The Fortis Medical team
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Dr Benjamin Holdsworth
Managing Director and Chartered Financial Planner
Close windowBen founded Fortis Medical because he wanted to build a smaller, more responsive firm that works closely with clients and the other professionals they rely on. Before moving into financial planning, he worked as a doctor in the NHS, giving him first-hand experience of the pressures and financial decisions medical professionals face throughout their careers.
Today, Ben advises consultants, academics and business owners on complex financial planning, with particular expertise in NHS pensions, taxation and retirement planning. As doctors’ careers become more varied and financially complex, he helps clients understand their options and make informed decisions with confidence.
A key part of Ben’s approach is working closely with accountants, solicitors and other professional advisers, so clients aren’t left coordinating conversations between different specialists themselves. He believes financial planning works best when everyone is working towards the same outcome.
“Doctors are busy. They want to trust people to get things done and communicate with each other without them being in the middle.”
Alongside advising clients, Ben continues to develop the systems, technology and processes that support the way Fortis Medical works, helping the firm remain efficient and responsive as it grows.
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Matthew Kavanagh
Technical Director
Close windowMatthew helps develop the financial advice provided by Fortis Medical, ensuring recommendations are tailored to each client’s circumstances. Much of his work focuses on the NHS Pension Scheme, taxation and legislative change. He also sits on the Fortis Medical Investment Committee, helping shape the firm’s investment approach and governance.
Matthew began his career in financial services in 2017 with Cavendish Medical, where he developed a strong technical foundation working with doctors and their families. He joined Fortis Medical in 2024 alongside Ben.
He specialises in the more complex areas of financial planning, particularly the NHS Pension Scheme, helping clients understand their options and make informed decisions. One of the aspects he enjoys most is taking a complex technical problem and turning it into practical advice clients can understand and act on.
“Most clients want certainty that they’re making the right decisions for themselves and their families. They’re often concerned about whether they can retire when they want and how changes to pension legislation might affect them.”
Outside work, Matthew enjoys spending time with family and friends and practises both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
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Benjamin Walsh
Chartered Financial Planner
Close windowBenjamin is a Chartered Financial Planner specialising in comprehensive wealth planning. He works with individuals and families to develop, implement, and refine long-term financial strategies, covering retirement planning, tax efficiency, estate and inheritance tax planning, and investment management.
Benjamin began his career with an international discretionary investment manager before moving to a wealth management business specialising in advice for medical professionals and their families, where he worked alongside Ben. After relocating to Yorkshire, he joined an accountancy and financial planning business, advising medical professionals, business owners and private clients before joining Fortis Medical.
Benjamin has a particular interest in intergenerational wealth planning, helping family’s structure and transfer wealth efficiently across generations. He advises clients on how and when to pass wealth to children and grandchildren, balancing inheritance tax considerations with the opportunities that early gifting and long-term investment can provide for future generations.
“One of the most valuable things we do is help clients cut through the noise. We often meet people who have received well-intentioned but misguided ‘changing room advice’. Our role is to give clients objective advice, help them avoid costly mistakes and make informed decisions about their future.”
Outside work, Benjamin loves food and wine and enjoys cooking for family and friends. He also enjoys walking in the Lake District, watching rugby and cricket, and playing a sociable round of golf.
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Hannah Smith-Gama
Business Manager
Close windowHannah keeps Fortis Medical running smoothly behind the scenes, making sure the firm’s systems, processes and day-to-day operations support both the team and the clients they look after. She focuses on improving the way the business works, removing operational barriers and helping the advisers spend more time with clients.
Before joining Fortis Medical, Hannah began her career as an auditor at KPMG before moving into operational roles within professional services firms. She developed a passion for improving systems, streamlining the way organisations work and helping teams perform at their best.
Although Hannah doesn’t work directly with clients, she sees the advisers and support team as her internal clients. By improving processes, managing documentation and making systems easier to use, she creates the structure that allows the rest of the business to deliver a consistently high standard of service.
“I enjoy bringing order and finding better ways for things to work. I like solving problems, improving processes and seeing the positive impact that has on the team.”
