marketer, Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Manager.

Karl Hopper-Young has 36 years experience within financial services, prior to which he served just over 6 years in the British Army.

He has an impressive amount of knowledge and experience within the financial services profession.

Initially as an adviser, having spent time in training, product development, marketing and ultimately as a senior manager responsible for a large region from Devon to East Anglia of financial advisers based in the South East of England for a large well known life office.

Karl was a fellow of the Life Insurance Association by diploma and has held various positions, including Chairman of the Management Development Association for Sussex and Surrey.
He was a founder member of the Society of Financial Advisers, for which he was an Associate and was Regional Coordinator for the South of England for several years. The Society of Financial Advisers was the financial services arm of the Chartered Insurance Institute, now the Personal Finance Society of which he is a fellow (FPFS) and in December 2005 he became a Chartered Financial Planner. He has also chaired the Institute of Financial Planning's Kent and Sussex region and is a qualified member holding the Certified Financial Planner qualification, which is an internationally recognised qualification and acknowledged as the pinnacle of financial planning and advice within the profession. Karl has spent, over the years, a considerable amount of time training within the profession and was involved in the Chartered Insurance Institute putting together the questions for the industry benchmark examination (The Financial Planning Certificate) and was heavily involved in the syllabus of H15 (Supervision and Sales Management) advanced module.

Karl is a holder of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Advanced Certificate in Mortgage advice and Practice and as such is a Certified Mortgage Specialist. In addition, he holds the Certificate in Regulated Equity Release and is actively involved in Long Term Care planning. He is also a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and holds Chartered Marketer status. In January 2011 he was awarded Chartered Manager status. Karl has considerable experience in external assessment and verifier work and has worked with a considerable number of public and private sector organisations where he has developed wide and varied management experience. He holds an MSc Marketing Degree course at Leicester University (2003) and an MSc in Financial Planning from Manchester Metropolitan University (2019). He was instrumental in obtaining Chartered Status for the Firm (June 2007).
In September 2008 Standards International certified Karl to the ISO 22222 Personal Financial Planning standard. Standards International is accredited by UKAS. The ISO 22222 standard provides an internationally agreed benchmark for personal financial services. Achieving the standard demonstrates a recognised level of competence and ethical behaviour, giving consumers confidence in the service they provide. He has also completed the Chartered Insurance Institute ISO 22222 assessors’ course.

In addition, he was Chair of The National Skills Academy – Financial Services South East Employer Board and Karl was a Director and Trustee on the National Main Board for the National Skills Academy - Financial Services where he served nine and a half years. He left as Chair of Risk Audit and Finance where he also had the privilege of working with Anthony Thomson - Founder of Metro Bank, Omar Ali - Managing Partner EY, Jane Masen – Former Director State Street, Dorian Drew – Partner Clifford Chance, Jacquline Davis - Former Director of the FCA and Craig Errington – Chief Executive Wesleyan, Andrew Fisher – Former Chair Towry among others. The National Skills Academy was established by the Financial Services Skills Council in late 2006. The Financial Services Skills Council is an independent, employer-led organisation, established in 2004 to provide strategic leadership for education, training and skills development for financial services, and more recently accountancy and finance across the UK. Karl was involved in the working group for the Financial Services Skills Council to review National Occupational Standards (NOS) for providing Financial Advice. Karl is also a member of Resolution.

Mark has 34 years experience in the accountancy and financial management field. He is an Economics Graduate of Leeds University. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990 and after 9 years of auditing in a London practice took up senior financial management roles in the commercial sector before joining Sussex Independent.

Mark deals with a number of the compliance issues within the firm as well as the financial management and risk controls within the firm and provides clients with advice in relation to self assessment and small business accounts.

Mark was appointed a Director of the company at the beginning of 2008. Now semi-retired Mark acts as a consultant when needed.

As a younger man Mark was a keen sportsman, his sporting career peaked early when he won the Mid-Warwickshire Schools under sevens sixty yard dash. Mark is still a keen follower of sport, mainly cricket and rugby.

Robert has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry, previously in the Wealth Management division of one of the UK’s best Private Banks and over the last 10 years as an Independent Financial Adviser for Sussex IFA Ltd.

Throughout his career Robert has gained a vast knowledge across many differing industries where he has tailored financial planning solutions for each of his clients to meet their individual needs.

Robert believes that the most important aspect of assisting his clients is the ability to listen to and understand their requirements to help them build on these aspirations, through cultivating long standing working relationships to advise them of the options available to achieve their objectives.

In an ever evolving world of financial planning keeping up to date with changes is paramount in assisting clients in managing their corporate and personal wealth to meet their goals, whatever they may be.

