About Us
Andrew Anderson DipPFS
Director & Independent Financial Adviser
We know that big life events, like starting a business or retiring, can be daunting. That's why our family has been proud to serve local families and business owners since 1978, first as a partnership, and now as BlackBear Financial Group Ltd, directly authorised since 2018.
Andrew Anderson faced a decision. His fellow partners at the business his father-in-law started were retiring, and selling their clients on to national firms. Andrew believed that was the wrong direction.
He believes great client-adviser relationships are built on trust, and trust is built between people, not corporations.
That's why Karen Anderson and Andrew Anderson chose to evolve the family business into a local, independent practice. In a time when financial advice is becoming more corporate and less accessible, Karen Anderson and Andrew Anderson are the co-founding Directors of BlackBear Financial Group Ltd, directly authorised since 2018.
As a family-owned group of Independent Financial Advisers, we know the most important part of our work is building trust.
Why We're Independent
As Independent Financial Advisers, we believe true independence isn’t just a status, it’s a mindset, and we take it seriously.
Being independent gives us the freedom to do what’s best for you. We’re not tied to a large company with sales targets or strict criteria that turn people away because they don’t have “enough” investable assets.
At the heart of what we do is a simple belief: people should have access to financial advice, when they need it, at a price they can afford.
Being independent and family-owned allows us to deliver on that belief.
Its how we stay focused on delivering the best outcomes for you.
Our History
BlackBear’s story began back in 1978, when Sid Holding opened the doors of S G Holding & Partners in Little Sutton.
The business grew in both size and reputation as a local Independent Financial Advice firm, with a number of new advisers joining the firm over several decades.
Over the years, the family grew with the firm: Sid's daughter, Karen Anderson, and his son-in-law, Andrew Anderson, both joined the business.
After the original partners retired and the financial advice landscape began shifting toward corporate consolidation, Karen Anderson and Andrew Anderson made a fresh start as the co-founding Directors of BlackBear Financial Group Ltd, directly authorised since 2018, a business that stays true to S G Holding & Partners' founding values: independence, integrity and long-term relationships.
Family Owned
Karen Anderson and Andrew Anderson continue to lead the business today as Directors, with their two sons Guy & Max firmly embedded within the business to continue the family ethos well into the future.
We're not just family owned. We’re proud to have a team advisers from a variety of backgrounds, which means we can match you with an adviser who understands your goals, your situation, and just "gets you".
Between us, our small team has more than a century of combined industry experience, and we put all of it to work for our clients.
Andrew Anderson DipPFS
Karen Anderson MSWW
Company Director
Independent Financial Adviser
Company Director
Guy Anderson BSc (Hons)
Max Anderson BSc (Hons) DipPFS
Support Team Lead and Head of Operations
Independent Financial Adviser