17 Sep 2025

Meet the Team

This past year has seen some significant changes take place at Butler Toll some sadly unplanned, but many have focused on improving the Financial Planning Service we offer to you, our highly valued clients.

We are delighted to welcome Gemma McKnight & Gaz Ahmed who are very experienced financial planners who have joined the team in the last week or so and will be working alongside Lauren Gifford to create a highly personable and very knowledgeable planning team for you.

We would like to introduce you to our 2 new planners and let you know a little bit more about them, as well as provide an update about Lauren.

Gemma

In 2018 Gemma successfully made the transition from her Business Development role for a large investment house to financial planning and qualified as a Financial Adviser. Gemma has enjoyed a very successful career advising a range of high-net-worth clients eventually being promoted to Head of Financial Advice.

Gemma is passionate about developing personal relationships and great support to her clients alongside her deep financial planning knowledge and expertise.

6 things to know about Gemma…

What’s your role at Butler Toll?

Head of Financial Planning

What are the three things that you love most about your job?

Helping clients achieve their goals,

working as part of a team,

every day is different!

What has been your career highlight so far?

Getting the job at Butler Toll 😊

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

Thailand

What’s your favourite song to play in the car?

Teddy Swims – Bad Dreams

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a gold medal in? Talking

Gaz

Gaz joined HSBC after graduating from university with a Degree in Law LLB(Hons) and worked supporting high net worth (HNW) clients and became a Wealth Adviser in 2019 providing a range of financial planning advice and solutions to HNW clients.

In 2022 Gaz left HSBC and joined a FT Top 100 adviser firm again providing financial planning advice a portfolio of HNW clients. He is passionate about learning all about his clients and doing the right thing for them.

6 things to know about Gaz.

What’s your role at Butler Toll?

Financial Planner

What are the three things that you love most about your job?

Getting to know my clients and their aspirations

Helping clients protect their financial bubble and give peace of mind

Helping clients plan their financial plans all the way into retirement

What has been your career highlight so far?

Receiving a thank you message for convincing a client to take out critical illness cover which had subsequently paid out.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?

Langkawi/Istanbul

What’s your favourite song to play in the car?

Depends on the mood but at the moment X Ambassadors – Unsteady

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a gold medal in?

Mental Arithmetic

Welcome Gaz & Gemma

Lauren

A quick but important update on Lauren…

We are really proud to announce that Lauren has qualified as a Top Rated Adviser for 2026, this is based on the feedback and reviews left by Lauren’s lovely clients over the last year (through VouchedFor), so we thank you for your valued feedback.

It’s a huge honour to have someone in our planning team with such an accolade and is testament to the care and commitment that Lauren gives to her clients and the business.