Meet The Team
Welcome to Thornton Associates - Chartered Financial Planners. For over a decade, we've provided independent financial advice and asset protection solutions for private individuals, trustees and business owners both on the Isle of Man and in the UK.
We have extensive expertise across a wide range of financial planning services and our experienced team adheres to strict codes of ethical and professional conduct.
Sharon Sutton - FPFS Chartered Financial Planner
Managing Director of the company, Sharon is the Isle of Man's first Chartered Financial Planner and one of around only 2,000 to hold this title in the British Isles, which is awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute to individuals who meet the highest standards of expertise and professionalism. Sharon specialises in the provision of investment advice, multi-jurisdictional financial planning and financial planning for small and medium-sized businesses.
Sharon is a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and acting Chairman of the Isle of Man Region. She is also President of the Isle of Man Insurance & Financial Services Institute (the local Chartered Insurance Institute, CII) ; she is committed to her own on-going personal development and that of her team. Her main goals outside ThorntonFS are to drive forward professionalism within the local IFA community and encourage implementation of the RDR and TCF initiatives currently going on in the UK. How can you argue against transparency and professionalism after all? Sharon is also a committee member of the Financial Planners and Insurance Brokers Association (FPIBA).
Married to fellow director Julian, Sharon is a keen cyclist and competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games, she is a long serving member of Isle of Man Sport (formerly the Isle of Man Sports Council) and newly appointed Vice Chair of the Sport Aid Committee www.isleofmansport.com.
Chartered Insurance Institute qualifications
- FPC - Financial Planning Certificate (Cert PFS)
- CF8 - Financial Planning Certificate in Long Term Care
- ER1 - Equity Release
- G10 - Advanced Financial Planning Taxation & Trusts
- G20 - Advanced Financial Planning Personal Investment Planning
- G70 - Advanced Financial Planning Investment Portfolio Management (Dip PFS)
- JO1 - Diploma in Personal Tax
- JO3 - Diploma in Tax and Legal Aspects of Business
- JO4 - Diploma in Pension Funding Options
- JO5 - Diploma in Pension Income Options
- RO1 -Regulated Diploma in Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics
- AF1 - Advanced Diploma Personal Tax and Trusts
- AF2 - Advanced Diploma Business Financial Planning
- AF5 - Advanced Diploma Financial Planning process (APFS, FPFS & Chartered Financial Planner)
Julian Sutton BDS, Dip PFS - Financial Planner
Following his successful completion of a Dental Degree at Liverpool University, Jools ran his own practice from 1978 - 2007 then decided on a career change and obtained the Certificate in Financial Planning in April 09 and the Diploma in Fianancial Planning (Dip PFS) in July 2011. Jools undertakes the operational duties of the company together with financial planning for clients (old and new!) when not looking after youngest son, Luke. He lives with wife, Sharon and son Luke in Glen Vine and his main interest is golf and recently cycling. He has the distinction of having won the Isle of Man Golf Championships on 8 occasions, representing the Island on numerous occasions and in 2006 qualified for and played in the Seniors British Open at Turnberry, finally attaining his dream of playing in a ‘Major' tournament. Older sons David and Mark are also Island Team golfers.
Julian recently attained his Diploma in Financial Planning with the Personal Tax, Pension Funding Options, Pension Income Options and Financial Services, Regulations and Ethics Diploma papers.
Chartered Insurance Institute qualifications*
- BDS - University of Liverpool
- CF1* - Certificate in Financial Planning - UK Financial Regulation, Services and Ethics
- CF2* - Certificate in Financial Planning - Investment & Risk
- CF3* - Certificate in Financial Planning - Financial Protection
- CF4* - Certificate in Financial Planning - Retirement Planning
- CF5* - Certificate in Financial Planning - Integrated Financial Planning
- JO1* - Diploma in Financial Planning - Personal Tax
- JO4* - Diploma in Financial Planning - Pension Funding Options
- JO5* - Diploma in Financial Planning - Pension Income Options
- RO1* -Regulated Diploma in Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics
Joanne Dugdale BA (hons), Cert PFS - Financial Planner
Jo is Manx born, attending St Nninians High School and continuing her studies at Manchester Metropolitan University to obtain a BA Honours degree in Financial Services. Jo has worked in a variety of roles in her career and has 10 years experience in Financial Services, initially working for Bank of Bermuda (IOM) Ltd as a Global Custody administrator, Chase De Vere Investments in Bath as a Team Leader providing support to financial advisers, where she passed the Financial Planning Certificate in 2003. Most recently Jo worked for Barclays Wealth as Corporate Lending Team Leader prior to joining Thornton Associates Ltd in May 2009. Since joining the team she has upgraded her FPC to Cert PFS by taking and passing the CF2 paper.
Jo regularly attends Yoga classes, enjoys keeping fit and spending time with friends and family.
Jo is well on her way to obtaining her Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning, having passed JO6: Investment Principles, Markets & Environments. She also recently passed RO1 Regulated Diploma in Financial Services, Regulation & Ethics and RO3 Regulated Diploma in Personal Taxation. She is commited to ongoing professional development in order to provide the best advice possible to our clients.
Jo Dugdale - Chartered Insurance Institute Qualifications
Gemma Sutton - Office Manager
Manx born and having grown up in Port Erin, Isle of Man, Gemma attended Castle Rushen High School attaining 10 GCSEs. After a short spell as an Investment Dealer for a fund manager she moved to Canada Life International completing an ILM Level 2 diploma in Team Leading / Junior Management. Gemma spent 6 years at Canada Life International working as a team leader in the Investment Department before joining Thornton Associates Ltd as a Personal Assistant in May 2006. Since then Gemma has implemented many new systems processes and procedural changes at Thornton to ensure a streamlined workflow of the business.
Her interests include socialising, event planning, cooking, and whilst she doesn't actually play herself, she takes a keen interest in golf because of husband David's golfing abilities. Gemma returned from maternity leave in April 2010 and has a gorgeous daughter, Darcey.
After taking a year out on maternity leave, Gemma returned to Thornton Associates in April 2010 where she took up a new position of Office Manager. Since her return to work she has overseen the introduction of a new Back Office Administration system which has resulted in a greater service offering to existing and new clients. She is currently studying the ILM Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management.
Kate Brown BA Hons - Adviser Support
Kate is Manx born & grew up in Castletown where she currently still lives. She attended CRHS attaining GCSE's & A' Levels before continuing her studying at the University of Chester where she obtained a BA Hons in Tourism Management.
Following University, Kate returned to the Island and for a short while worked for Barclays Bank. She then moved to work within the Discretionary Team in the Investment Department at AXA Isle of Man, a role that was held for just over 4 years, before moving on & joining the team here at Thornton Associates in an Adviser Support role to Sharon, Julian and Jo. She is currently studying towards the Regulated Diploma in Financial Planning.
Her interests include socialising with family & friends, catching up on the latest films & TV as well as a new found liking of baking - mainly cupcakes - which she likes to test out on friends, family and work colleagues!