Welcome to Generation Financial Services Ltd

With over 50 years of combined experience in the Financial Services, working for Life Companies, Banks, and other large IFA companies. Marc Barnes, Shai Patel and Andrew Waller wanted to use their experience to create a company that focuses on the client’s needs rather than the share holders.

At Generation Financial Services we are looking at the long term relationship with our clients rather than sell today and gone tomorrow. We believe that everybody’s circumstances are going to change throughout their lives and our process offers full flexibility in our advice and products recommended. 

Our advisers have vast experience and specialise in certain areas of financial planning, therefore working as a team we can offer fully comprehensive advice.

Marc Barnes

I started my career in the Financial Services in 1991 with General Portfolio (now known as GAN) as a financial adviser.

After seven years with GAN, and once the company was bought out by Canada Life, I decided to further my career within the banking sector.  For two years I worked for the Woolwich as a financial adviser and gained a wealth of experience within this industry dealing with a variety of clients.

Towards the end of my time with Woolwich I was approached by an old colleague about training to become an independent financial adviser (IFA) and decided to join a company called Membership Services (now known as Liverpool Victoria).  I very quickly learnt that being an independent financial adviser gave my clients, and myself,  the freedom to explore the market and advise on products actually suited to my client.  It was here at Membership Services that I met my future business partner, Shai Patel

Shai and I worked together, along with Andy Waller, in the city for two years.  During this time we all felt that the financial services industry was changing for the better and subsequently decided that the only way we could offer our clients the service proposition we believed in was to set up our own company.

Having spent many a sleepless night trying to think of a company name and a business proposition that would be both financially viable for us and our clients, Generation Financial Services Ltd was created and we haven't looked back since.

With all the passion and principles we give in our advice, I really believe that our clients have benefited and will always do.

I am married with three children and live on the outskirts of Cambridge.  Apart from my family my passion is football and music.

Contact Marc- marc.barnes@generationfs.co.uk

Shai Patel

I started my Financial Services career with TSB Bank in 1988 as a cashier and became a regulated TSB advisor in 1993. In 1995 I joined a small IFA based in Longfield, Kent and provided clients with pension and mortgage advice. 

Taking a short time out to manage the family business, I soon returned to Financial Services working with an IFA group called Membership Services, based in Brentwood, Essex. Here I grew my understanding of the support required by affinity groups such as the PCS, RCN. In this role I provided advice centred on pre-retirement and investment planning.

Membership Services was bought by Liverpool Victoria in late 2002, at a time when they also owned Frizzell's. In Sept 2005 I left LV as I wanted to return to being an IFA without any ties.  Whilst at LV I met colleagues who he would eventually go on to launch Generation Financial services with.

In April 2008 I, along with Marc Barnes, decided to leave our current firm and set up Generation Financial Services, a company that would be centered on providing advice in line with our belief of providing fee based advice; whilst not having any ties to one or few providers, with no panels, or minimum fee criteria. Originally set up through an IFA network we quickly found this route very restricting and decided that to offer the best service possible we became directly authorised to the FSA in May 2009.

Since we started Generation Financial Services I have found our existing and new clients very receptive to our new proposals around the way we charge for advice, and this has helped grow our company and attract the right type of advisers.

Contact Shai- shai.patel@generationfs.co.uk  

Andrew waller

My career in financial services began in 1987 when I joined Abbey Life as a consultant; this followed 5 years working within our family metal fabrication business and a short spell as a chef (yes I can still cook!).

In the last 14 years I have been working in the Corporate Employee Benefits Market for larger firms either as a manager, director, or in business development.

Before joining Generation, I constantly found myself tangled up in red tape and management process and I knew I needed to work with a company that provided a team spirit but encouraged entrepreneurial flair, provide very high levels of service, but without charging silly prices and above all, I wanted to work with people who enjoy their job because it’s a fun place to work which, in my opinion is reflected in our dealings with clients.

The opportunity to join Generation as a Director and Shareholder is extremely exciting and I am looking forward to sharing that excitement with our clients and business partners.

If you would like to discuss how we can help your business and why I am so thrilled about our service proposition, please give me a call or contact me via email.

Contact Andrew- andrew.waller@generationfs.co.uk

Alan webb

Upon leaving school I qualified as a project/ mechanical design engineer and in 1983 I moved into the insurance business to enable me to spend more time with my family. 

