Meet the Team

Jonathan Thirkill, Founder & CEO

I founded Advise Wise in 2018 with the belief that independent equity release advisers should be armed with cutting-edge technology, to allow them to focus on what‘s most important: great advice.

Day to day I help drive the overall company vision, whilst being heavily involved with the design and User Experience (UX) of the software we release. I believe our software shouldn‘t require a manual and should be simple yet powerful.

Outside of work, I enjoy bodyweight exercises (known as Calisthenics) and playing golf at the weekend. I am also often found upside down trying to perfect the freestanding handstand.

Craig Faulkiner, Head of Distribution

I’ve been in financial services for over 15 years, spending time within equity release as an Adviser and Manager at a long established, large broker, in addition to Business Development Manager at a major lender.

As Head of Distribution, I’m responsible for the sales side of the business, in addition to partner relationships. However I also support other depts, whether that be helping marketing with industry articles, system testing for our tech team, hosting webinars and much more. At Advise Wise there’s no ‘hierarchy’ and we all pitch in collectively to achieve our goals. We leave our job titles at the door and work collaboratively to achieve our goals.

Most of my spare time is spent either watching or playing sport (a very enthusiastic, but poor golfer), but I have a keen interest in travel and experiencing new cultures. I also enjoy live music gigs and time allowing, riding a motorbike.

Benjamin Clarke, Head of Research & Development

Nearly 15 years experience in financial services covering everything from sales and marketing, product design, advice processes, product funding and system efficiencies. One of the UK's leading experts in the equity release product marketplace.

Still enjoy software development and data analysis in SQL and one day will make use of the Biochemistry degree!

Always looking for new ways and challenges to improve outcomes for people in my roles.

Jane Hanlon, Mortgage Club Manager

Many will know me from old times, having worked in the field as an adviser and even a debt counsellor. Now I manage Advise Wise Mortgage Club, heading towards my extended state pension age.

Technology and social media skills are nonexistent, but on the phone, I do enjoy a good chat helping advisers win deals or trying to find solutions. It gives me great pleasure.

I found my heaven in Falmouth and summer lunch times as long as tides permitting, enjoy a dip in the sea.

Russ White, Operations and Platform Manager

I run the Mortgage Club helpdesk - providing technical support to brokers when required. Performing live demos of the platform and helping brokers place cases with the right lender.

In my spare time I’m usually in the gym. I like to keep fit and active so I do a minimum of 3 or 4 gym classes a week. Any other time I’ll usually be at home cooking, cleaning or most likely decorating my house, as I have an obsession with interior design (and keeping my house like a show home).

Elisa Ferroni, Marketing Consultant

I deal with all the Marketing and Communication aspects for Advise Wise, social media and PR, also supporting the growth of the Advise Wise brand.

In my free time, I love travelling and exploring new places and cultures. When I want to relax, I like playing my guitar, sewing clothes and practicing yoga.

Sam Hardacre, Lead UX Designer

I’m the Lead UX Designer here at Advise Wise, which basically means I design everything you see on our platform.

When I’m not working, I like to spend time with my wife and two boys, watching films, drawing & reading comics and throwing myself off stuff with a skateboard.

Anthony Ogden, Senior PHP Developer

My role at Advise Wise involves the development and maintenance of all the cool web technology we provide to our clients to just ‘get stuff done’. Focusing mostly on server side business logic and infrastructure, you’ll find me wrangling bits and bytes on a daily basis - think “The Matrix” for the Equity Release market!

When I’m not whipping up development code I’m usually reading, watching movies, or running - a lot - years into my run streak, running every day has become an awesome habit!

Greg Sanderson, Lead Web App Developer

As Lead Web App Developer, I ensure the Platform’s core features, infrastructure, and security are implemented and retained to a high standard. I constantly develop new features to advance the Platform in line with the Equity Release market and users’ needs, and I resolve any niggles within the Platform’s features and systems. This all ensures that the Platform is performant, stable, and feature-rich, which in turn empowers our users with an effective and powerful CRM for managing their clients’ needs.

In summary, I’m a geeky code whisperer who adds stuff to the website which people seem to find useful. And I take things which don’t work and make them not don’t work, to remove frustration and hindrances.

Away from the daily geek, I’m generally absorbed into some movie or TV show, mostly sci-fi and whodunnit. Or listening to music, mostly blues rock, metal, soul, and experimental. I revel in being in the countryside, admiring amazing views on a long walk, or enjoying an Ale somewhere.

Istvan Kovacs, Lead PHP Developer

My role at Advise Wise is to take all the wonderful and/or crazy(!) ideas some people come up with and turn it into something, together with the rest of the team, that you can click and “wow!” on our portal. I mainly focus on the bits and bobs in the shadows (back end PHP/API server functionality), but frequently also have to dabble with the bits you do see (front end HTML/CSS and React functionality) when using our portal.

When forced(!) not to work, I enjoy watching movies and traveling around the world.

Steve Bortoft, Advisor Support Executive

I have over 19 years experience in Financial Services ranging from Insurance, Management, Complaint Management, right up to Equity Release Advice.

My role at Advise Wise involves me liaising with brokers on both inbound and outbound calls, I am here to help them with case placing, product research and KFIs. I also support our members with the use of the platform.

In my spare time you can find me socialising with friends and family as well as watching football as often as I can.