Media Background
Best SSAS Provider 2025

WBR Group are the UK’s largest independent provider of  SSAS pension administration and trustee services. We are winners of Best SSAS Pension Provider 2025  at the Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards.

As your pension fund is or will become one of your largest financial assets, choosing us with our renowned practical expertise and cradle to grave service delivers peace of mind.

testimonials

WBR have been a breath of fresh air. They are completely different from other firms I have dealt with. They are completely open and explain things clearly and honestly. It gives you great confidence that you are in good hands.

Elia Di Lorenzo, Haines Watts Bedford

I would like WBR to know how satisfied I am with the way you have handled matters since the business was transferred to WBR, and the knowledge that you have within the industry. Your help and guidance is most appreciated.

Richard Drewnicki

I was sorting the sale of of a property which was from my SSAS scheme. I had the pleasure of speaking to wonderful young lady at WBR. She was very thorough in explaining the process of selling my property. Her listening skills are excellent. I wish every organisation had such a person. Please can you congratulate her in front of your staff.

Ismail Dedat

I wanted to take the opportunity in thanking you for your assistance during the SSAS switch. Your professionalism and active engagement is hugely appreciated and you are a credit to your profession.

Teresa Walker

Thank you for sending me the firm’s newsletter. I saw from this that you have been growing exponentially – very well done to both you, Lucas and your colleagues. It doesn’t surprise me. If you look after all your clients as well as you have looked after me and AMC Limited then you’re sure to continue to be successful.

Thank you for all your help over the past few months, I’ve not had the best experiences over the years with various forms of the pension administrator but this process was exceptional in the quality of service provided which I put mainly down to you.

Tony Daly

What fantastic news and thanks very much for your help and assistance in resolving this. If you wish me to speak to your manager prior to an appraisal meeting I’d like to make them aware how important you are and what a good job you do.

Financial Adviser, Edinburgh

Bolton scenario

Be in control

As you will be a trustee of your SSAS, you control the decisions made, subject to HMRC regulations. Due to the wider investment powers a SSAS enjoys, your scheme can be a very useful addition to your company’s and family’s overall financial planning: acquiring commercial property to lease to your business: making a secured loan to your business: helping family members employed in the business build up their own funds.

 

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Commercial property and borrowing

The vast majority of SSASs choose to invest in commercial property, and then lease back the asset to the sponsoring company. The rental payment is an allowable deduction for Corporation Tax and in the pension fund it is income that is not taxed. Further, a SSAS can borrow to invest – up to 50% of the net asset value of the fund.

Read more here about how we may be able to assist you when it comes to borrowing to purchase a commercial property.

Meet some of our SSAS Experts

Peter Collier

Director of Sales & Marketing

Peter Collier - Director of Marketing & Distribution

Peter Collier
Director of Sales & Marketing

Peter is Director of Sales & Marketing for WBR Group. He fell into pensions in 1997, after being invited to join the board of the company that looked after his SSAS, at the time he exited that business.

Since then, Peter has held senior roles in marketing, business development and strategy within wealth management. He was head of Marketing Strategy at the private bank, Brown Shipley from 2002 to 2012. As Business Development Director at Hurley Partners (latterly Mattioli Woods), Peter was responsible for intermediary and direct sales as well as working on significant corporate projects.

Being a SSAS client for over 30 years, Peter is fully conversant with the product’s benefits and operation. In his time in wealth management he was a regulated adviser and a member of the Securities Institute. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant ‘a long while ago’ and is therefore an FCA.

In his spare time Peter and his wife Melanie look after their small-holding, various animals and orchards, as well as acting as a chauffeur to his daughter! He is a lifelong Spurs supporter and also an avid golf & cricket watcher, and sometimes player.

David Downie

Chief Actuarial Officer

David Downie Managing Director -SSAS & Actuarial

David Downie
Chief Actuarial Officer

David left the sunny shores of Trinidad on a scholarship to pursue his education in the UK. He qualified as a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and has accrued over 30 years of experience in Pensions & Actuarial Consultancy and holds the Scheme Actuary certificate.

A pioneer, he developed the defined benefit small self-administered scheme and designed and created WBR’s DB SSAS which has proved a very successful alternative to a traditional SSAS given the right circumstances. David also gives time to many pension and actuarial industry committees and working parties. He advises Trustee Boards of larger corporate pension schemes and funeral plan trusts and assists solicitors when pension splitting on divorce is required, including providing independent expert reports for the courts.

David continues to support the Soca-Warriors the T&T national football team and with his wife has set up a small Christian charity – Advent Worldwide – to provide financial help with gifts of love and compassion to individuals and for ministry training.