With his continued dedication for learning Robert has successfully achieved his Advanced Diploma in Financial Services, elevating him to become a Chartered Financial Planner.

Andrew Munday is a Fellow of the Institute of Bio-Medical Science (FIBMS) specialised in Clinical Biochemistry.
Andrew is the holder of the Advanced Final in Clinical Biochemistry from the Royal College of Pathologists.
Andrew has over five decades of experience of working in healthcare in the public sector in the National Health Service (NHS), and the private healthcare sector with Boehringer Mannheim.
Andrew travelled the world for five years teaching medical doctors, scientists, and nurses in the ways and procedures of diagnostic pathology to help them improve the standards of healthcare in their hospitals and countries.
Following his career in healthcare Andrew transferred into the Information Technology market sector. Andrew worked for SAP UK the worlds leading business software provider as Head of Solutions marketing.
Andrew’s team were focused on helping their clients to understand SAP software to enable them to improve and grow their businesses.
Andrew also founded his own company in the Business Consultancy arena where he continued a lasting relationship with SAP helping them to develop their Customer Reference program across the world.
Andrew enjoyed founding a second company in the internet market sector where he and his partner and team designed and created websites across every market sector worldwide and helped their clients to become best in class for the websites.
In retirement Andrew’s passion is music of all genera and playing, creating and recording his own musical pieces in his music studio.
Andrew is a true family man being the proud father of two sons and grandfather of three grandchildren this gives him the perfect excuse and joy to play with them and all their modern toys and some of his old toys.
Andrew joins the board of SIFA as our non-executive director to help us develop and grow our business to deliver an ever improving understanding and relationship with our clients.
Our target is to ensure we provide the most appropriate products and services to support our client’s needs.
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Steve has been in the financial services industry for over 35 years and started life at Andrews Financial Services in July 1989. He also worked for General Accident Property Services and Hambro Countrywide until the early 1990s when he joined Commercial Union Home Link trading as Agency Financial Services where he worked until 1998 and then decided the time was right to become an Independent Financial Adviser and has been with Sussex Independent ever since.
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Steve has arranged a considerable number of mortgages over the years and related insurances and has a very detailed knowledge of the mortgage market. Steve is based in Hastings and looks after offices in Battle and Rye, working alongside a leading independently owned Estate Agent, Rush Witt & Wilson.

Steve holds the Financial Planning Certificate, the Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice, the Certificate in Regulated Equity Release, and the Certificate in Regulated Customer Care.

Jo has worked within the financial service industry for just over 30 years. A large part of this was at Refuge Assurance dealing with administration, accounts, policy servicing and new business, as well as supporting the District Manager at the Eastbourne branch.

Thereafter Jo moved to the Co-operative Insurance Society carrying out similar work. Jo is involved in dealing with the client database, dealing with day to day administration as well as providing Illustrations for General Insurance and supporting the Admin Function in the progression of client cases.

Jo completed her Certificate In Regulated Insurance in December 2008,her Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice in July 2009 her level 3 qualification Introduction to Securities and Investments in February 2013,FA2 Pension Administration in 2014 and CF8 Long Term in 2015. Jo is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.

Simon has worked within the financial services industry for close to 40 years. He started his career with National Westminster Bank in 1986, where he worked for 16 years, and progressed his way up to Customer Services Manager. He then provided financial advice as a ‘Financial Planning Manager’ in the mid 90’s through NatWest Life, where he achieved his Financial Planning Certificates.

Simon later joined a firm of independent financial advisers as an office manager in Wimbledon Village, gaining valuable knowledge and experience for a further 14 years while dealing with high net worth and corporate clients and managing a very busy back office.

He then moved into the contracting world with Deloitte for 9 years, leading large teams of investigators responsible for claims and complaints, before moving to Willis Towers Watson for 2 years, managing a team of pension administrators.

Simon now joins SIFA, brining a vast amount of experience, knowledge and management skills to ensure that operations run smoothly and our valuable clients receive excellent service.

Simon moved from London to the sunny south coast of East Sussex in 2020. In his spare time, he loves to play golf, watch football (as his playing days are now over), DIY, gardening and travelling around the world with his wife.

Sam has worked in accountancy practice since 2013 and became AAT qualified in 2016. He takes a particular interest in taxation and is knowledgeable in the field of financial reporting.

Sam's expertise allows him to provide excellent tax planning guidance to both businesses and individuals, helping them reduce their corporate and personal tax obligations effectively. His role will enable the growth of the accounts function, capitalising on a solid , loyal client group.

