In Episode 124 of Adviser 3.0, we are joined by Ian Dempsey to explore what it really takes to build a modern advice business.

From going independent and finding his voice, to using content with intent rather than chasing followers, Ian shares a grounded perspective on growth, credibility, and control. He explains why independence brings responsibility, why audience size is often misunderstood, and why behavioural coaching has become a core part of how he adds value to clients.

This is a practical conversation for advisers thinking seriously about independence, visibility, and how to build a business that lasts without losing focus on what matters.

In this episode of Adviser 3.0 The Podcast, Abraham is joined by Ashton Chritchlow, Managing Director and owner of IFC Max, to unpack one of the rarest outcomes in financial advice: internal succession that genuinely works.

Ashton shares his full journey, from joining the firm in 2008 with no industry experience, to remortgaging his home to buy equity, taking on the role of Managing Director, and completing a successful management buyout.

The conversation explores what separates employees from owners, why most succession plans fail, and what founders must do if they want their firm to outlive them. This is a practical, honest discussion about leadership, accountability, legacy, and the long game of ownership in financial advice.

A must listen for founders thinking about succession, advisers aiming for ownership, and firms navigating growth without losing independence.

In this episode of Adviser 3.0 The Podcast, we are joined by Sasha Wakefield, founder of The Paraplanner Project, to explore what growth really looks like behind the scenes of a modern advice business.

Sasha shares her journey into paraplanning, how she built an outsourced business model around collaboration and trust, and why growth quickly becomes a leadership challenge rather than a technical one. She speaks candidly about employing a remote team, managing capacity without predictable income, and the pressure that comes with being responsible for other people’s livelihoods.

The conversation also covers the evolving role of paraplanners, the stigma that still exists around outsourcing, how firms are responding to AI, and why curiosity and asking better questions matter more than titles or qualifications. Sasha also reflects on leadership during major life changes, including shared parental leave and stepping back from day-to-day delivery without compromising service or culture.

This episode is essential listening for advisers, firm owners, and leaders thinking seriously about growth, delegation, and building businesses that scale without losing quality or trust.

SoapBox Ep.3 - Passive Investing Didn’t Break Markets, It Exposed Active Management

Hosts Abraham and Matt are joined by Carla Brown, President of the Personal Finance Society, for an unfiltered discussion on markets, behaviour and the realities of modern financial advice.

The episode explores why UK investors continue to exit equity markets at the worst possible moments, even during periods of strong performance, and what this reveals about confidence, communication and access to advice.

The conversation also covers active versus passive investing, loyalty to underperforming managers, and the growing tension between evidence and narrative. Alongside this, the panel addresses the advice profession’s succession problem, the ageing adviser population, and why attracting new talent has become a defining issue for the future of advice.

In the episode of Adviser 3.0: The Podcast, we speak with Alasdair Walker, Managing Director and owner of Optimum Financial Planning, about the conversation most firm owners delay for too long: ownership and control.

Alasdair shares his full journey from trainee adviser to completing a management buyout, offering rare insight into how internal succession actually works in financial planning firms. He explains why early equity alignment matters, how unclear ownership expectations create long-term risk, and why many firms default to selling when succession planning is avoided.

The discussion also explores founder transitions, trust between generations, and what firm owners need to understand about incentives, transparency and long-term value. Later in the episode, Alasdair shares his perspective on AI adoption in financial planning, including where technology adds value and why it cannot fix poor structure or unresolved ownership issues.

This episode is essential listening for financial advisers, firm owners, principals and next-generation leaders thinking seriously about succession, equity and the future of their business.

Topics covered:

• Financial planning succession and ownership

• Management buyouts and internal succession

• Founder transitions and control

• Selling versus long-term independence

• AI adoption in advice firms

In this episode of Adviser 3.0 The Podcast, we sit down with psychologist and human optimisation specialist Ross Anderson to explore how high performers approach growth.

Ross unpacks the relationship between mind, performance and behaviour, challenging the idea that growth is driven by motivation alone. Drawing on psychology, behavioural science and lived experience, he explains why sustainable performance starts with awareness, strong foundations and better decision making.

The conversation explores how high performers think differently about growth, why behaviour matters more than intention, and how clarity and structure support long-term performance.

Ross will also be joining us on the road in 2026 as part of the Timeline Growth Series, where he will be sharing these ideas live with advisers across the UK.

This episode is a grounded discussion for professionals who want to grow with intent, consistency and resilience.

A clear and practical conversation with Will Webber on resilience, networks and the habits that support sustainable growth across fintech.
Will shares lessons from the military, BlackRock and professional services, covering mindset, commercial development, community building and the future of the sector.

In the episode of Adviser 3.0 The Podcast, the familiar SoapBox duo return with a new guest who has deep experience across advice, technology and consumer behaviour. The conversation opens with the FCA’s attempt at gamified education, the reaction to recent budget speculation and the impact of changes to VCT incentives and salary sacrifice rules. From there the trio take apart the realities of AI inside large organisations and why so much investment fails to reach production.

They explore how the advice gap may evolve, how future clients will expect to interact with advice and what the profession needs to consider as digital journeys scale. The session ends with a clear eyed assessment of pension transfer delays and the providers still operating with outdated processes.

A lively, insightful and highly relevant discussion for advisers, planners, firm owners and anyone keeping an eye on the future of the profession.

David Jones, outgoing Vice President and head of the UK and Ireland advisor group at Dimensional, joins Abraham to reflect on over two decades of change within the financial planning profession. He discusses the shift from product-focused advice to a holistic planning model that centres on clients’ goals, values and long-term wellbeing.

David shares his views on the apparent plateau in the number of practising planners, why younger professionals are bringing new energy into the field, and how technology and AI may reshape both the work and expectations of planners. He also offers practical insights on what sets successful firms apart, from simplification to consistent implementation and clear communication.

As he looks ahead to his own next chapter, David speaks openly about legacy, leadership, purpose and the value of good planning in helping clients live fulfilled lives. This is a reflective and encouraging conversation for anyone interested in the future of the profession.

In this first SoapBox session, Abraham sits down with two industry voices to explore the figures behind adviser decline, the realities of client disengagement, the influence of consumer duty, and what the latest FCA data reveals about firms, revenue and capacity. From service models and profitability to the future of talent and technology, this episode explores the questions the profession cannot ignore. If you work in planning, paraplanning, compliance or leadership, this session offers thought-provoking insight into where the sector stands and what may come next. Listen to the full discussion and stay tuned for future SoapBox sessions.