Kristen Cunliffe
Managing Director
With over 25 years in the financial services profession, Kristen brings experience, insight, and a big dose of personality to everything she does. She qualified as an Independent Financial Adviser in 2001—just before welcoming her daughter Izzy into the world—and hasn’t looked back since.
Kristen founded Red Star Wealth in 2011 with one goal in mind: to offer truly personal, independent financial advice with exceptional service at its heart. Her approach is professional, but never stuffy—she believes financial planning should feel empowering, not intimidating.
Kristen advises a broad mix of private clients and business owners and holds qualifications in Mortgage Advice, Equity Release (Lifetime Mortgages), Trusts, and Customer Service in a Regulated Environment.
She’s also the co-founder of Red Star Education, working alongside her husband Nick to deliver financial education workshops and promote financial wellbeing across professional sports, workplaces and apprenticeships.
When she’s not supporting clients or championing financial literacy, you’ll find Kristen travelling, exploring her love of art and music, or up to her elbows in the garden—often all while plotting her next big idea.
Paul Gardner
Consultant
With over 30 years’ experience in the investment world, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge—and a calm, considered approach—to helping clients grow, preserve, and pass on their wealth.
He spent two decades advising clients on behalf of a major insurance company before making the move to independent financial advice over 15 years ago, allowing him to offer truly client-focused solutions.
Paul specialises in investment planning for both growth and income, as well as inheritance tax planning and the strategic use of trusts. He’s also a qualified pensions specialist and offers guidance on the increasingly complex choices available at retirement.
When he’s not helping clients make confident financial decisions, Paul lives in Preston with his wife and their two adult children. He’s a keen guitarist—though he freely admits he plays with more enthusiasm than talent!
Gary Wilde
Consultant
Gary joined Red Star Wealth in June 2021, bringing with him over three decades of experience in the financial services profession—and a calm, thoughtful approach that clients really value.
His early career saw him supporting independent financial advisers from the provider side, gaining a deep understanding of how good advice is built. For the past 20 years, Gary has been advising clients directly, specialising in investment and pension planning tailored to individual goals and life stages.
Gary’s approach is down-to-earth, jargon-free and focused on helping clients make confident, informed decisions about their financial future.
Outside the office, Gary is a keen sports fan, with a particular love of golf (on the course, not just the clubhouse) and a long-suffering loyalty to Sunderland Football Club. He’s also a music lover with eclectic tastes—though he hasn’t braved a mosh pit in a while!
Izzy Durose
Social Media Manager
Many Red Star clients know Izzy as Kristen’s daughter but she is also the Red Star Wealth artist in residence and social media manager.
An artist and studio owner in her own right, Izzy researches and works tirelessly to create safer community spaces for the LGBTQ+ community as well as providing creative workshops as part of wellbeing and self-expression, particularly for those of us who are neurodiverse or seeking healing through art.
Never without her sidekick Daisy Dog in tow, she is the creative inspiration behind many of the Red Star marketing campaigns.