Andy Bartles

In 1997, Andy formed BPR Financial Management, the investment management division of leading Yorkshire based accountancy practice, Broadhead Peel Rhodes. Having gained a BA Honours in Law, Andy has worked in the financial services industry since 1984. He has been an investment broker consultant with some of the leading insurance companies such as Legal and General, Prudential and Scottish Equitable International. He has extensive knowledge in the derivatives market, being a private futures trader for some 20 years. Andy is the driving force in developing BPR Financial Management into the company it is today, Barmac Asset Management.

Andy McCarthy

Having gained a BA Honours in Economics and History in 1982 at Leeds University, Andy started his career in financial services with Royal Life as a broker consultant in the same year. Since then he has held the position of Northern Regional Investment Manager for the Prudential, Fidelity and Scottish Mutual, before joining BPR Financial Management in 1999. Bringing with him his specialist knowledge of derivatives, commodities and forex trading, Andy is the strength and energy behind the Castleton Growth Fund. Among the industry qualifications Andy holds, are the Investment Management Certificate and the Society of Technical Analysts Diploma.

Simon Horsfall

Simon joined BPR Financial Management in October 2001. He began his career with the Halifax Building Society in 1991, after reading European Studies, Politics and Law at Huddersfield University. Based at the Halifax’s Head Office, Simon gained a wide-range of knowledge and experience, working in customer relations and mortgage lending. Prior to leaving, he had the sole role of  Product Transfer specialist and was responsible for maintaining an impartial overview of transfers from a legislative and administrative perspective. Simon holds the Certificate in Personal Financial Planning, Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice and is a member of the Personal Finance Society. Simon’s experience in the industry makes him the ideal person to manage the administrative and operational aspects of the company.

Helen Saunders

Helen started her career in the financial services industry in 1984. She has been an IFA for some 15 years, both for a national IFA and for over 10 years as a partner in an IFA practice. Helen changed direction in 1999 and joined the IFA technical training team at Norwich Union Life and Pensions. From here, she progressed to the role of IFA Business Development Manager for the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Helen decided to opt for voluntary redundancy in 2005 and took a sabbatical for 6 months to manage a safari lodge in Tanzania, before joining us in 2006. Helen holds the Financial Planning Certificate, Advanced Financial Planning Certificate and Diploma in Training and Development (Leicester University) Drawing on her knowledge and understanding of many aspects of the industry, Helen’s focus is on marketing and compliance within the company.