I quickly gained the required qualifications and experience in providing financial advice and in 1995 I began to specialise in providing advice on employee benefits to businesses. Since then I

have worked for a number of well known company's such as Midland/HSBC Bank and Ernst & Young Financial Management Ltd. 

I have worked on a number of high profile merger and acquisition employee benefit harmonisation projects along with advising and administering the employee benefits for a number of businesses. I also have had firsthand experience in the installation and administration of flexible benefit schemes and as such brings a wealth of experience to Generation Financial Services Ltd.

I am married with two children, one of whom, at the age of 24, has left home and the other is in her final year at University studying Finance and Accounting.  

I live on the east coast and when I am not working I enjoy spending time at my apartment in Spain relaxing, reading and soaking up the Spanish hospitality. 

Contact Alan- alan.webb@generationfs.co.uk 

ian dunning

I joined the Financial Services in 1997 with Eagle Star and moved to Canada Life before joining Membership Services in 2000. It was here I met Marc & Shai and worked as an IFA providing advice to affinity groups including the Civil Service & Teachers

In 2003, I saw a business opportunity to set up my own mortgage brokerage and did this successfully for 6 years.

During this time I not only gained the experience of running my own business but also advised clients with property purchases, remortgages and helped manage buy-2-let portfolios.

I strongly believe in discussing the “what if” in life and ensuring our clients are aware of what happens in the event of death and or long term illness.

Having worked with Marc & Shai in the past and knowing how they were looking to introduce a mortgage proposition to their company, it was too good an opportunity to miss. 

I am a keen football fan and am currently training for my level 1 coaching badge.

Contact Ian- ian.dunning@generationfs.co.uk 

carl mountain

I entered the Financial Services straight from school with Barclays Bank rising through the ranks from tea boy to a fully fledged financial adviser. 

After 13 years I then joined Inscape Investments Ltd which were owned by Abbey (now Santander) dealing with their high net worth clients for 2 years. I was then offered a partner role at Clydesdale Private Bank where I gained further experience specialising in large loans/commercial lending and portfolio management. 

Previous to joining Generation Financial Services I worked as an IFA in the City and where I realised that the future for the industry lies in servicing clients with moralistic value for money. 

I am married, live in Surrey and I like to unwind with cooking and playing football. I also support Liverpool FC when they win! 

Contact Carl- carl.mountain@generationfs.co.uk 

warren dunn

I started my career upon leaving school as a trainee market maker with Earnshaw Hayes and carried on this role after 2 years when I left to join a larger organisation and enjoyed another 2 years working with Hoare Govett StockBrokers.

In 1991 I was an administration role with CT Bowring & Co who later merged with Marsh Financial Services. There were a number of mergers and changes to the company over the years and when I left after 12 years service the company had become one of the largest insurance broking organisations in the world. During my time I built up a wealth of experience in both Personal Financial Planning business as well as employee benefit schemes providing support for a number of well respected consultants.

In 2003 I joined Ernst & Young Financial Management Limited and over my 5 years service worked alongside my current colleagues at Generation Financial Services.

I have had the pleasure of working with a number of consultants over my career and when an opportunity arose in 2009 for me to work again with Shai and Marc it was an opportunity I could not turn down.

We have since seen Alan and Carl join the company as well as another of our ex-colleagues Andrew Waller.

I am excited by the prospect of joining a company that has only been trading since 2008 but has the potential with the current team of consultants to make a real success in the future. 

Contact Warren- warren.dunn@generationfs.co.uk

Rob Smith

Upon leaving university my financial career started with NatWest at the age of 21 years where I was involved with commercial and personal lending.  I moved into the financial services arm of the bank at the age of 30 years with Nat West Life.

In 1995 I joined Equitable Life and remained there for 8 years working from the Epsom office before moving into the IFA sector in 2002 where I have remained since then.

In particular I specialise in providing advice to high net worth clients who include Barristers and Senior Partners in law firms as well as other high earning individuals. Dealing with these clients has given me strong knowledge and experience in areas such as investments, pensions and tax planning for large portfolios.

Earlier this year (2010) I achieved the Diploma in Financial Planning, and armed with my new certificate I decided that I wanted to offer my new and existing clients more opportunities than was available at my current firm, so I decided to join Generation Financial Services.

On a personal front, I am married with two children and live in Epsom. In my spare time I play squash at club level and follow my favourite football team Nottingham Forest.

Contact Rob- robert.smith@generationfs.co.uk