Jenni Harland

Director of SSAS Operations

Jenni Harland
Director of SSAS Operations

As Director of SSAS Operations, Jenni Harland leads the WBR SSAS operation, driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and integration across multiple office locations. With over a decade of senior leadership experience, Jenni is able to manage large teams through significant change, deliver high-quality client service, and implement innovative operational strategies.

Jenni joined WBR in July 2021, bringing with her over nine years of specialized SSAS experience from a pension firm based in Leeds. Throughout her career, Jenni has managed an extensive portfolio of SSASs from inception to completion. This comprehensive exposure has honed her technical expertise across all facets of SSAS, equipping her to handle a wide array of complex cases with precision and efficiency.

Jenni is recognised for mentoring senior managers, optimizing business processes, and fostering a positive, high-performance culture. An advocate for efficiency, compliance, and customer-centricity, Jenni partners with executive leadership to scale operations, streamline services, and ensure the organization meets ambitious growth and quality targets.

 

Rob King

Head of Property Technical

Rob King
Head of Property Technical

David Santaney

Chief Commercial Officer

David Santaney - Chief Commercial Officer

David Santaney
Chief Commercial Officer

David has been involved with Small Self-Administered Pension Schemes (‘SSASs’) for over 30 years. He has a detailed knowledge of the operation, regulation and legislation surrounding all types of Pension Schemes, but in particular SSASs.

David’s main strengths are the ability to work closely with clients and their professional advisers at all levels and to ensure matters are completed on time within HMRC regulations. He particularly enjoys meeting with entrepreneurs, scheme members and their advisers to support them in maximising the benefits of SSASs for themselves, their businesses and families.

David is passionate about SSASs and the benefits they bring to business owners. He believes it is imperative to work closely with clients and their professional advisers to maximise those benefits.

David enjoys spending time with his family, travel (when allowed) visiting historical buildings, supporting Leicester City, and occasionally getting out on the Golf course.

Tim Smith

Director of Technical and Consultancy (SSAS)

Tim Smith Director of Technical and Consultancy (SSAS)

Tim Smith
Director of Technical and Consultancy (SSAS)

Tim is Director of Technical and Consultancy at WBR SSAS. He has been involved with small self-administered schemes for 30 years having worked as a manager with various administration teams and as a consultant dealing with advisers around the country.

Working with advisers and clients on more complex cases as well as day to day issues that arise, Tim regularly attends trustee meetings with clients and advisers where his experience and knowledge make him stand out.

Away from work, Tim enjoys mostly watching sports these days although, he still tries to keep running albeit at a much slower pace than before.  As a keen astronomer and stargazer, Tim most definitely enjoys long-distance hobbies.

Caitlin Southall

Director of SSAS Transformation and Proposition

Caitlin Southall

Caitlin Southall
Director of SSAS Transformation and Proposition

Caitlin is Director of SSAS Transformation and Proposition at WBR SSAS.

Caitlin started her career at Suffolk Life in the SIPP commercial property team, in a joint administrative and technical role, before qualifying as a Commercial Property Paralegal. Caitlin managed a large team responsible for the acquisition and disposal of commercial property. During this time, she spent time presenting to advisers across the UK on the merits of property investment in both SIPPs and SSASs.

After nearly a decade, Caitlin moved into the world of marketing at Curtis Banks, specialising in transformation and regulatory change projects, and communications.

Prior to her role as Senior Technical Marketing Manager at Nucleus Financial, she served as a Pension Technical Manager at Curtis Banks, where she was responsible for developing and managing pension products, providing technical support, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Caitlin is also active in thought leadership, contributing to industry discussions on topics such as the gender pension gap and pension policy reforms.

She is also known for her industry expertise on pension issues, having contributed to various industry publications and podcasts.

Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family and following Ipswich Town. If there’s any time left after that, she enjoys playing and watching both cricket and golf.

Martin Tilley

Chief Operating Officer

Martin Tilley - Chief Operating Officer

Martin Tilley
Chief Operating Officer

Martin rose to be a Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute and has spent nearly all of his 39-year career advising on self-invested pensions.

He has held senior roles at specialist Self-Invested Personal Pension (‘SIPP’) and Small Self-Administered Pension Scheme (‘SSAS’) providers as well as at a wealth manager, fulfilling technical, compliance, and advisory functions.
He is a well-known industry spokesperson, writing and presenting education pieces and a former Chairman of the SSAS industry body: Association of Member Directed Pension Schemes (AMPS).

He particularly enjoys the forensic examination of complex SSAS cases and has a pragmatic approach to problem solving with a keen eye for detail. He believes that understanding the client’s needs are key to providing a bespoke service and that SSASs are “not a product.” Martin will often attend trustee meetings.

Outside of work, Martin enjoys his holidays near and far as well most sports, now mainly as a spectator.

