This week’s guest on the Financial Planner Life podcast is Warren Shute *deep breath* Chartered Wealth Manager, Money Coach, Author, Sunday Mirror Columnist and Co-Founder of Lexington Wealth management …That was a mouthful!

Warren takes us on a career journey and shares his proven system for creating a £1,000,000 turnover business!  it’s such a good method that now he’s packaged it up into 36-month coaching program for Financial Planners. 

Is it about time you took your business to the next level? 

Here’s a breakdown of what the coaching course covers: 

·      Setting a business plan so you know what business you want to develop.

·      Establishing your ideal client profile so you know who to attract.

·      The systems and controls to manage your workflow efficiently.

·      Time and diary management so that you can maximise your time in the office.

·      How to build a service proposition so you attract raving fans.

·      How to conduct an empowering Discovery Meeting.

·      How to conduct an exciting and engaging Planning Meeting.

·      How to model the essential financial planning catastrophe scenarios.

·      How to deliver a comprehensive estate planning solution.

·      How to create an ideal investment proposition.

Find out more here  - Be sure to mention Financial Planner Life!

00:00:00 | Intro

00:02:12 | Warren's Career Journey

00:08:11 | The Positive Impact of Being a Financial Planner

00:11:10 | Money Mindset

00:15:20 | FinTech

00:18:43 | The Goal When Setting Up a Business

00:20:18 | Working Less

00:22:09 | Business Structure

00:28:03 | Is There a Blueprint for This Level of Success?

00:32:36 | Coaching

00:37:05 | Coaching Course Candidates

00:47:01 | Type of People on the Courses

00:48:36 | Systems & Structures

00:55:05 | Client Acquisition

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

Lee Quinn, IFA at Alexander Grace. Lee’s career route began in typical fashion, starting as a Trainee-Paraplanner before being made redundant as a result of the 2008 Financial Crash, where he became interested in pursuing a career in Financial Advice. 

Through feedback from those around him, along with some self-analysis, Lee decided that personally he hadn’t had enough working life experience to step up into advice at this stage, and so focused his efforts toward developing his Financial Services knowledge and experience from within a Compliance role.

Lee talks us through how his thinking matured over time, how different life experiences helped his client facing ability as an adviser, and how leaning into mentors and management helped aid his career development both in the lead up to becoming an adviser and beyond.

00:00:00 | Intro

00:02:03 | Lee's Career Journey

00:05:08 | Trainee Paraplanner to Compliance

00:13:26 | Life Experience/Skills

00:17:35 | Honest Feedback & Mentoring

00:28:34 | Working in Restricted

00:36:37 | Working in an IFA

00:41:54 | Finding the Right Role

00:55:44 | Career Progression

00:58:47 | IFA Learning Curve

01:04:41 | Client Niche

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

This week on the Financial Planner Life Podcast we have a special feature episode on all things sustainability in the world of Financial Services!  

We revisit some expert guests, in conversation with our very own Charlie Scott, discussing the past, present and future of the topic of sustainability in the context of Financial Planning. Some of the episodes featured and topics discussed include: 

Ep.95 with Tom Jaffrey – Changes in attitude toward sustainability between generations. 

Ep.88 with Rebecca Kowalski – How client conversations have shifted toward climate change over time. 

Ep.118 with Jai Street – Having the right mindset within your business to have a positive impact. 

Ep.90 with Charlotte O’Leary – Investing for the future generation. 

Ep.120 with Seb Elwell – The climate crisis is everyone’s responsibility 

This episode is a great way to take a look at how the Financial Planning Profession is helping change the world for the better, and how the future of the industry will be heavily driven by sustainability. As our very own Charlie Scott once said: “If you want to make a change in this world, go to where the money is and start there. That way you’ll have maximum impact from the outset.” 

00:00:00 | Intro

00:01:43 | Tom Jaffrey

00:04:48 | Rebecca Kowalski

00:09:53 | Jai Street

00:15:10 | Charlotte O'Leary

00:21:08 | Seb Elwell

00:26:27 | Final thoughts

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

This week's guest on the Financial Planner Life podcast is Lauren Gifford from Butler Toll. This episode is a serious thought provoker for anyone navigating a career path within Financial Services and could give you the clarity you need to make decisions around your career progression plan!

