Amber River is a group of like-minded, values-driven people with a passion for financial planning
We think about financial planning in a way that goes beyond financial advice. We call it Life Landscaping® and we’re a group of like-minded, values-driven people with a passion for independent financial planning.
The people behind Amber River fall into three main groups. There’s the Board, a group of trusted and respected individuals with a long and successful track record in financial and investment services. There are our Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) – the people who live, breathe and sleep financial planning. They all run successful businesses in their regions and have now come together under the Amber River Group. And then there’s our central team, working flexibly from home and in our London and Henley offices to support the regional growth and development of our independent businesses.
Whichever group we fall under, we all work together with one, single-minded purpose: To enrich the lives of the people we meet. Through conversations and knowledge sharing, financial planning and advice, whatever life stage you’re at, the team is here to help you plan for a life well-lived.
this is Life Landscaping®.
What we do
Everyone’s journey is different and our advisers will work with you to create and plan for that difference.
Together we work on what’s important to you, creating and curating a future view of your dream landscape. A plan for how you want to get the very best for the life you’ve not yet lived. Making the most of your potential and valuing the important things in life.
Meet the Board
Our Board members are hugely experienced and they love what they do. They believe passionately in the value of independent financial planning and advice, overseeing the workings of the group and providing expert backing and resources to enable our advisers to do what they do best.
Andy Homer
Andy has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance sector as Chair of GRP and Brown & Brown Europe, and previously as CEO of businesses such as Towergate, Folgate, AXA Insurance UK and Commercial Union (now Aviva UK General Insurance). As an angel investor he has backed more than 20 start-ups companies including Percayso Inform, Bikmo and Many Group (Bought by Many).
Andy joined Amber River as Chair in November 2024. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and has a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Mentoring.
Mary-Anne McIntyre
Mary-Anne has a long track record in financial services, having held roles as CEO and Executive Director at Openwork, one of the UK’s largest adviser network, Chief Distribution Officer at Old Mutual Wealth, Head of European Customer Service Operations at Fidelity International and MD of Customer Services at Invesco Perpetual.
She is a qualified chartered accountant and formerly the Group Director of Financial Services at Deloitte.
Simon Brunt
In his professional life, Simon has been drawn to working with dynamic greenfield start-ups and early stage high growth businesses. Since 2004, he has been involved in the financial advice sector, initially as founder CFO of Openwork and then CFO of Intrinsic including its sale in 2014 to Old Mutual, now Quilter. He is delighted to now bring his experience to help roll-out and develop Amber River as a refreshing new force in financial services.
Outside of work, Simon is a keen motorcyclist and music fan.
Charles Schrager
Being an investor is the best job Charles has ever had: solving problems, working with people that are the best at what they do and having the opportunity to make decisions which make things better every day.
Horse riding and live music are Charles's favourite things outside of work.
Dave Cheeseman
Dave Cheeseman has over 30 years’ experience in financial services within the UK and overseas including life insurance, pensions and investment platforms. He is an experienced Finance Director sitting on various regulated company Boards in the sector since 2007. Currently Dave holds Non-Executive Director positions within both the insurance and building society sectors and he enjoys working with businesses that have a real purpose to make life better for individuals.
Outside of work you'll find Dave walking, skiing, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Martin Baines
Martin is an ex Quilter Cheviot CEO. Appointed in 2003 having joined Quilter Cheviot as an investment manager in 1994. After a two year spell as Chief Investment Director of Old Mutual Wealth’s Investment Division, Martin returned as Chief Executive Officer to Quilter Cheviot until 2018.
Martin now serves on Boards of a number of financial services institutions.
Steven Scott
Stevie is an investor and Non-Executive Director at Amber River. He most enjoys working with the management team to grow the business and create value, for the benefit of the business and its customers.
Outside of work, Stevie has a number of other interests and enjoys a bit of golf, cycling, skiing and family time with their dogs.
Maria Lasauskaite
Maria brings a breadth of Mergers & Acquisitions transaction experience to her role on Amber River's board. She is an Investment Director at Penta Capital and has previously worked at a number investment banks in London. She qualified as an ACA with Deloitte after graduating from the University of Leeds with a First class BSc in Economics and Management. Outside of work Maria is a passionate cyclist and skier.
Amber River Group facts and figures
36,000
clients with bespoke financial plans
30
locations nationwide - and growing
196
independent financial planners
£13.8bn
Assets Under Influence (AUI)
Find a financial adviser
Where and how we meet depends on whatever’s most convenient for you, but we have a number of locations around the UK if you’d prefer to come to us for bespoke financial planning.
Our values
It’s not just what we spend our time doing day to day, but how we go about doing it that makes a real difference to our clients and our communities.
Be Warmhearted
Human
is all about the people. It involves cultivating qualities like empathy, kindness, compassion, and understanding.
Showing kindness and compassion by helping others, and treating people with respect and dignity, and building genuine meaningful relationships by being a good listener.
It’s about having emotional intelligence and being aware of how our actions can impact others and being open-minded and optimistic.
When we behave this way, we welcome everyone with open arms and create an inclusive environment, where we have each others backs and create a warm family spirit.
Be Entrepreneurial
Excellence
is about being dynamic and agile and committing to owning and solving problems.
Is about always setting a high bar and having an energy and passion that drives you to go that extra mile.
It is a powerful motivator for discovery, innovation, and creativity, as it drives us to challenge our assumptions and think critically.
It requires you to be curious and have an enquiring mind with a natural inclination to seek out new knowledge, and information, learning, sharing and enjoying the ideas and plans that make for a better life ensuring that we grow together.
Be Authentic
Open & honest
means being sincere, genuine, and honest in your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
It is about being in the present and living a life that is true to who you are, and that reflects your values, beliefs, and priorities.
Being authentic allows you to embrace your strengths and be open and transparent with others, enabling you to build trust and nurture long term relationships.
It requires seeing the whole person – physical, mental, financial and emotional, which promotes a sense of health, happiness, positivity and wellbeing creating the environment for a life well lived.
Life Landscaping®
The purpose of professional financial planning and advice is to help you to create a more prosperous, secure and happy future for you and your family. At Amber River, we call this process Life Landscaping®.