In this episode of the Advice Guru Podcast, we welcome three advisers actively building their business plans using the new Advice Guru Business Planning Tool. Stuart and Ben sit down with Tim Spencer, Andy Wilson and Rich Baxter to explore what they’ve learned so far — from succession planning and financial forecasting to time management, workflows and the emotional reality of running a small advisory business.

We discuss how clearer planning can uncover blind spots around future income, retirement, workloads, client continuity and when to scale. The conversation is honest, funny and packed with practical light-bulb moments about what advisers really need to future-proof their firms.

With the 2026 Later Life Lending Awards announcement hot off the press, this episode also looks ahead to how the industry is shifting — and how advisers can prepare.

You’ll learn:

• Why business planning is harder (and more valuable) than most expect
• How succession planning applies even to sole traders
• Why most advisers don’t know their numbers — and how to fix it
• The value of forecasting: next year → five-year horizon
• Managing time better: working on the business vs. in it
• Building structure: admin, outsourcing + what to track
• How diversification supports resilience in uncertain markets
• 5 key growth channels for 2026 (local, introducers, online + more)

CTA:

Start your plan now. Join the Advice Guru Directory (Free / Gold / Platinum) to access the full planning toolkit, support, and lead pathways.

• The planning tool forces reflection — often for the first time
• Succession planning matters even if you’re a solo adviser
• Knowing your costs + break-even point changes decision-making
• “Carlsberg Visioning”: design your 4-year perfect future
• Forecasting doesn’t need to be perfect — just directional
• Sole traders struggle most with workload + business analysis
• Block out time for planning… and protect it
• Diversifying (e.g. mortgages + ER) reduces risk
• 5 growth levers for 2026:
  1. Local outreach
  2. Networking/referrals
  3. Website + digital
  4. Introducers
  5. Paid leads

• Why business plans matter
• Succession planning: why no one thinks about it
• Knowing your numbers
• 3–5 year forecasting
• Working on your business
• Time + admin challenges
• Marketing + growth channels
• Support for 2026: how Advice Guru can help

Equity Release, mortgage advisers, financial planning, business planning, succession planning, lead generation, introducers, digital marketing, pipeline, Advice Guru, Consumer Duty, later life lending.

In this episode, we put the business plan to work—moving from slide deck to day-to-day execution. Stuart unpacks how to turn targets into trackable actions across lead generation, adviser workflows, compliance (Consumer Duty), and revenue forecasting. You’ll hear practical tactics for aligning marketing with introducers, building a measurable pipeline, setting lender-mix goals, and using dashboards to prove ROI. We also cover quick wins that lift case conversion without adding complexity, plus how to close the loop between learning, data, and client experience.

You’ll learn:

• How to translate annual goals into weekly actions
• What to track (and why): pipeline, fees, lender mix, conversion
• Simple dashboards for ROI and board reporting
• Consumer Duty baked into the workflow, not bolted on
• The 30-day execution checklist to build momentum

CTA: Ready to execute with us? Join the Advice Guru Directory (Free, Gold, or Platinum) and access tools, leads, and growth support.

• Execution beats intent: prioritise fewer, clearer weekly actions.
• Measure what moves revenue: live vs pending cases, advice/prop fees, introducer payaways, net income.
• Align marketing → introducers → lenders → pipeline → reviews.
• Treat Consumer Duty as a design principle, not an afterthought.
• Use a simple cadence: weekly scorecard, monthly review, quarterly reset.

• Why plans stall (and how to prevent it)
• Translating targets into weekly scorecards
• Lead sources & introducer alignment
• Lender strategy and case triage
• Dashboards, ROI and board-ready reporting
• Consumer Duty built into the journey
• 30-day execution sprint

That line came up again during this week’s Advice Guru Podcast, and it couldn’t be more true.

In this latest episode — The First Half of the Business Plan — we pick up where we left off last week, moving from why advisers should have a business plan to how to make it work in practice.

Joined again by Stuart Wilson, Andy Wilson, Mark Varela, Rich Baxter, and Tim Spencer, we explore how the Business Plan Guru Tool is helping advisers turn what used to be a one-off task into a living, measurable process that actually drives business growth.

What really stood out this week was how different everyone’s approach can be — some advisers think in cases, others in pound notes — and that’s exactly why the tool needs to flex around each business rather than forcing everyone into a template.

We also touched on client reviews, business visibility, and what “success” really looks like in 2026.

It’s not just about doing more cases — it’s about doing the right ones, tracking performance, and learning what actually works.

If you’ve been following the series, this episode connects the dots beautifully.

If not, it’s a great place to jump in and see how advisers are planning for the year ahead.

🎧 Listen here → [Insert podcast link]

#AdviceGuruPodcast #MortgageAdvisers #EquityRelease #LaterLifeLending #BusinessPlanGuru #BusinessGrowth #AIForAdvisers #AdviceGuru #FinancialServices

Advisers and Using the Business Plan Guru

In this episode of the Advice Guru Podcast, host Stuart Powell and co-host Stuart Wilson are joined by a panel of experienced advisers — Andy Wilson, Mark Varela, Tim Spencer, and Rich Baxter — to explore how financial advisers can use the new Business Plan Guru Tool to plan, track, and grow their businesses with purpose.

Together they discuss why so many advisers struggle to create (and stick to) an actionable business plan, how AI-powered tools can simplify the process, and why 2026 could be the year of bottom-up growth across the later-life lending industry.

👉 Key topics include:

• Why most business plans fail to get updated — and how to change that
• Turning last year’s performance into next year’s success
• Using AI to make planning practical, measurable, and repeatable
• How lenders and BDMs can support advisers through the Business Plan Guru concept
• The shift from top-down marketing to adviser-led bottom-up growth

💡 Whether you’re an experienced Equity Release, Mortgage, or Later Life Lending adviser, this episode will help you understand how to measure what matters, focus on what works, and grow smarter — not harder.

