Our Advisers

Kevin is the firm’s Managing Director and has specialised in providing investment advice since 1983. He is one of the few advisers in the local area with the coveted Investment Management Certificate. When compulsory qualifications for Independent Financial Advisers were first introduced in 1988, Kevin won the prize from the Chartered Insurance Institute for the best overall results in the country.

Kevin’s degree, from Southampton University, is a joint Honours in Law and Politics. He also holds specialist qualifications in Securities Advice and Dealing and in Discretionary Investment Management.

John joined Atkins Bland in 1993 after a career in building society management, during which he became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. With his wide experience of the financial sector, John can provide advice on most areas, ranging from mortgages to investments and pension planning. John is also qualified to give advice on equity release and long term care funding for the elderly.

Elliott joined Atkins Bland in September 2012, following the completion of an accountancy qualification, having concluded his ideal career path lay in personal financial planning. He initially worked as part of our Portfolio Review Team, while studying for his professional qualifications, and then developed his skills to provide specialist financial planning support to Kevin.

Since joining Elliott has passed several professional examinations and, in February 2018, gained the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. He has since progressed to hold qualifications with the CII for Discretionary Investment Management and Securities Advice and Dealing.

Elliott became a registered adviser with Atkins Bland in June 2018 and combines his role of providing personal and professional advice to our clients with a management position as leader of the Portfolio Review Team.

Away from the desk, Elliott enjoys immersing himself in the natural world and is a keen participant in many outdoor activities, including walking, cycling, water sports and rock climbing.

Simon has been a self-employed adviser providing services through Atkins Bland since 1999 and specialises in all aspects of pension and retirement planning, including the investment strategies which underpin these. In addition to achieving Chartered Status, Simon also holds the G60 pensions qualification which enables him to advise on all aspects of pension planning, including company pensions.

I joined Atkins Bland in 2016, following graduation from the University of Reading with a first class degree in Mathematics, starting out in the investment analysis and reporting team while studying to gain adviser qualifications.

Having completed the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning with Distinction in August 2020, I am now combining my role of investment analyst with that of Financial Adviser with particular areas of interest in investments, pensions, retirement planning and personal tax planning.

I am thoroughly enjoying the challenges of helping individuals to achieve their financial goals and joining them on their financial planning journey.

I believe the key to being a good adviser is having the level of technical knowledge required but more importantly the ability to listen and connect with what really matters to clients.

My spare time tends to involve sports (either playing or watching) as I am an avid cricket, football, American football and golf fan! I also keep myself busy looking after our two cats Mimi and Maisie with my wife to be Sarah.

Darren has been a self-employed adviser providing services through Atkins Bland since 2001, following three years as a senior investment adviser with the Portman Building Society. Having worked in the Financial Services sector since 1989 Darren has substantial experience and knowledge, as is evidenced by his winning an award in the Financial Times Adviser of the Year competition in 2000.

Jim has been in the financial services industry since leaving university in 1984. He has been contracted to Atkins Bland since 1993, specialising in pensions and investments. Jim has a particular interest in providing advice to people who are about to retire and need to make the most of their pension fund and savings to provide financial security during retirement.