Meet the team - Morris Shapland

About Us • Meet the team

Meet the people who are vital to our success

Stephen Morris

Director

Stephen Morris

Director

Educated locally at Grenville College, Stephen joined a leading Investment house where he obtained his Financial Planning Certificate in 1996. He advised private clients and developed his client bank until 1997 when he set up as an Independent Financial Adviser. Over the last 25 years Stephen has developed areas of his business planning to include advanced study around taxation, trusts and pensions. He holds Diploma status and continues to develop his knowledge. Outside of work Stephen enjoys travelling and walks with his wife Amanda alongside his children Daniel, William and the beautiful Isabella.

Andrew Mackenzie-Shapland

Director

Andrew Mackenzie-Shapland

Director

Andrew was educated locally at Grenville College and he obtained his degree from Oxford Brookes University. Having joined the firm in 2000 he studied for his financial planning certificate which he achieved in 2001. Andrew enjoyed a couple of decades playing rugby for Bideford RFC and captained the First XV for 4 years. Outside of work, Andrew alongside his wife Sarah Jane, support their two daughters Francesca and Emily with all their sporting activities. He also enjoys reading and lists his top three books as Humankind, Anthro Vision and Rebel Ideas.

Mark Cox

Director

Mark Cox

Director

Educated locally at Shebbear College Mark went on to gain a degree from The University of Buckinghamshire in 2001. He joined the firm in 2001 as a trainee mortgage adviser. He has developed his expertise in the equity release field as well as mortgages and advises a wide range of private and corporate clients. In his spare time he enjoys honing his culinary skills for his wife Karina and their daughters Megan and Maddison.

James Buckland

Director

James Buckland

Director

James was educated locally at West Buckland School and went to Swansea University where he obtained his degree in Medical Biochemistry. Deciding the medical world was not where he wanted to be, he joined the firm in 2006 as a trainee mortgage adviser. He obtained his certificate in mortgage advice in 2006. James was made a director in 2012 and has undertaken further accreditation in financial planning exams. He played alongside fellow director Andrew at Bideford Rugby Club for over 10 years and now helps with coaching the minis where his son Hugo plays. Most weekends are now reserved for spending time with his wife Anneka and children Bronte and Hugo as well as his new sport of choice, Golf.

Catherine Hunt

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Catherine Hunt

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Catherine has been a mortgage adviser with us for 19 years, offering advice on all types of residential and BTL mortgages. She also specialises in lifetime mortgages (Equity Release). Catherine lives in Appledore with her (very patient) partner and 3 gorgeous boys. She loves the simple stuff....pottering around the village, watching live music, cooking a mean roast dinner and is known to enjoy the odd glass of wine with friends. She cares passionately about her clients and loves the variety of her work. Every single client’s situation is different and she knows that it’s a privilege to be able to advise and support families in their journey into home ownership and beyond.

Sophie Lace

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Sophie Lace

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Sophie is a fully qualified mortgage adviser and has been helping clients with their mortgage needs since 2015. Her favourite part of the job is guiding clients through the minefield of first-time home ownership. Away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband Mark and two daughter’s Ellie-May and Olivia. Her hobbies include family weekends spent in their campervan and day trips on the boat. She also enjoys music, travel, the gym and good food!

Emilia Vanstone

Paraplanner

Emilia Vanstone

Paraplanner

Emilia joined Morris Shapland in 2010 as an administrator and went on to obtain a Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice in 2016 and more recently a Level 4 Diploma in Financial Advice. Her role as Paraplanner means she works closely with our financial planners to ensure our clients are getting the best advice and our advisers are getting the best support. Originally from Sweden, she holidays there regularly to visit family and reconnect with her roots. Emilia now lives in Great Torrington with her husband Tom and their 2 children, Lily and Edward.

Rachel Blackmore

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Rachel Blackmore

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Rachel joined the Morris Shapland team in 2018 and is a fully qualified mortgage and protection adviser. She loves meeting new clients and helping them achieve their dream of owning their own home, Rachel is also passionate about ensuring her clients have the right level of cover in place to protect her clients mortgages, families and income. When Rachel isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her husband Rob and children Molly & Reuben. Rachel loves weekend dog walks with their dog Betty, cooking and baking cakes!

Julian Baker

Commercial Finance Consultant

Julian Baker

Commercial Finance Consultant

Julian joined us in 2018 after a career in SME banking, and is putting that prior experience to good use as our Commercial Finance specialist. Julian enjoys the buzz of arranging and completing finance cases for our clients, and those cases can be very varied, ranging from commercial mortgages, bridging loans, property development finance, property portfolio facilities and cash flow finance. A ‘North Devon’ native, Julian lives in Bideford with his family and enjoys anything that helps him stay fit and healthy

Kiaran Tanton

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Kiaran Tanton

Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Kiaran joined us back in September 2020 as a trainee Mortgage Adviser and has now completed his CeMAP qualifications to become fully qualified in Mortgage & Protection advice. Kiaran has worked in the financial services sector since 2016 so brings impressive knowledge & experience to the firm. He spends a lot of his spare time outside of work participating in his sporting hobbies which involve Golf and football. As well as this he enjoys lots of different walks with his dog Finley.

Ethan Jeffery

Administrator

Ethan Jeffery

Administrator

Ethan joined the Morris Shapland team in April 2022 and is our youngest member of staff. He is currently completing a Business Administration apprenticeship and is keen to develop his skills with the view to become a fully qualified adviser in the future. Ethan enjoys spending his free time at the gym or on the golf course.

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