Our Background

It all started when…

Schaefer’s founder, Phil Sheppard, set out on a career path of finance taking him through banking, law and accountancy before he settled in financial services.

Phil has spent much of his career working in, or connected to, accountancy practices. His mentor was an accountant who taught him how to evaluate options and present information to clients so that they could make the right decisions based upon knowledge and understanding.

From working as a sole practitioner, Phil then went into partnership before Schaefer Financial Management Ltd was formed in 2012. The business has expanded over the years, and its key staff joined and didn’t leave. Gemma Lott is now Managing Director and she joined in 2001 as an administrator.

There is a strong emphasis on finding good staff, retaining them and developing them so that they can achieve their full potential.