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Family Owned Firm Established in 1919

Looking After Personal And Business Financial Planning

About us

At Arena, we develop long lasting relationships with our clients and are here to advise and consult those clients appropriately. With the right investment for the right individual, we excel our client’s expectations and are focused professionals, delivering quality results for our clients.
Our investment firm has decades of experience behind its ethos and principles. Stephen Penrose, our managing director bought the company in 1995 and has developed the firm himself into the business it is today.

As independent advisors we are committed to our clients 100% and are free from external control and constraint. we are not influenced by any decision but our own.

Meet the team

Stephen Penrose
Stephen is married with two teenage boys who he is finding increasingly difficult to drag to Preston North End!

Stephen Penrose

Managing Director

As Managing Director, Stephen provides the most specialised advice within the company and has ensured he has progressed with the advanced exams to be able to do this.

Howard Stopforth
He spends his spare time golfing or renovating houses.

Howard Stopforth

Independent Financial Adviser

Howard joined Arena in 2005 as an Independent Financial Adviser and now has over 20 years within the financial services industry.

Pauline Wilkinson
Pauline is married and her interests include walking, skiing, reading and keeping in touch with her many friends but no cooking!

Pauline Wilkinson

Independent Financial Adviser

Pauline acts as a financial adviser and has worked at Arena since 1997 and has over 30 years of experience within Financial Services.

Gary Wilde

When not working Gary may be found on a golf course, following the mis(fortunes) of Sunderland AFC or involved in some other sport related activity.

Gary Wilde

Independent Financial Adviser

Gary has worked within the financial services industry for approaching 30 years, and has been advising clients for the last 10 years. Gary joined Arena in 2016.

Steve Jackson
Outside of work he is a keen sportsman and quiz participant.

Steve Jackson

Independent Financial Adviser

Steve has been directly advising clients within the financial services industry for over 30 years, and specifically as an IFA for the past 14 years.

Mark McMahon
He is married with two children and is a keen sports enthusiast. And indeed he is, he is the only member of the team that has actually cycled 12 miles every day to work and back for 18 years!

Mark McMahon

Office manager

Mark has been with Arena since Stephen purchased the business in 1995 and subsequently has invaluable knowledge and a strong rapport with Arena’s clients.

Edward Penrose

Edward enjoys reading, meeting up with his friends and going to watch Preston North End.

Edward Penrose

Administrator

Edward joined Arena on 1st September 2016 straight after taking his A Levels at Hutton Grammar School.

Anne Beatty
Anne is a long-time rock music fan, and is married and a step-mother to two children.

Anne Beatty

Administrator

Anne joined Arena in September 2018 and has quickly become a valuable member of the team.

Katarzyna Pres
Having moved to Preston from Manchester 5 years ago, Kasia is fully settled and the only multi-lingual member of the office.

Katarzyna Pres

Administrator

Known as Kasia, she joined Arena in September 2018 having previously worked in debt management and insolvency. Kasia has quickly settled in to her role within a new industry to become an important member of the team.

LOOKING AFTER PERSONAL AND BUSINESS FINANCIAL PLANNING

When we say our service is first class, we mean it

At Arena we charge for the service we provide, not for the products we sell. We agree service levels with our clients so our work is transparent. When we say our service is first class, we mean it, it’s one of the main reasons why clients stay with us.
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pauline

We work with your professional advisors

We are happy to work with your other professional advisors, such as your accountant and solicitor. We understand that on a personal or business level it is this approach which really makes the difference to your financial planning.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT USWhat we do

Our Fees

Each client relationship is unique and so each fee agreement is different. It varies on the breadth of advice required, which dictates the amount of work needed. We will always give you an initial indication of fees, which will include a maximum charge.

Capping our initial fees provides you with certainty we are providing value for money. Typically, our initial fees range between 1% and 3% dependent upon the work involved.
Our initial meeting is at no cost to yourself and is without any obligation. At this meeting we will be able to give you a detailed fee estimate.
Our annual fees range between 0.5% and 1%, dependent upon the value and complexity of your arrangements.