Mark Plewes

Head of Pensions Technical

Mark Plewes - Head of Pensions Technical

Mark Plewes
Head of Pensions Technical

After graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2001 with a B.A (Hons.) in Geography, Mark held various roles in a small firm of financial advisers before making the switch into the world of self-administered pensions as a SSAS Administrator in the January of 2012.

Mark has a detailed knowledge of the operation, regulation and legislation surrounding SSAS and after a decade of servicing clients via different roles including Team Leader and Senior Technical Specialist, Mark moved into the Pensions Technical Team at WBR in July 2023 where he has put his strengths to good use.

 

Outside of work Mark likes to spend time outdoors with his family and can usually be found discovering new walking routes with his wife and Cocker Spaniel Freddie.

Awards and Memberships

Moneyfacts 5 Star SSAS 2025
Moneyfacts award - highly commended
Best SSAS Provider 2025
Defaqto 5 Star SSAS 2025
WBR Group SSAS Credentials - Corporate Information 2024

WBR SSAS Credentials

If you would like to review our corporate credentials you can download information, particularly relevant for financial advisers, here.

Download here

Take control of your financial future with the best SSAS pension provider 2023 – WBR Group. Get in touch directly with our dedicated Business Development Team.

James Cannon

Business Development Consultant – Midlands, North West, East Anglia, Mid/North Wales & Northern Ireland 

James Cannon

James Cannon
Business Development Consultant – Midlands, North West, East Anglia, Mid/North Wales & Northern Ireland 

As a Business development Consultant at WBR Group, James Cannon has over 20 years of experience in the Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) industry, bringing a deep technical expertise and knowledge of self-directed pensions. He is passionate about SSAS and is eager to demonstrate how these solutions can benefit members and drive tax efficiencies within businesses. James’s has a strong commitment to offering innovative pension solutions and providing customised advice and support to advisers and clients alike.

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid follower of Manchester City. He also loves to play golf and cycle whenever he finds the time.

Alan Godbeer

SSAS Sales Director – London, Southern England & South Wales

Alan Godbeer - Director of Sales

Alan Godbeer
SSAS Sales Director – London, Southern England & South Wales

Alan is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in Financial Services, having worked at some of the UK’s principal life offices and specialist pension providers. He has specialised in the self-invested pensions space for more than 15 years and as the Sales Director at WBR Group, Alan is a key contact for Financial Advisers across the South West and South of the UK regarding SSAS and actuarial propositions. He has extensive knowledge of member-directed pensions and is one of the few experts in DB SSASs. WBR Group is renowned for providing comprehensive solutions across retirement, legal, actuarial, and tax propositions, ensuring clients receive tailored and effective financial strategies.

Outside of work, Alan is a passionate follower of American Sports, especially the NFL, and his “bucket list” includes a visit to Lambeau Field in Wisconsin to see his beloved Green Bay Packers win.

Nick White

Business Development Consultant – North West, North East & Scotland

Nick White

Nick White
Business Development Consultant – North West, North East & Scotland

Nick White is a Business Development Consultant at WBR Group looking after SSAS distribution in the North West, North East & Scotland.

He began his career in the pensions industry with the Pensions Department of what was then Yorkshire General (latterly Aviva) in Rougier Street, York. Over the years, Nick has worked closely with IFAs, accountants, and solicitors and has run his own business, giving him valuable insight into the challenges that SMEs face. Nick is delighted to bring his extensive experience back to pensions with WBR Group, where his expertise is complemented by our dedication to providing exceptional client service and innovative financial solutions.

Nick has worked with one of the original companies that make up WBR Group and is a familiar and reassuring face for advisers and clients, where his knowledge will benefit those who seek bespoke solutions that fit their business needs.

Peter Collier

Director of Sales & Marketing

Peter Collier - Director of Marketing & Distribution

Peter Collier
Director of Sales & Marketing

Peter is Director of Sales & Marketing for WBR Group. He fell into pensions in 1997, after being invited to join the board of the company that looked after his SSAS, at the time he exited that business.

Since then, Peter has held senior roles in marketing, business development and strategy within wealth management. He was head of Marketing Strategy at the private bank, Brown Shipley from 2002 to 2012. As Business Development Director at Hurley Partners (latterly Mattioli Woods), Peter was responsible for intermediary and direct sales as well as working on significant corporate projects.

Being a SSAS client for over 30 years, Peter is fully conversant with the product’s benefits and operation. In his time in wealth management he was a regulated adviser and a member of the Securities Institute. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant ‘a long while ago’ and is therefore an FCA.

In his spare time Peter and his wife Melanie look after their small-holding, various animals and orchards, as well as acting as a chauffeur to his daughter! He is a lifelong Spurs supporter and also an avid golf & cricket watcher, and sometimes player.

Get in touch