How It All Started
BlackBear’s story began back in 1978, when Sid Holding opened the doors of S G Holding & Partners in Little Sutton - originally focused on insurance and mortgages before moving into financial advice.
Sid became known as an ambassador for his clients - someone people could rely on. His daughter Karen joined the firm and by 1990 she had qualified as an Independent Financial Adviser.
In 1993, Sid welcomed his son-in-law Andy into the business. Under Sid’s mentorship, Andy developed his own reputation for clear, steady advice - grounded in the same values that shaped the firm from day one.
When Sid retired in 2004, Karen and Andy continued to follow Sid's example - always putting relationships ahead of short-term thinking.
As the remaining partners sold their clients on and the financial advice landscape began shifting toward corporate consolidation, Karen & Andy chose a different path.
In January 2018, they launched BlackBear - a fresh start that stayed true to everything they believed in: independence, integrity, and long-term relationships.
We’re proud to carry that legacy forward today, not as a faceless national chain, but as a family-owned and independent practice helping real people.
Guy Anderson BSc (Hons)
Support Team Lead and Head of Operations
Max Anderson BSc (Hons) Dip PFS
Independent Financial Adviser
Our Future
We never want to sell our clients on to a big consolidator. That's why we've built the business with succession planning in mind.
In 2018, Guy and Max - Karen and Andy's two sons - joined the team in support roles, cementing BlackBear as a family-run firm.
Guy leads the support operation throughout BlackBear, working with all clients and their advisers.
Max – an Independent Financial Adviser himself – works with his own clients as well as supporting other advisers.
In an age of integrated national advice firms being owned by a handful of equity investors, we’re proud to be truly independent and family-owned.