Our Team
Gavin Sturgess AFPS
Chartered Financial Planner / MD of Countrywide Financial Solutions & Countrywide Accountancy Solutions
Gavin set up the business in 2003 and has been a financial adviser for over 20 years, Gavin believes in building trust through regular face-to-face meetings and aims to help clients achieve their financial goals. He guides them through the complex issues of tax planning strategies, investments and retirement planning using plain English. Gavin is a member of the institute of financial planning.
Andrew Stammers DipPFS, Cert SMP
Independent Financial Adviser
Andrew entered the financial services industry in 1990 and now specialises in financial planning for both private and corporate clients. He holds licences in equity release, long term care and has specialist accreditation in taxation, pensions, mortgage protection and investment. Andrew’s clients appreciate his ability to translate financial jargon into real-world solutions.
Joseph Sturgess - DipPFS, Cert CII (MP), BSc
Company Director/Independent Financial Adviser
Joseph joined the company in 2011 to work with his father Gavin Sturgess after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire.
Joseph prides himself on fostering enduring client relationships. He thrives on nurturing lasting financial stability for individuals, utilising his expertise to steer them toward their desired financial objectives.
Outside the financial realm, Joseph enjoys spending time with his family and going on holidays. As a keen golfer, he tries to squeeze in as many rounds as he can during the summer months.
Janet Maggs DipPFS
Independent Financial Adviser
Janet is one of our qualified financial advisers. Since joining the financial services industry over 20 years ago, Janet gained extensive experience working for a number of the larger insurance companies in a business development role. Latterly Janet gained experience with Axa Wealth and offered regional IFA’s expertise with a full range of financial solutions for their clients. This experience naturally led Janet to become an IFA herself some years ago and she currently offers advice on Pensions, Investments and Protection planning as well as the more complex areas such as Inheritance Tax mitigation, Pensions on divorce and Trust solutions.
Outside of work Janet enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and close friends. Janet is a keen dinner party host and all round fabulous cook!
Louise Jackson
Office Manager
Louise has over 30 years’ experience working in Financial Services. During this time Louise has worked for previous insurance companies where her role included administration / customer care and working closely with the advisers.
Joined the company in April 2004 and held position’s of Administrator, Senior Financial Administrator, Secretary to Director and progressed to Office Manager. Louise has gained experience in areas such as customer care (general support to our clients), complaint handling, claims, back-office administration & financial accounts.
Louise is the main point of contact for our clients and has built up a good relationship with her caring, passionate approach to our clients.
She is often the first point of contact for clients and is central to the smooth running of the office.
In her spare time she likes gardening, walking and spending time with her family.
Lisa Daniels - DipPFS MP
Paraplanner Manager
Lisa’s career started in Financial Services in the late 90’s, during that times he’s worked for small and large companies, adding a wealth of knowledge across all aspects of financial planning.
Lisa started her journey to become qualified in 2018 and since then she has completed more than 15 CII exams, with a view to gaining her Chartered status in the very near future.
Lisa’s role is to support our advisers and team members. She works closely with Advisers to understand the needs of our clients, helping them to achieve their goals. Helping to train and develop our paraplanning team.
Outside of work Lisa enjoys spending time with my family, keeping fit and reading.
Nicole Mower - DipPFS
Paraplanner
Nicole joined the company in April 2018 and has over 34 years’ experience working in Financial Services. During this time Nicole has worked for some of the leading insurance companies where her varied roles have included complaint handling, protection new business, handling and setting up of individual and corporate pensions along with reviews of both pension and mortgages.
Nicole enjoys travelling, spending time with family, keeping fit and trying new things.
Billy Dow
Paraplanner
Billy joined the company in March 2017 having moved to Blackpool from Scotland. He has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry having worked for companies such as Prudential, Aegon and Standard Life with the last 12 years in IFA practices.
On a personal level, Billy is married, a keen Bolton Wanderers season ticket holder and a dad to 2 British shorthair cats and a Cavapoo.
Leanne Turner
Paraplanner
Leanne is primarily responsible for the research and analysis that supports the advice we provide. Her role involves working closely with Advisers to ensure we provide compliant reports and meet the expectations of our clients.
Leanne joined Countrywide Financial Solutions in September 2019 having recently moved back to her hometown, Lytham St Annes after living in London for almost 10 years’ working for a large Financial Planning Firm. Leanne has worked in both administration and paraplanning roles for over 15 years.
The part of her work that she most enjoys is supporting our clients on their financial journey.
Outside of work Leanne enjoys spending time with her family, and also loves to bake and shop.
Angelica Rothwell - APFS, MSc
Senior Paraplanner
Following completion of her master’s degree in Economics from the University of Manchester in 2017, Angelica secured a role as a Graduate Trainee Paraplanner for a leading high net worth IFA.
During her time working in the industry, Angelica has completed her Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning and has now obtained Chartered status. She also holds the certificate in Pension Transfer Advice.
Angelica enjoys baking, walking and spending time with her family and two pugs.
Sam Bullough
Senior Financial Services Administrator
Sam joined the company in February 2013. Sam joined us as an Office Junior and has now progressed to role of senior financial services administrator.
Sam is currently progressing through his financial exams with the aspiration of becoming a mortgage and protection adviser. Sam plays a key part in overseeing and training the administration team, as well as being the main IT technician within the company.
In his spare time Sam enjoys fitness, technology and spending time with his friends and family.
Anjuma Miah
Financial Services Administrator
Anjuma joined the company in January 2017. Prior to this, she attended the University of Central Lancashire and studied philosophy and religion. During her time with CFS she has progressed from financial services administrator to senior financial services administrator and always looking to acquire new skills.
In her spare time, she likes to travel and visit new places with her family and friends.
Nicola Barkworth
Financial Services Administrator
During her time working in the financial industry over the past 16 years, Nicola has gained experience in areas such as complaint handling, case servicing and back-office administration. Nicola is a key contact point for our clients and deals with our general client queries on a daily basis.
In her free time, Nicola enjoys spending time with my family and friends.
Susan Jones
Financial Services Administrator
Joined the company in October 2023, and has been working in the Financial services industry for around 10 years. During this time Susan has worked with some of the leading Equity release companies and insurance companies where her varied roles have included specialised handling and processing of mortgage applications and claims, property purchases and further advances & a vulnerability champion - its a good thing to have but its not in force here - unless its something she continues with outside of work
Susan enjoys walking her dogs and travelling in her caravan.
