Welcome to
Thornton Associates Ltd
Chartered Financial Planners
Thornton Associates are the Island’s first firm of Chartered Financial Planners, providing trusted, ethical and transparent life planning to clients who value expert professional advice.
Our client-focussed service helps individuals, business owners and trustees to identify and achieve their financial goals with personalised and fully independent financial advice. We are committed to providing the most up-to-date advice helping you to grow, manage and safeguard your wealth for today and all your tomorrows.
Thornton Associates are pro-active in looking after their clients’ interests and inspire trust and confidence in everything that they do.
- Thornton Associates Client
Independent Financial Advice
We offer independent financial advice to Isle of Man residents, trustees, expatriates and businesses, helping them to make informed decisions about their options at every stage of their financial life. We cover as many risks as possible, including:
- Business protection
- Capital Investment
- Care fees planning
- Estate planning
- Divorce (including pension sharing)
- Family protection
- Pensions and Pre-retirement planning
- Relocation financial planning
- Retirement income
- Redundancy financial planning
- Trustee investment
Because we manage every element of our client’s financial planning, we can help them respond quickly to unforeseen economic and personal changes.
- Sharon Sutton - Managing Director, Thornton Associates
Trusted Ethical and Transparent
Thornton Associates Ltd is a firm of Chartered Financial Planners. As with many other professions, Chartered status is the ‘gold standard’ for financial planning. Just as with accountants, surveyors or engineers, it is reserved for individuals and companies that can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their field. In the case of financial planning, Chartered status is relatively new, and only around 2,000 people in the UK have achieved it so far.
You can trust a Chartered Financial Planner to be highly qualified, reputable and capable of providing quality advice with the highest level of integrity.
Professional guidance and advice is based on sound knowledge. This is provided on all financial matters.
- Thornton Associates Client
Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and Personal Finance Society (PFS) – encouraging career & educational opportunities in the Isle of Man
18th March, 2012
The Insurance and Financial Services sector represented by the above professional body is the largest private sector employer in the Isle of Man. The local Institute on the Island is keen to encourage students at schools and colleges to consider careers in their sector to ensure the Isle of Man remains at the forefront of international financial services.
The Isle of Man Insurance & Financial Services Institute Celebrates its 25th Anniversary and CII’s 100th
2nd March, 2012
Left to right; back row; Peter Reid, Lillian Boyle, Tim Rattray, Jason Stanley, Julie Calvert, Sue Preskey, Gillian Prestwich, Nicola Bowker, Juan Quirk, Michael Welldon, David Doyle. Front Row; Karen Clark, David Vick, Christine Hamilton, Jon MacGowan, Sharon Sutton, His Excellency Adam Wood, Katie Richardson, Jon Everill
The Mount Murray Hotel played host to the much anticipated annual dinner of The Isle of Man Insurance & Financial Services Institute last week, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary in typically convivial style.
21 Ways to Cut Expenses
18th February, 2012
In these austere times, Sharon Sutton gives Isle of Man residents ideas to save money.
January 2012 Update
22nd January, 2012
News for the start of 2012
EIS and VCT
In the UK the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement contained few surprises, the main exception being changes in the rules affecting Enterprise Investment Schemes (‘EIS’) and their collective investment variant, the Venture Capital Trust (‘VCT’).
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New year
26th December, 2011
Our office, is now closed for Christmas, open 28th-30th December and closed over the New Year. We will be back at 9am on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.
RDR update – and dreams of an idealist
22nd December, 2011
How do you really put Financial Services in the Isle of Man on the map for the right reasons when faced with such dire headlines as only this week? I refer to the “Bank denies mis-selling” story – see; http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bank_denies_mis_selling_1_4074609
Charitable Philanthropy
4th December, 2011
Planning for what you give
‘Red Nose Day’ was a few weeks ago, and with all the excesses of Christmas upon us, do you feel like giving to others less fortunate instead?
Dealing with the prospect of Redundancy
19th November, 2011
The prospect of redundancy is becoming very real for more and more people, in light of worsening economic conditions and cutbacks in government and company spending.
Supreme Court rejects Gaines-Cooper appeal
19th October, 2011
The UK Supreme Court today turned down Robert Gaines-Cooper’s appeal against previous rulings that found him resident in the UK and thus liable to UK tax, ending a saga that dated back to 2006.
What to do if you missed the tax deadline
12th October, 2011
As we are all aware, 6th October was the date by which an individual’s personal tax return must be filed with the Income Tax Division (“ITD”) for the year preceding 5th April 2011. Sharon Sutton, a Chartered Financial Adviser at Thornton Associates, talks to Barry Hennedy, a Chartered Tax Adviser at Taxmann Limited, on the importance of this date in the tax calendar.
Global Investment Markets; not a place for the faint hearted
24th August, 2011
Global investment markets are not for the faint hearted at the moment.
It is likely more stable conditions will return in due course -when the politicians come back from holiday in September and face up to their issues. Of course volatility is affecting even the best quality holdings as prices are forced downwards by indiscriminate sellers who need liquidity. We’ve seen it happening before not so very long ago.
Inflation in the Isle of Man; up, up, up, down and up again!
6th July, 2011
The Island’s inflation rate fell for the first time in almost a year last month, but as expected the relief was short-lived with an increase again in June.
FSA Approves CII as an Accredited Body
7th June, 2011
Fay Goddard, CEO of the Personal Finance Society today wrote to all members to advise that the CII has been provisionally approved by the FSA as an Accredited Body ahead of the implementation of the RDR. The Personal Finance Society (PFS) is part of the CII Group, so PFS members will continue to benefit from the reputation, backing and financial security of the world’s leading professional organisation for insurance and financial services.
