Specialist Independent Financial Planning for the Veterinary Profession

About the Team

David Smith, Director

I have worked within Financial Services since 1986 and as an IFA since 1993, attaining Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute in those early days.

Having worked for a number of IFA firms, I joined Dickinsons Financial Management in 2010 to focus on providing holistic financial planning solutions to the veterinary profession and in 2018 I formed DFM Financial Planning Limited, which continues to serve the veterinary community to this day.

Apart from family and Wolverhampton Wanderers, my passion has been competitive running, gaining several UK titles and European team medals over varying distances and surfaces.  During Covid I dabbled with Triathlon but my swimming made me uncompetitive, so instead focussed on Duathlon which combines running and cycling and to date I have managed to pick up individual medals at two World Championships (including a silver last year in Australia) and a European Championship. Presently, I am training hard ahead of the 2025 World Championships in northern Spain.

Sarah Nicholls, Director

Portrait photo of Sarah Nicholls, PA to advisers at DFM Financial

Sarah is our Operations Manager, as well as PA to the Directors.

She has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry and first joined us in 1999 in the general insurance division, back when we were known as Dickinsons Ltd.

Outside of work Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dogs Ruby and Poppy.

Keith Dickinson, Consultant

Portarit photo of Keith Dickinson, Chairman of DFM Financial

Keith is a Geography graduate from UCL who has operated in veterinary insurance and finance for over 30 years.  He has supported the veterinary industry avidly during that time with financial and professional initiatives. 

He is a keen cyclist with a passion for golf, cricket and football.

Julie Thomas, Paraplanner

Portrait photo of Julie Thomas, Paraplanner at DFM Financial

Julie has over twenty years industry experience, initially as an administrator and then later as a self-employed financial adviser. Julie joined Dickinsons Financial Management Ltd as an administrator in 2014, moving over to DFM in 2018, and has now attained Dip PFS status.

Away from the office, Julie’s time is occupied by her family and two cats. She is a keen swimmer and enjoys watching rugby and speedway.

Rachel Page, Paraplanner

Rachel joined DFM in November 2020 having been in the financial services sector for over 30 years and more recently attaining her Diploma in Financial Planning.

Outside of work, Rachel is a keen bell ringer and also enjoys walks in the countryside, reading and piano playing.

Jenny Randle, Financial Administrator

Jenny joined us at the beginning of 2024 having worked in the financial services sector for over eight years.

She is primarily responsible for the preparation of client meetings and assisting the Paraplanners.

Jenny’s spare time is occupied as an assistant cub scout leader and spending time with her two dogs, Crumble and Loki.