Meet The Team

Digby began his working life in a bank becoming a branch manager, before realising that the only way to offer financial advice was to be outside the constraints of these traditional institutions. He became a financial adviser 24 years ago and established Digby Associates in 2007, with a desire to provide clients with a bespoke and impartial service.

Digby is proud of the way the company has grown to boast one of the youngest team of advisers in the country - an important consideration for clients looking forward to receiving continuity in advice for the next 30 years.

His family, sailing, squash and watching the Bristol Bears rugby team are Digby's other passions outside of work.

Paul joined Digby Associates four years ago in a part-time role and is also a member of the management team where he draws on the experience gained from a 41-year career spent with Barclays Bank. Paul, who has always lived in the Bristol area, has built a reputation for establishing trusting relationships, providing lasting solutions and contributing to client growth and development.

When not at his desk, he enjoys cycling, playing golf and squash along with the occasional game of five-a-side football. Paul is also a proud blood platelet donor and last year joined a very exclusive club when he passed the 250-donation landmark.

Gary, who joined us in 2018, has been working in the financial services industry for 30 years. He is a member of the senior management team and works closely with our advisers as well as a portfolio of clients.

Gary is also heavily involved with business acquisition as Digby Associates continues to go from strength to strength. He feels a responsibility “to make sure the client does not pay more tax than they legitimately need to do, and that they do not run out of money.”

When not working, avid Arsenal supporter Gary enjoys martial arts and walking Frankie, a very bouncy two-year-old Boxer.

Graham joined Digby Associates in April 2019 after spending more than 25 years in the financial services industry with a range of national companies. Thanks to his experience in sales-focused activities and a life-long interest in planning and investment, he brings a real commercial focus to our determination to ensure value for clients as well as the business itself.

Graham, who lives in Clevedon with his wife and youngest daughter, enjoys walking Jasper, the family’s Cockapoo, as well as reading historical fiction and biographies. Graham is also a devoted follower of the Exeter Chiefs rugby team, ensuring lively conversations with the many Bristol Bears fans in the office.

James worked for several national life and pension providers before joining Digby Associates in 2014 and moving into advising. Over his 20 years in the industry, he developed a particular interest in final salary pensions and making sure clients could look forward to their best possible retirement.

James has now taken on the role of Business Development Manager and is responsible for establishing and growing strong relationships between Digby Associates and our providers and introducers.

Outside work he enjoys spending time with his two young children and following a range of different sports, as well as maintaining his fitness levels by cycling around Bristol and beyond.

Imogen’s journey in the financial services industry began in 2015 when she joined Digby Associates as an administrator, soon progressing to becoming a qualified Financial Planner.

She has since undertaken further studies to become a Chartered Financial Planner. Imogen, who believes strongly in ‘treating people the way you would like to be treated yourself’, enjoys meeting clients and helping them make plans to reach their goals, from providing for their families to being able to take dream holidays in retirement.

She is a keen traveller, both in the UK and abroad, enjoys playing football and once skydived over the Great Barrier Reef.

Tom joined us as an administrator in 2013 after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a degree in economics. He progressed through paraplanning to become a qualified adviser three years later and now works on all areas of personal finance while specialising in the fast-moving world of pensions.

Here, he enjoys establishing the aims and priorities of clients, allowing him to develop long-term relationships. Tom, who used to play the trumpet in a ska-punk band, is looking to build upon his Diploma in Financial Planning by working towards his Advanced Diploma.

Away from the office, he enjoys watching and playing rugby for his village club, board games and listening to new music.

Lewis is our longest-serving member of staff having joined us straight from school as an office junior. He progressed from taking care of basic administration for meetings to becoming a paraplanner ahead of studying to become a qualified adviser in 2018.

Lewis, who is married with two young children, is now keen to push on again and become a chartered adviser. He enjoys getting to know clients, understanding their long-term aspirations and plans for retirement.

In his remaining spare time, Lewis relaxes by watching the Marvel films and Game of Thrones, and he is also an avid fan of West Ham United.

Dave has worked in financial services since leaving the University of Southampton with a degree in philosophy. He became a financial adviser in 2013, specialising in pension and investment advice with a specific expertise and interest in final salary pensions.

Dave, who joined Digby Associates in 2018 and has two young children, is a strong advocate of protection advice, believing everyone benefits from having a conversation with an experienced financial adviser, even if it is to double check that everything is the way it should be.

He drives rally cars as a hobby and holds a City & Guilds qualification in MIG Welding which is useful when he needs to work on his Subaru Impreza.

Matt joined Digby Associates in 2018 after holding a range of technical and compliance positions with national companies.

After initially providing support to our Defined Benefit advisers, Matt is now enjoying a new role that allows him to make the most of his 30 years’ experience in investments, inheritance tax and pensions. He fully understands the importance of developing strong relationships and providing practical solutions to clients, ensuring we build on a desire to deliver bespoke and practical services.

Bristolian Matt is married with two children, and is a qualified FA coach with a particular love of Liverpool and Bristol Rovers as well as being a keen cyclist.

Paulo had a background in hospitality management before moving to the financial services sector in 2015 ahead of joining us in 2018.

An ingrained passion for people and attention to detail in every recommendation served Paulo well as he soon became a qualified Financial Planner. He has since worked extremely hard to pass a series of exams, becoming one of the UK’s youngest Chartered Financial Planners, while also relishing the chance to offer excellent customer service to existing and new clients of Digby Associates.

When not working, Paulo enjoys staying fit and active at the gym while he also has a passion for travelling and adventures as well as relaxing trips to the cinema.