5 Financial Products to Avoid
31st May, 2011
Do you want to sort out your finances? To help you avoid some of the pitfalls in getting from A to B Sharon Sutton, MD and Chartered Financial Planner at Thornton Associates Ltd describes where you should not start.
Space talk marks new Presidency for Chartered Insurance Institute
12th May, 2011
Sharon Sutton (Thornton Associates), Tim Wakeman (Aon International Space Brokers) and Nick Boon (Gough Advocates)
The Isle of Man Insurance & Financial Services Institute (The local branch of the CII and Personal Finance Society, PFS) recently hosted a talk on ‘Ensuring Space’ by Tim Wakeman, Executive Vice President of Aon International Space Brokers. The talk followed the Institute’s Annual General Meeting during which Sharon Sutton of Thornton Associates became the new President of CII.
Dispelling 5 Myths about Financial Advisers and Financial Planning
8th May, 2011
You can tough it out alone; Some people have the time, ability and drive to manage all their finances, others don’t. Either way, professional advisers can provide great insight and judgment in countless instances, and not necessarily at exorbitant cost. But common misconceptions about financial planners prevent many from seeking their counsel. This article is to help you avoid these traps so you get the most value from your adviser.
Long Term Care; Worried about running out of money before you run out of life?
7th May, 2011
We pride ourselves as being members of a caring society and many of us are now turning our thoughts as to how best to fund care for close family members in old age.
Boiler Room Scams – preying on pride
28th March, 2011
A phonecall today prompted me to update and republish this article. If you’re contacted out of the blue purporting to offer some wonderful investment opportunity, for goodness sake, get advice locally from a licensed qualified adviser
Financial Planning Talk Hailed a Success!
16th March, 2011
THE first in a series of free financial planning talks was held on the 9th March at the Claremont Hotel in Douglas.Make sure you’re getting the right advice
25th February, 2011
Financial advisers are already subject to tighter regulations following the latest version of the Financial Supervisions Commission’s (FSC) rule book.
Isle of Man Budget 2011
22nd February, 2011
Viewpoint: Sharon Sutton, Managing Director, Thornton Associates
The main areas of interest I see affecting the Isle of Man from this 2011′s budget from a financial planner’s perspective are as follows;
2 further Appointments!
3rd January, 2011
We are delighted to announce the arrival of Kate Brown to the Thornton team. Kate joined us in September having worked in the investments team at AXA for a number of years. Kate will be assisting both Sharon and Jo Dugdale and you will no doubt talk to her very soon.
What does 2011 have in store for the Isle of Man?
31st December, 2010
There are two main areas of change I see affecting the Isle of Man in 2011 from a financial planner’s perspective; the first being the Department of Social Care Current Service Delivery plan through to end 2011, which makes reference to more engagement with the private sector. Financial planners, advocates and accountants are often the first line of advice for clients so we look forward to more consultation on making a difference. Getting the message through about planning ahead, seeking advice from regulated, qualified and experienced members of our community can make a tremendous difference to both our residents quality of life and Government bottom line.
Is now the time to Invest?
30th December, 2010
They say time heals pain and so the financial crisis of 2008 seems more and more distant. Markets have been in a buoyant mood and recently the FTSE 100 crossed the 6000 barrier, up some 8% year to date. The cost of government borrowing, as measured by the gilts market, continues to fall with 10 year gilts yielding a miserly 2.94 %, close to the year lows.
New appointments at Thornton Associates
16th December, 2010
Thornton Associates are pleased to announce two appointments. Gemma Sutton has taken up a new role after returning from maternity leave and Jo Dugdale has joined the company from Barclays after nine months covering Gemma’s old post.
Financial Planning Seminar hailed a success
9th December, 2010
Photo of Sue Gee and Sharon Sutton with Steven Beevers from the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development.
PRESS RELEASE: 17th November 2010
Financial Planning for Everyone
Dozens of people attended a free financial planning talk at the Claremont hotel recently. The event, hosted by TLC Business Solutions and Thornton Associates and supported by the Department of Economic Development, was hailed as a great success by attendees.
ThorntonFS and TLC to run Free Financial Planning Seminar
15th October, 2010
How IMPORTANT is financial planning?
Speaking to Sue Gee, Managing Director of TLC Business Solutions, the Islands leading Training Company and Sharon Sutton, Managing Director of Thornton Associates, the only firm of Chartered Financial Planners on the Island, they believe financial planning is absolutely vital for everyone, whatever their financial circumstances. They say that what we do today will absolutely impact on what we have in the future.
The Importance of Planning For a Different Future
3rd October, 2010
Click on the link to read: http://www.moneymedia.co.im/online/aug2010/#/14/
Bootle warns ‘Bond Bloodbath’
23rd September, 2010
Well respected Independent City economist Roger Bootle has warned gilts are not a safe bet in the present environment, despite record low yields.
IOM taxation of investment products update
18th September, 2010
Isle of Man Treasury have recently released their response to the consultation document which can be found here http://www.gov.im/treasury/incometax/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=126
Top 10 useless financial products Which? experts name the products you don’t need
11th August, 2010
People could be wasting thousands of pounds on financial products they simply don’t need, according to consumer champion Which? Money Quarterly magazine.
Experts who worked on the title, which are currently available at newsagents nationwide, have identified ten financial products that are usually useless – and which could leave you seriously out of pocket. Here is an outline to whet your appetite should you wish to run to the shops to buy it.
