Happy new year and welcome to your first de Mellow & Co team update of 2026.

We’re starting the new year by officially congratulating our two newest advisers, Will and Yas. Find out more about them and their careers with us in our “Meet the Team” segment.

But first…

Jodie talks divorce in the Stowe Family Law podcast

Stowe Family Law are UK-based specialists in family law, with more than 90 offices across England and Wales.

At the end of 2025, they launched a new-look podcast, ‘Life, Love, and the Law’, which so far has covered the topics of divorce at Christmas and the first steps to take when getting one.

And de Mellow’s very own Jodie Phelps has been on hand across both episodes to offer her wisdom and experience from a financial planning angle.

You can join Jodie by listening to or watching the podcasts on Spotify for news and views on all things divorce.

Meet Yas and Will, de Mellow & Co’s newest financial planners

Back in our November team update, you joined us in congratulating de Mellow & Co’s newest financial planners, Yasmin Barlow-Mills and Will Kersley.

As a team, we’re always looking to develop new talent, and after a great deal of hard work and study, we’re delighted to see both Yas and Will progress to full-time financial planners.

So, let’s get to know a little bit more about them.

Yas

“I’ve been in the financial services industry for over eight years, with four of those spent in paraplanning. I’ve worked closely behind the scenes to help build the strategies that work for our clients and help them to achieve their financial goals.

“I see my role as helping clients to feel confident and in control of their money, turning complex financial situations into actionable plans, and building genuine long-term relationships with clients.

“I’m an early riser. I kick off the day with a 5 am gym session, but life as a mum to my one-year-old son keeps me on my toes all day, every day! In the evenings, I love unwinding with a good book and a big cup of tea.”

Yas’s career as a financial planner is off to a great start. She received her first 5-star VouchedFor review just a month after passing her final exam. The review praised Yas for being:

“…friendly and reassuring […] I feel very confident I will get good, helpful advice.”

Well done, Yas!

Please note: The review shown above has been gathered and displayed directly through VouchedFor and has not been verified by St. James’s Place. Clicking a link will open a new window. Any external sites are not endorsed by St. James’s Place.

Will

“Like Yas, I had been working within the paraplanning department at de Mellow & Co, helping our advisers prepare financial reports and cashflow planning for our clients while I worked towards my Diploma.

“I have the privilege of working with great people, and my role means I’m always learning and staying up to date with all things financial, which is incredibly useful for me and my clients!

“Outside of work, I have a keen interest in football. I play every week and also enjoy watching my beloved Reading. When my spare time isn’t taken up with football, I also enjoy seeing my friends and family, and spending time travelling.

“My career highlights so far are probably implementing the de Mellow House Cup Competition or scoring Solent FC’s first-ever hat-trick at our charity football tournament.”

Will is a highly valued member of the de Mellow team, described by his colleagues as “caring” and a “good chap” who can “make anyone smile”.

Get in touch

If you’d like to speak to Yas, Will, or any member of our expert team, get in touch. Contact us to find out how de Mellow can help you manage your long-term financial plans.

SJP Approved 28/01/2026