About Us
Meet The Advisers
At the heart of our service is Zuzana, our principal protection adviser, who brings extensive knowledge of protection products.
While Zuzana leads the protection advice process, she works closely with Malcolm to ensure every client benefits from a well-rounded, thoughtful approach.
Together, they are committed to providing clear, reliable guidance tailored to your individual needs.
I’m proud to help individuals, families, and businesses find the right protection cover to feel secure and supported, should life take an unexpected turn.
Zuzana Aukett MLIBF CertPRO
Principle Protection Adviser, Merit Financial Services Ltd.
Zuzana Aukett
I joined Merit Financial Services in 2017, bringing with me years of experience in administration, interpreting for the Home Office and Police, and working in education with children with special needs.
Alongside my role, I qualified as a Financial Services Administrator and earned a Certificate in Protection, becoming a member of The London Institute of Banking & Finance.
In 2025, we launched Merit Protection as a dedicated branch of the business, still part of Merit Financial Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and focused entirely on helping people protect what matters most.
My passion for protection advice isn’t just professional, it’s deeply personal.
When I was 26, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and given two years to live. Thankfully, he had life insurance with critical illness cover. The payout after his diagnoses allowed us to stop working and spend that precious time together as a family. Our son was only 3 years old at the time. After he passed away, I used the remaining payout from the policy to pay off our mortgage, and I could start a new life with my son without financial pressure.
Without those covers, we would have lost everything, including our home.
That experience changed my life, and it’s why I’m so passionate about helping others understand the importance and the value of protection. I’ve seen firsthand how these policies can provide real peace of mind during life’s most difficult moments.
I’ve been giving independent financial advice to clients for over 30 years, and during that time have seen the value of our clients having adequate insurance plans in place, whenever there has been an unexpected change in their circumstances.
Malcolm Steevens Dip PFS
Director, Merit Financial Services Ltd.
Malcolm Steevens
I was born and brought up in Weymouth in Dorset.
After being educated locally, upon leaving the local college I first worked in the local branch of well-known major high street bank, initially in the back office, and latterly offering advice to existing and potential new customers, regarding the bank’s products and accounts.
Over the following six years I learned that I wanted to offer financial advice to people in their own home or place of work, rather than being office based so I joined a well-known life assurance company as a District Agent, based locally.
After 18 years with the same company and holding different positions; including Section Manager and Senior Financial Adviser, I decided to set up my own Independent Financial Adviser practice, again based locally.
Merit Financial Services Ltd is the name of our practice and was established in 2008. We specialise in offering independent financial advice to business owners as well as private clients, mainly regarding Investment and Retirement planning.
Merit Protection however, is a part of Merit Financial Services Ltd providing advice regarding protection products, both to new and existing clients.
Merit are also members of the local Chamber of Commerce and the Weymouth Business Exchange (WEBX) business networking group.
My interests outside of work, (apart from managing twin teenage daughters), include rugby, football, long distance walking, the outdoors generally, chess, classical guitar and reading.
Protection Insurance Services
Life can change in an instant. The right insurance cover offers peace of mind, financial stability, and real support when it matters most.