🎧 Tune in now and start building your plan for 2026 with Advice Guru — your educational partner in later-life lending.

Business Plan Guru AI Launch – Part 2: Turning Ideas into Action

In this episode, hosts Stuart Powell and Stuart Wilson continue their discussion on Business Plan Guru AI — the powerful new planning tool designed to help Mortgage Advisers, Equity Release Specialists, and IFAs plan smarter and grow stronger in 2026.

Joined again by advisers Andy Wilson, Rich Baxter, Stephen Beresford, and Tim Spencer, they explore how to turn good ideas into structured, measurable business plans that actually drive results.

💬 Topics include:

• Why most advisers don’t have an active business plan — and how to change that
• How Business Plan Guru AI helps you plan, track and grow your business
• Using AI to simplify planning, automate reminders and celebrate progress
• Real adviser experiences from across the UK
• How better structure and accountability can boost growth in 2026

Whether you’re a Mortgage Adviser, IFA or Later Life Lending Specialist, this episode shows how AI can bring structure, focus and measurable success to your business planning.

🎧 Listen now to discover how Advice Guru is helping advisers build a smarter, more profitable 2026.

Visit: https://advicedirectory.adviceguru.co.uk/home

Learn more: https://adviceguru.co.uk

Advice Guru Podcast, Business Plan Guru AI, Financial Advisers, Mortgage Brokers, Equity Release, Later Life Lending, Business Planning, AI in Finance, Adviser Growth, Stuart Powell, Stuart Wilson.

Business Plan Guru AI Launch – How Advisers Can Build Stronger Businesses for 2026

In this episode, hosts Stuart Powell and Stuart Wilson introduce Business Plan Guru AI — a powerful new platform helping Mortgage Advisers, Equity Release Specialists and IFAs plan smarter, market better, and grow stronger in 2026.

Joined by leading advisers Andy Wilson (Lincoln), Rich Baxter (Huddersfield), Stephen Beresford (Sheffield) and Tim (County Durham), they discuss how structure, consistency and the smart use of AI can transform adviser businesses — even in a challenging market.

💬 Topics include:

• How Business Plan Guru AI helps advisers plan and grow efficiently
• The launch of the Later Life Lending Lab
• Using AI and automation to save time and increase profit
• Building repeatable marketing systems
• Why 2026 could be a major turning point for later-life lending

Whether you’re a Mortgage Adviser, Equity Release specialist or Financial Planner, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for business success.

🎧 Listen now to discover how Advice Guru is helping advisers shape a stronger, smarter future.

Visit: https://advicedirectory.adviceguru.co.uk/home

More info: https://adviceguru.co.uk

Advice Guru, Business Plan Guru AI, Mortgage Advisers, Equity Release, Later Life Lending, Financial Advice, AI for Advisers, Business Planning, Marketing for Financial Advisers, Adviser Growth, UK Finance, Stuart Powell, Stuart Wilson, Advice Directory.

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Advice Guru Podcast, Stuart catches up with Scott Burman, Head of Distribution at Pure Retirement, to explore the latest developments in later life lending. They discuss Pure’s redesigned website and broker portal, how the company gathers and acts on advisor feedback, and the evolution of its market-leading marketing toolkit.

Scott also shares insights on Pure’s £10k retention product, designed to help turn more “no” cases into “yes,” and explains how their fringe referral process has already unlocked over £10m of additional lending. The conversation highlights the importance of education, advisor support, and collaboration across the industry — including Pure’s recent partnership with My Care Consultant to better support clients navigating care needs.

Whether you’re an advisor looking for fresh tools, or simply interested in where the equity release market is heading, this episode is packed with practical insights and forward-looking strategies.

About Adrian Cavill. His past work history and how he has grown to be the Later Life Lending Adviser he is today.

We discuss with Adrian Cavill having a Business Plan and a Marketing Plan. He tells us about the elements within his plans and how he executes the different aspects of them.

Key Takeaways & Adviser Action Points | Advice Guru Podcast

In this special follow-up episode of the Advice Guru Podcast, host Stuart Powell brings back a panel of leading voices to reflect on the first two episodes and share their top recommendations for advisers. Joining him once again are Stuart Wilson (Marketing Expert), Will Hale (CEO of AiR and Key Group), Andy Longhurst (Commercial Director at LeadTech), Sara Laws (The Mortgage Mam), and Rachel Flanagan.

Each guest highlights their key takeaways from earlier discussions on business planning, introducers, and lead generation — and offers clear, actionable advice on what advisers should prioritise right now. The conversation touches on the importance of creating measurable business plans, building long-term introducer relationships, and making smart choices between free and paid lead sources.

Stuart Wilson stresses the role of marketing visibility, while Will Hale draws on industry trends in later life lending to outline where opportunities lie. Andy Longhurst explains how advisers can best evaluate lead quality, and Sara Laws with Rachel Flanagan give an adviser’s view of practical steps that make the biggest difference day-to-day. Together, they offer a roadmap of strategies that advisers can put into action immediately.

This episode is a must-listen for advisers looking to focus their energy on what truly drives growth. By combining expert industry insight with real adviser experiences, it delivers a concise set of priorities that can shape your next stage of business success.

To explore more free resources and educational guides, visit Advice Guru. For tailored mortgage and equity release support, connect with Guru Mortgage Solutions.

#AdviceGuru #GuruMortgageSolutions #AdviserGrowth #KeyTakeaways #MortgageAdvice #EquityRelease #LaterLifeLending #LeadGeneration #AiR #KeyGroup #LeadTech #MortgageMam