Meet The Team

Behind every piece of advice we give, and everything we put in place, is a team of financial experts who know their subject inside out and who really care about getting it right for you. The growing Squirrel team includes specialists in pensions, tax planning, mortgages and the wider technical details. Our support team keep everything behind the scenes running smoothly, so nothing gets missed or feels overly complicated.

What we all have in common is a plain-speaking, warm approach. Meet the team you’ll be working with.

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Rachel Lane

MANAGING DIRECTOR & FINANCIAL PLANNER

Rachel is a Chartered Financial Adviser and her approach is straightforward: she’ll sit with a client, listen carefully, and understand what they actually want their life to look like before talking about strategy.

She works with clients on the financial decisions that matter most, like retirement planning or protecting their family. And she does it without unnecessary jargon. Pensions, inheritance tax, capital gains: she explains it all clearly, so clients understand and can make informed decisions. Rachel is a strong advocate for financial protection, particularly life insurance, as a core part of any financial plan. She’s driven by her experience at 17, when her family went through a challenging period, and the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in, funding her education through a scholarship that shaped her life.

Outside of work, Rachel is an avid runner and has completed marathons in Lochaber, York, Brighton, New York and London. Her dogs, Chip and Quinn, keep her grounded.

Nicola Forgette

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Nicola is our Operations Manager and makes sure everything behind the scenes runs exactly the way it should. She oversees the day-to-day running of the business and ensures everyone across the team has the support, resources and information they need to do their best work.

A key part of Nicola’s role is keeping things moving smoothly for our clients. She has been instrumental in streamlining our onboarding process and works closely with both new and existing clients, as well as a wide range of providers, to ensure everything is handled efficiently and with care.

Before joining us, Nicola spent 25 years as Managing Director of her own commercial interiors company. During this time, she built strong relationships with clients and contractors, and worked on projects for Gordon Murray Design, HWM Aston Martin and Augusta & Co.

Outside of work, she loves to run with her dog Lily and is a keen gardener.

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Niquita Edmonds

RELATIONSHIP MANAGER & FINANCIAL PLANNER

Niquita is a Relationship Manager and Financial Planner at Squirrel. She works with clients at every stage of their financial journey and is focused on building lasting relationships and giving clear, honest advice.

She has strong technical experience, particularly in financial planning research, and pairs that with a friendly, client-first approach. This means really understanding the story behind the numbers, discovering different experiences, priorities and ambitions. She believes financial planning should fit around their life, shaped around where they are now and where they want to be.

Niquita has a first-class degree in Investment and Finance and a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. She’s currently working towards Chartered Financial Planner status.

Outside work, Niquita loves spending time with her sausage dog, Athena. She also has a black belt in karate and a grade 8 in piano.

Mercedes Hamilos

MORTGAGE ADVISOR

Mercedes joined the Squirrel Financial Planning team in January 2026 to set up our mortgage and protection desk, working with both existing and new clients. She is always on hand for mortgage advice.

She has a background in investment banking, property development and brand management, with first-hand experience in the process of buying, renovating and selling. That experience has driven the expansion of the mortgage business, and she’s gained the CII Mortgage Diploma along the way.

Mercedes lives in Oxshott with her family and enjoys gardening.

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Cheryl Plumridge

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR

Cheryl has over 11 years' experience as a Financial Administrator. Having worked with Rachel at a previous company, she joined the Squirrel Financial Planning team in October 2025.

She provides essential support to clients and advisers alike, managing the administration behind financial plans, preparing reports, liaising with providers, and keeping documentation accurate and up to date.

Outside of work, Cheryl is a keen gym-goer and enjoys spending time in her garden.