Joe joined Digby Associates in March 2018 as an administrator before studying for his Diploma in Financial Planning and progressing to his current role.

He is passionate about ethical investments, enjoying researching the credentials of new funds in this fast-evolving sector, and is preparing to start working towards becoming a chartered adviser.

Joe, who used to work in customer service, enjoys travelling with New Zealand one of his favourite countries visited. Lockdown provided some extra time for him to resume playing the guitar, both electric and acoustic, while Joe also describes himself as a bookworm with a particular interest in military history and detective stories from the 1940s and 50s.

Hannah joined Digby Associates in October 2018 after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in English Literature.

She completed Quilter Financial Adviser School in April 2021 and will be a qualified Financial Adviser in 2022. Hannah has a keen interest in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Funds and is working towards her CFA Certificate in ESG Investing Qualification.

In her spare time, Hannah enjoys cycling, baking sweet treats and she also volunteers for a local helpline.

Lucy joined Digby Associates in 2020 after completing her Diploma in Financial Planning and CeMAP Qualification, whilst working for a Financial Planning company.

She had previously studied for a degree in Sociology at the University of York and is also qualified Personal Trainer. Lucy combined this interest with her studies at the Quilter Financial Adviser School. She works closely with our Advisers as a Paraplanner with the aim of developing her skills to become an Adviser.

Lucy is an avid cyclist, enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her Grandparents, and a has a love for Highland Cows!

Mollie Joined Digby Associates in 2019 after changing vocations from vetinary nursing. Since joining as an administrator, Mollie has undertaken further studies and in 2021 she passed her exams to become a qualified paraplanner.

Her aim on the world of finance is to develop her product knowledge and understanding of cash flow analysis, before taking on further exams to become a financial adviser.

Outside of work, Mollie has a deep love of animals and has grown up with English Bulldogs before her Cockapoo Ted came along seven years ago. She also has great affection for horses and has been riding since a young age.

Helen worked for Barclays Bank for 22 years and has been in the financial services industry for seven years, joining Digby Associates in 2018. She also ran her own holistic therapy business for five years, offering aromatherapy and reflexology.

As a child she always wanted to work with money while her favourite subject at school was maths, making her a perfect fit for her current role at Digby Associates which she describes as ‘a close-knit family’.

Helen, who is married with two teenage daughters, enjoys crocheting, knitting and cross-stitch, and is an avid fan of the band Depeche Mode, who she has seen in concert six times.

Donna began her career in the financial services industry as an administrator in Yeovil 23 years ago, and has since gained a lot of experience.

She then moved to Bath, working for several mortgage brokers and IFAs, before joining Digby Associates in 2017. After a year she was promoted to her current role and now looks after a team of five advisers and the administration staff.

Donna is focused on ensuring that mortgage applications are processed efficiently from start to finish. She enjoys exercising and her hobbies include an interest in health and nutrition along with spending time with family and friends.

Becky had a background in the mortgage industry before joining us in 2018 as a financial administrator in our investments department.

She is now a member of our mortgage team where her motto of ‘if you are going to do something, do it well’ drives her determination to heighten customer satisfaction and ensure a best possible experience for our clients.

Becky, a qualified beauty therapist who previously spent time working on a cruise ship, is also responsible for our social media channels and online presence and, when not working, is studying for a Business Management & Marketing degree with The Open University. That leaves a little time to spend enjoying cooking and moments with her family.

Jack joined Digby Associates in 2015. He brings a tremendous amount of experience to the team after beginning his mortgage career in 1990, helping brokers with specialist placing advice.

It was his next role, as Business Development Manager for a French bank, that introduced Jack to mortgage packaging. He went on to spend 18 years with a Bristol company, and was part of the senior management team that saw it become one of the largest packagers in the UK, helping brokers and their clients navigate the changing mortgage regulation landscape, and providing back-office processing and underwriting capabilities.

Away from work, Jack enjoys cycling, cooking and country walks with his four dogs.

Jason worked in the mortgage business for 16 years before becoming a member of the team at Digby Associates in early 2020.

He has established a base of loyal clients around the country and is proud that most of his work is from referrals and personal recommendation. Jason, who has a particular interest in the buy to let sector, understands the value of attention to detail in his work with clients and enjoys reacting to changes and shifts in the market.

When not working, Jason enjoys practising fingerpicking on his acoustic guitar and listening to the music of Bob Dylan. He is also looking forward to the day when he can once again go scuba diving.

Patty joined Digby Associates in early 2019. She has more than five years’ experience as a mortgage and protection adviser and also qualified as an equity release adviser in 2019.

Patty, who studied for a degree in social sciences at the University of Bath, has vast estate agency experience which has proved extremely useful in her current role. She offers a comprehensive service ensuring clients have a full understanding of the buying or remortgaging process in the UK, and prides herself on being able to assist members of the Polish community thanks to the fact that it was her first language.

Away from work, Patty enjoys spending time with her two young daughters and husband.

Jo has a strong background in mortgages and insurance having worked initially as a paraplanner ahead of moving into advising 13 years ago.

She is now one of our most experienced advisers in both the mortgage and protection market, and remains as passionate about providing the best level of service she can as the day she qualified. Jo is focused on helping clients achieve their property dreams, from buying their first home, investing or taking on a self-build, ensuring they are properly advised and protected at every stage of the process.

She enjoys cycling and swimming but can mostly be found on Salisbury Plain walking her two dogs, enjoying the fresh air and countryside.