Meet the Team

I joined Frenkel Topping as Group Director of Business Development in March 2021, following 14+ years in the legal industry.

I am responsible for the Business Development team, where I oversee the development of the Frenkel Topping Group and each of the its individual brands. Day to day, I review and implement strategic opportunities at group level, presenting to the board and then assisting the team in executing development operations.

My background includes experience in all types of litigation funding, insurance products and specific scheme building, with a particularly strong skillset in the PI/CN market.

The range of businesses within the Frenkel Topping Group gives a variety of opportunities to work with. I relish the challenge of growing the businesses and working with the team and consultants to provide a platinum service to our clients.

The Frenkel Topping Group is a hugely successful business with great growth potential and reputation, as well as a fantastic team. I was particularly drawn to the Group by their genuine concern for clients – always putting the end client at the forefront of everything they do. I was delighted to be asked to join the team.

In my spare time, I’m a keen golfer, I still play hockey at a reasonable level and I enjoy watching most sports. I have started running frequently and have a marathon to complete later this year! I like to travel and experience nice food with the wife and am also a proud father.

I have had the pleasure of working at Frenkel Topping for over 20 years, during which time I have held many roles across the company. This experience has enabled me to gain a considerable understanding of our unique clients’ needs and objectives, which is invaluable to my current role.  My team is responsible for providing comprehensive information to the Investment Committee, of which I am a member, to allow the committee to design, maintain and fully monitor the structure of the group’s centralised investment proposition. This involves producing detailed research on investment solutions, platforms, tax wrappers etc, in order to ensure that we believe that all solutions are the most suitable for our clients.

I joined FTL as an admin assistant in February 2012 and took on my current Manager role in January 2020.

A typical day involves ensuring that the various requests placed upon the FS team are picked up and dealt with in a timely fashion, as well as using my knowledge and experience to be a point of reference for the team. I also train the team on all aspects of the role to make sure that we have as wide a knowledge base as possible.

After 12 years in business banking with Barclays I took voluntary redundancy and was made aware of an opportunity at FTL by my colleague James Bunby. I entered the business as an administrator, then progressed to senior administrator, team leader and manager, and following the 2020 restructure I was given the FS Manager role.

As soon as I researched what FTL was, I really wanted to join as I saw it as a great way of furthering my career whilst helping vulnerable clients and their families. We have a good group of people that see the bigger picture. We are aware that providing the services we do might seem simple or mundane to us at times, but to a client it could mean we have assisted with a huge change to their lives. I think that we should always try to remember that.

I joined Frenkel Topping in 2013 as a post-settlement administrator, progressing to my current role in February 2020.

My main role is to supervise the team and the workload of administrators and client services executives to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the department. I ensure all work is allocated, any problems or issues are dealt with, and training and guidance is given.

I have worked in financial services since 2003, and hold a CISI Introduction to Financial services Level 1 qualification.

I wanted to continue my career in financial services after moving back to Manchester. On researching Frenkel Topping’s work and client base, it really stood out from other IFAs. In my own work here I genuinely feel that I am making a difference and helping to provide financial security to the clients we provide a service for.

I joined Frenkel Topping in 2012, and work in the personal injury trusts team where we are the first port of call for clients where any award of damages (whether an interim payment or final settlement) may mean that entitlement to state funding for welfare benefits or community care is affected. We advise and assist clients in the protection of their existing or future entitlement to state funding.

I graduated in accounting and finance from Manchester University.

I enjoy the variety each day brings and the satisfaction it gives when I advise clients and they appreciate our assistance.

I joined Frenkel Topping as a graduate in September 2019 as a member of the Expert Witness team. This followed me completing a Law Degree from The University of Liverpool which is particularly relevant to the Expert Witness Team as I studied civil litigation, which helps me to understand the legal aspect of the cases we handle.

Following the completion of my graduate scheme and achieving a Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning I was promoted to Expert Witness Specialist. Whilst working in this position it was my responsibility to train team members and continually carry out research into aspects relevant to our reports, alongside dealing with the most complex reports we are instructed on. The Expert Witness team works on the pre-litigation side of a client’s personal injury claim, and which assists with writing reports alongside our Expert Witness consultants to quantify a client’s loss in relation to Loss of Earnings, Loss of Dependency and Loss of Pension, along with providing Periodical Payment Order and Structured Settlement reports.

In July 2023, I was promoted to Expert Witness Team Manager. As team manager, I ensure the daily functioning of both the Expert Witness team and the relevant consultants. I also ensure the Expert Witness team continues to use the most up-to-date data and processes to stay at the top of the industry.