In pastures of old, Sam played rugby for several clubs, including Hellingly and Brighton, as well as a spell representing Sussex. Having been sidelined through injury, Sam enjoys the comfort of watching both rugby and football from the armchair. Outside of work, Sam enjoys honing his cooking skills and following both UK and US politics.

Sammy has 5 years experience in financial services and is keen to expand his experience within the sector. After previously working within accounts in the healthcare sector, Sammy is interested in gaining real world understanding of the financial sector from both the accounting perspective and financial advice.

As a graduate with a financial services degree, Sammy understands the function of money which enables him to assist clients with tax enquiries and provide a high level of support to the firm and our clients.

Sammy is currently undertaking his professional accountancy qualifications with the goal of becoming a chartered tax adviser and further strengthening his knowledge to ensure clients needs are met to the highest possible standard.

Sammy enjoys studying about the financial markets in his spare time and likes to keep up to date with financial changes and how they can affect the valuation of the market assets over time.

Thomas brings over 20 years’ experience within the financial services and retail banking industry, having previously worked as a financial planning manager and customer experience adviser.

Thomas is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and holds this status through the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI), a globally recognised certification in the financial planning industry. Having moved from Hong Kong two years ago, Thomas has been working in a retail bank and is keen to continue his career in the financial planning industry with a Chartered firm.

In his spare time, he enjoys watching football games and spending time with his family.

Mike has over 17 years' experience in financial services. Previously, he spent 16½ years working in retail banking and securities & derivatives dealing in Hong Kong, and some years in Mainland China and the Middle East while working in his family garment business.

At age 17, Mike came to study in the UK for 7½ years and obtained an MSc in Business Economics and a BA (Honours) in Economics. He also holds an IFPHK Associate Financial Planner® status and is now studying towards the Level 4 Diploma here in the UK.

Mike is a Coaching Assistant in Fitness. He loves athletics, Ving Tsun, hiking, cycling and travelling. He also enjoys studying the global economy and the stock market in his spare time.

Julie has over 20 years in financial services commencing with a subsidiary of Nationwide Building Society where she remained for ten years. Progressing through various departments, during this time Julie also studied for and gained her CEMAP Level 3 certificate and passed with a merit and distinction. During her time with Nationwide she also gained experience of mortgage litigation assisting customers who had fallen behind with mortgage payments with the aim of returning them via communication and understanding to a position of financial stability. Julie has also worked as a project manager for an international development company, managing multi million-pound projects in developing countries gaining experience in budgeting, accounting on a very large scale, other cultures, mobilising consultants, forecasting and ensuring the projects remained on budget and reporting back to the board. An opportunity arose to return to a financial services role and Julie went to work for a large financial organisation, Arrow Global where she remained until a decision was made to move the office to Glasgow. This coincided with a personal move from South West London to East Sussex where Julie now looks forward to expanding her knowledge and continuing in a financial services role.

Julie also owns a tearoom which is staffed by family and local volunteers and has provided experience of running a business with budgeting, profit & loss, tax returns, margins, food & hygiene regulations and accounting along with interacting with customers to ensure a positive experience.

In her free time, Julie enjoys long walks with her little dog, trips to the coast in a converted camper van, baking and gardening. She has a dream of owning a canal boat one day.

Shakira has more than 5 years’ experience as a mortgage and protection researcher and brings experience working with complex cases such as adverse credit, lending schemes and clients on self-employed incomes.

In 2019, she worked for a directly authorised firm and gained whole of market experience. Shakira then worked for a remote mortgage adviser company, dealing with residential mortgages with niche lenders who took on cases not accepted by high street banks.

Shakira achieved her CeMAP certification in 2020.

Before joining SIFA, Shakira spent 2 years in the international sales and logistics department of a manufacturing company, where her role was to communicate with international customers, freight forwarders and internal teams to manufacture and transport large cargo loads across the globe including UAE, Cyprus, and Uganda.

Shakira was born and raised in Hastings and had an extended “year gap” living in America in her later teens. Shakira is an avid reader and spends her spare time with friends and family; mostly eating and travelling.

Jake is our apprentice accountant and works closely with our lead accountant. He is currently undergoing his AAT training and hopes to qualify within the next few years. Jake is gaining important on-the-job experience while studying, which puts him in good stead to contribute positively to Sussex IFA's accounts department.

Jake previously worked in a small shop, with face-to-face interactions a part of his daily routine, helping to develop his customer service skills. He also gained some experience working in an office environment during his time at a local law firm as an administrative assistant.

In his spare time, Jake enjoys watching boxing and football with friends, having played sports during his childhood. He often cooks for his family and likes to explore recipes from different cultures.