Outside work, Hannah enjoys spending time with her son, travelling and experiencing different cultures. She loves being outdoors and finds time in nature helps balance the pace of everyday life. When she gets a quiet moment, she enjoys knitting and crocheting.
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Samantha Scott
Senior Assistant Financial Planner
Close windowWith more than 25 years in financial services, Samantha has built her career supporting advisers and helping clients through every stage of the financial planning process. Before joining Fortis Medical, she spent nearly 20 years running an advice business and has worked across business processing, compliance and paraplanning.
Today, Samantha works closely with Ben and clients from their first meeting through to implementing recommendations. She gathers the information needed to understand each client’s circumstances, prepares recommendation reports and supporting documentation, oversees applications and investment processing, and keeps clients updated throughout the advice journey.
Samantha enjoys helping make what can feel like a complex process straightforward. By staying in regular contact and answering questions quickly, she helps clients understand what is happening, what comes next and what they need to do.
“I enjoy being involved through the entire client journey, helping to make what can sometimes feel like a complex process as smooth and straightforward as possible.”
Outside work, Samantha enjoys keeping fit, cooking and travelling, and is currently learning Italian. At home she has two dogs and several aquariums, including shrimp tanks, betta fish, pea puffers and panda corydoras, and happily admits she gets excited whenever there are new arrivals.
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Aimee Cogger
Assistant Financial Planner
Close windowAimee supports Fortis Medical’s annual review process, helping clients stay on track as their circumstances and plans change over time. She prepares meeting documentation, attends review meetings, produces post-meeting reports and makes sure agreed actions are carried through promptly.
Before joining Fortis Medical, Aimee worked as an IFA Administrator, supporting advisers and managing annual reviews. She is continuing to build her knowledge of financial planning and is currently working towards the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Much of Aimee’s work happens behind the scenes, gathering information, preparing meeting packs and making sure every review runs smoothly. She enjoys seeing the process through from start to finish and knowing the work she does helps clients leave review meetings with a clearer understanding of their position and the decisions ahead.
“It’s rewarding to know that the work I do behind the scenes contributes to helping people feel more confident about their financial future.”
Outside work, Aimee enjoys spending time with family, taking long walks with her dog and tackling DIY projects. She is currently renovating her house, giving her plenty to keep busy when she’s away from the office.
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Christina Switala
Assistant Financial Planner
Close windowChristina coordinates Fortis Medical’s annual review process, helping clients through every stage from preparing for meetings to completing the follow-up work afterwards. She manages client communications, gathers the information needed ahead of each review, attends meetings alongside Ben and ensures records and documentation are kept accurate and up to date.
Christina studied for a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance in South Africa before moving to the UK in 2019. She began her career with a small independent financial advice firm supporting doctors and other professionals, where she discovered financial planning was the career she wanted to pursue. After developing her knowledge and studying towards her professional qualifications, she joined Fortis Medical to continue building her experience in a specialist environment.
One area Christina has particularly enjoyed developing is her understanding of NHS pensions. Coming from a general financial planning background, she’s found it rewarding to learn more about the decisions medical professionals face throughout their careers.
“Ultimately, clients want peace of mind. They want to know their finances are well organised, that their loved ones will be financially secure and that they have a clear plan for the future.”
Outside work, Christina enjoys spending time with her husband, their son and their dog, exploring new parts of the UK and getting out for family walks.
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Eloise Landsman
Administrator
Close windowEloise joined Fortis Medical when the firm was established in 2024 and supports the day-to-day running of the business. She works closely with clients, handles enquiries, prepares documentation and keeps the firm’s records and systems up to date.
Before joining Fortis Medical, Eloise worked as a hair colourist in London. Moving into financial planning meant learning a completely new industry, something she has embraced from the very beginning.
Eloise enjoys keeping everything organised and making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes. She understands that many clients come to Fortis Medical because they want reassurance they’re making the right decisions for the future. Although she doesn’t provide financial advice herself, she helps make the process as straightforward as possible from the first enquiry onwards.
“Coming from a completely different background, there’s been a lot to learn, which I’ve really enjoyed.”
Outside work, Eloise enjoys spending time with family and friends, making the most of every opportunity to get together and socialise.