Our people

Neil Sear (Director)

After completing his degree in Economics, Neil returned to Exmouth where he was educated, and started his career in financial services in 1989. Over the past 19 years he has gained experience as an adviser, compliance officer and trainer, he has built up a wealth of knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the job, which ensures that the advice he gives is wide ranging and covers all aspects of financial planning.

The Partners of Thompson Jenner Accountants brought Neil into the firm to set up Thompson Jenner Financial Services Ltd in April 2002, with a view to providing a financial advisory service to complement the accountancy and tax planning advice.

Having remained in Devon throughout his career, the vast majority of his clients have followed him to Thompson Jenner, and as a testament to the quality of advice and service he provides, the children of many of his clients have now become clients in their own right.

Having retired gracefully after 15 seasons of playing rugby with Exmouth RFC, Neil now watches games regularly there and at Exeter Chiefs. He also enjoys the occasional game of golf with his son, work colleagues or anyone else who will join him. As a Spurs fan he endures most winters in a state of deep depression before eternal optimism returns each summer.

Philip Dalley (Financial Planner)

Philip has an honours degree in Financial Services from Bristol Business School and over 15 years experience in the industry.

Originally from Worcestershire, Philip spent 5 years in London where he ran his own IFA practice. He has now lived in Devon for 7 years and in that time has developed a strong relationship with a number of local solicitors firms.

Through working closely with solicitors, he has developed his knowledge and expertise in areas such as Inheritance Tax and estate planning, trusts and pension sharing.

Most of Philip’s spare time is spent renovating his house and classic cars, both of which have become a bit of an obsession.

David J. Smith (Financial Planner)

David is the latest addition to the team. Originally from Bolton, [not Manchester as he is exceedingly keen to emphasise] his childhood, he claims, was mainly spent despairing at what he had just seen on the pitch at Burnden Park. He is now experiencing deja-vu at the Reebok stadium.

During the 80s he ran a driving school in and around the Bolton and Manchester area. He was lured into financial services via a very tortuous route, and has been in the industry since 1992. During that time he has built up a wealth of knowledge, particularly it the area of life protection and mortgages. He successfully took the now required industry examinations before they became a statutory requirement, as he was convinced at the time that they would eventually become mandatory. He doesn’t claim to be a visionary, just logical.

His lists his pastimes as listening to his beloved hi-fi, cooking, walking with his wife Pat, doing any type of quiz and socialising, but not necessarily in this order.

Julie Troup (Paraplanner)

After spending 10 years with Oxford Cambridge & RSA Examinations Board in Coventry, Julie moved to Devon where she became the PA for the Managing Partner of Thompson Jenner. When the Financial Services company was created she took the opportunity to transfer across and has since completed the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Financial Planning Certificate and has the CeMAP mortgage examination.

Julie is responsible for a large proportion of the initial research and planning aspects of the advice process.

Liz Barrett (Client Services Administrator)