Chairman

Richard is a founding director of Gilliland Neilson Brown as well as Managing Partner of our associated Chartered Accountancy practice, Gilliland & Company.

Along with other professional partnerships that we work with, Richard firmly believes in and promotes this co-operative approach to ensure that the client experience is objective and professional. Richard has extensive experience within property, leisure and entrepreneurial sectors and in addition, has a number of Board appointments within successful, privately-owned Scottish companies. He is a family man whose interests are many and varied, a keen football supporter and a knowledgeable art collector.

Director & Chartered Financial Planner

Steven joined the firm in late 2014 and was appointed as a Director of the business in 2017. He started out in Engineering, through the family business, and progressed to achieving a PhD from where he launched a company based on patents he invented for a 3D display that did not require glasses.

After seeing the light, he changed careers to move into Financial Services, and with his Academic and Engineering background quickly achieved Chartered Status, and has since progressed to Fellowship of the CII, picking up various awards for meritorious achievement along the way.

Steven has expertise in areas such as Pensions, Investments, Inheritance Tax, Long Term Care and Cash Flow Modelling.

Outside of work he is a keen snowboarder and golfer.

Director & Chartered Financial Planner

With over 35 years’ experience in financial services, Ailsa is a Chartered Financial Planner, and a holder of the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate.  She is a past Regional Chair of the Association of Independent Financial Advisers and the Women’s IFA Group, strongly supporting the principle of professional independent advice.

Ailsa’s wealth of financial planning experience is put to good use advising a small number of clients on their day to day financial needs, with a particular focus on investments and technical pension planning.  She also chairs the firm’s Investment Committee who oversee the portfolios of funds used for clients’ investments.

She has varied interests away from the office, including being a keen gardener, particularly of vegetables.  Holidays are usually spent cycling in the UK and Europe, and when not in training for the cycling holidays, she enjoys playing the clarinet, and is working slowly towards her Grade 7 exam.

Director

Alan is also a founding director of the business, which we feel is crucial in demonstrating the continuity and stability of our organisation. Like Richard, he combines this role along with his duties as a Partner with Gilliland & Company, whom he joined in 1992. Alan services clients across a wide range of businesses including property, IT, professional practices, PR, and the licensed trade. Alan is a keen sportsman, from cycling to skiing, as well as possessing an excellent knowledge of and talent for music.

Financial Adviser

Karen joined Gilliland Neilson Brown in August 2014 as an Administrator, having worked in the world of protection for over 10 years. Since then, Karen has successfully completed her Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and was promoted to Financial Adviser within the company in 2019. Karen has experience in many areas of financial planning, including protection, investment, and retirement and is currently working towards Chartered Status.

When not studying, Karen’s interests include reading fantasy and science fiction, spending time with her family and watching her 2 young boys playing football.

Planning Manager 

Paul joined Gilliland Neilson Brown in October 2014 as a Senior Administrator, bringing with him considerable experience in the Financial Services profession. A particularly well qualified administrator, holding the Diploma in Financial Services, Paul is able to assist clients with information and support when their adviser is unavailable and has quickly built up the trust of clients and professional connections alike.

His interests include football, fitness and movies and is a keen, but useless, golfer.

Administrator

Kayleigh joined us as an Administrator in April 2019 bringing over 11 years financial services experience.  She deals with portfolio reviews, fund switching and all general administration duties within the office.

Her interests include watching live motorsports, attending live music concerts and travelling to new places whenever she gets the chance.  She also volunteers at a local Dance School every Saturday morning.

Administrator 

Gerry joined Gilliland Neilson Brown in November 2019 having worked with a previous IFA firm for 12 years, dealing with all general administration duties within the office.  When the owners retired “en masse” Gilliland Neilson Brown took on the management of the bulk of their clients and Gerry was seconded across to assist with the increased workload, quickly becoming a valued member of our team.

Outside of work his interests include watching & going to the football (unfortunately not playing so much anymore), socialising with his friends and going to the cinema.