Jon Francis BSc.(Hons), CFP, ACII, FPFS
Managing Director
Jon started life as a Teacher of Economics and Geography, but decided on a career in the financial world in 1990 when he first joined Commercial Union in London. After working with CU for the first three years of his career, Jon then returned to South Wales in September 1993 and worked for a National Firm of IFAs between their Cardiff and Swansea offices. During this time he made quick progress through the professional examinations offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute and eventually became qualified as an ‘Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute’ (ACII) in August 2005.
In September 1995, Jon set up his own Practice of IFAs, and has been in business owning and running an IFA Practice from that date until now. In September 2004 Jon decided to create a specialist IFA Practice called Self Invested Portfolios Ltd. This Company specialises in the creation and management of Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self Administered Schemes (SSAS) for private and corporate clients.
Throughout Jon’s career he has always progressed through the wide range of professional qualifications available for Financial Advisers and became a designated ‘Fellow of the Personal Finance Society’ (FPFS) in 2006. By June 2007 Jon reached the highest professional qualification available to Financial Planners when he was awarded the title ‘Chartered Financial Planner’. In September 2007 Self Invested Portfolios Ltd was awarded the title ‘Chartered Financial Planners Practice’ – again the highest accolade available in the UK for IFAs.
From 2007 to date SIP Wealth Management has increased the ‘Funds under Management’ from approx £36m to approximately £76m by October 2010, and continues attract and be appointed to manage approximately £1m additional client funds each month.
Paul Williamson Cert PFS, CEMAP
Associate Director
Paul has been working in financial services since 1991 and during this time has gained a wealth of experience in the setting up and managing of clients investment and pension portfolios.
He started his career at Natwest Bank before leaving to take up a role as a Financial Adviser at Prudential. Here he gained much experience in advising clients on all areas of financial planning including Pensions, Savings and Mortgages. Roles with Birmingham Midshires Building Society and Legal & General followed before he entered the IFA world in 2002.
This started with Gosbee Morgan Financial Practice and was followed by running his own Financial Services company based in Mumbles. Paul joined SIP in 2009 and became a Director in 2013.
Alex Francis DipPFS, BSc (Hons)
Associate Director & Investment Manager
After graduating from the University of Southampton with a degree in Economics, Alex joined SIP in 2019 and made rapid progress through the exams required to achieve the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Attaining the diploma in December of 2020, Alex then moved on to commodity trading to explore a new sector within the financial industry and attain an Advanced Diploma in Financial Trading.
Alex returned to SIP in February of 2023 with the role of Client Investment Manager, acting as the primary coordinator of the centralised investment proposition and consolidating our risk-graded portfolios. Alongside this, Alex is targeting additional qualifications to further his training and expertise.