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.