I was attracted to working for Frenkel Topping as a close family friend of mine has cerebral palsy; Therefore, I have always seen the difficulties a disability can cause for an individual and their family. Consequently, it means a lot to me that the work we do at Frenkel Topping can help our clients’ lives be a little bit easier and of much better quality.

I initially joined Frenkel Topping in April 2017 as an administrator on the business processing team. In January 2018, alongside Sue Roberts, I was a founding member of the new client relationship team. I was appointed Manager of the CRT in January 2020.

My role sees me providing support to the rest of the team, as well as ensuring clients are receiving the best possible service throughout their investment journey. From engaging with newly invested clients, providing an introduction to Frenkel Topping, to maintaining contact with existing clients and offering our support and services, I am always on hand to ensure that the client has a direct contact point within the business, in addition to their dedicated consultant.

We aim to build on our relationships, both old and new, and are happy to welcome clients to our offices for meet and greets with the wider team, providing reassurance that the client and their investments are in good hands with Frenkel Topping.

The team also assists our review consultants with arranging their annual client review meetings and works with the financial services team to acknowledge receipt of client withdrawal requests.

At the time I joined FT I was looking for a change in career, and after reading about the company and gaining some understanding of the clients and the nature of their investment needs, I was encouraged to apply for a job. Learning that this wasn’t investments for the already wealthy, and that our clients had often been through life-changing events prior to investing, made Frenkel Topping something I wanted to be part of.

I particularly enjoy getting to know our clients as people, not just clients, and this was particularly true during the covid pandemic when the importance of such relationships only increased. I realise now, more than ever, how important it is for us to have these relationships, not just for retention rates but as a genuine support network, whether relating to clients’ investments or simply as a sympathetic ear. I always take something away from our conversations that make me pleased to have spoken with clients.

I am a welfare benefits specialist providing expert advice and guidance on a range of issues including disability and sickness benefits, Universal Credit, personal injury payments, benefits for people from abroad, tax credits, support with housing costs, and benefits for people receiving care services.

I joined Frenkel Topping in May 2016 as a Welfare Benefits Caseworker, before taking the role of Welfare Benefits Manager in September 2020. As manager, I am responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the team in line with the aims of the business.

My role includes supporting the development of the team whilst ensuring an excellent quality of service for our clients. I am responsible for preparing and delivering up to date training sessions for solicitors and other professionals, completing financial assessments to ensure income maximisation and providing a full casework service. This includes supporting clients in the benefit application process, preparing mandatory reconsiderations, and representing clients at appeal tribunal. I also prepare reports regarding entitlement for clients who lack capacity, ensuring that their Court of Protection appointed Deputies meet their requirements as set by the Office of Public Guardian.

After graduating from Durham University, I began my career in a busy Local Authority welfare rights team, providing advice to families in hardship throughout the city. I also managed a regular advice surgery at a Chinese community centre and spent time as an officer on the Local Authority’s emergency assistance scheme, providing aid to residents applying for urgent help. I have experience of completing financial assessments for clients receiving care and support services. Following university, I achieved an NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance.

With the introduction of welfare reform, the benefit system has become increasingly complex, and many people are at risk of financial hardship due to the changes implemented. It is so important for me to feel that I am making a contribution to improving the lives of others, and working at Frenkel Topping allows me to do that in a practical way.

I joined the business at the start of March 2021 as a Commercial Team Executive and was promoted to Client Experience Manager in November 2022.

My role is to support Clients both lay and professional from the moment they engage with us, until their case has settled and beyond life after settlement. I also support our staff to make sure they have everything they need to be able to give an impeccable service no matter what. Looking into all parts of the business processes and workflows.

I began my career in the property industry in sales. lettings and marketing which has given me over a decade’s worth of customer service experience. Following having two boys I worked within the education sector for 6 years. This allowed me to engage with a very different audience in preschool and early years.

My eldest son developed Type 1 Diabetes in 2013 which has given me further insight into having to live life around health issues, getting to appointments, understanding what you are being told by consultants and the worry of juggling all of this around everyday life.

That is why I love working at Frenkel Topping because they are passionate about the people they look after and the people that work within the company. It is like working for a big family, everyone looks out for each other, and nothing is too much trouble if you are in need of help and advice.

I have a natural caring, empathetic personality and if I can bring that into my workplace, I feel I am adding to my community.