Lauren has been in Financial Services since before the 2008 financial crash, where she was advising in Mortgages in a building society environment. Like many others in her situation, the financial crash caused Lauren to rethink her career prospects, which ultimately led to her obtaining a PA/Administrator role within a small Financial Planning firm whilst raising a family.

Lauren talks us through her entrance into the Financial Planning profession, what she learnt in the early stages of her career that helped her in the long run, as well as what advice she would give to someone who’s unsure of the rate they should be progressing at.

Qualifications, as we all know, are an essential part of a Financial Planning Professional’s career, and Lauren talks us through what qualifications she obtained, when she obtained them, and reflects on the value they added at that stage in her career.

We discuss the process that Lauren undertook when seeking a Trainee Financial Planner role, including how she set out clear expectations to prospective employers at interview stage, in order to outline what she was looking for in her career, an important conversation a lot of job seekers might be apprehensive to have!

Lauren is a huge advocate for the ‘believe in yourself’ mindset, this might just be the episode that gives you the motivation to rethink your career goals, explore your greatest ambitions, and pursue your dream position within the not-so-daunting world of Financial Planning!

00:00:00 | Intro

00:01:45 | How Lauren got into the profession

00:06:56 | Moving from Mortgage Advice into Financial Planning

00:10:22 | Experience in Administration before Financial Adviser role

00:11:23 | Qualifications

00:15:35 | Career Progression - Paraplanning

00:22:02 | Finding opportunities as a new financial planner

00:25:42 | Career Progression - Financial Planner

00:28:36 | Paraplanner vs Financial Planner Roles

00:34:46 | Advice looking back

00:35:45 | Women in Financial Planning

00:40:05 | Personal Development & Confidence

00:43:14 | Clients

00:48:01 | Year 1 as a Financial Adviser 

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

This week on the Financial Planner Life podcast our guest is Karl Pemberton, Chartered Financial Planner and Director of Active Chartered Financial Planners.

Karl talks us through his career journey, starting in a banking environment, Karl worked his way up through the ranks, before taking the helm at his father’s Independent Financial Planning firm. Karl drew from his experience in a banking environment, putting a heavy focus on continued training, development and progression for each individual within the business, including himself.

Karl goes on to explain the importance of the systems and processes within his business, specifically around the topic of client file management and organisation. What runs parallel with this is the ability to reflect on this information in the form of KPI’s and historic company performance data. Karl outlines how he utilizes this to calibrate both his team’s performance, and the future focus of the business.

We briefly touch on the tech-elephant in the room, AI! Karl discusses his thoughts on the benefits and risks involved with the use of Artificial Intelligence in Financial Planning, and what his plan is for incorporating AI into his business with a cautious and calculated approach.

Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows at the top! Karl talks us through some of the pain points of running a business, from rejection handling, networking to continued personal and professional development. He gives tips on staff retention, generating leads and referrals and attracting talent, three crucial elements for successful business growth and employee satisfaction.

If you’re trying to better understand the thought processes of the Director of a Financial Planning firm, or if you’re running a business of any kind, this episode is jam-packed with insightful nuggets of wisdom. Enjoy!

00:00:00 | Intro

00:03:54 | About Karl

00:09:30 | How Karl got to his position

00:11:41 | Training and development

00:21:05 | Systems and processes

00:26:05 | Data Points

00:31:25 | AI

00:35:04 | Client acquisition

00:38:21 | Client generation advice

00:42:31 | Difficulty of growing a business

00:48:22 | Staff retention

01:01:35 | Board of directors

01:11:30 | Impacts of being a business owner on mental health

01:18:55 | Chair of institute of directors

01:26:20 | The future of Karl's business 

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

Welcome back! This week on the Financial Planner Life podcast, host Elena Stephenson speaks with Laura Ripley, Chartered Financial Planner at BRI Wealth Management, and expert in client rapport building. 

Laura has taken some leaps of faith in her career, being adept in a Paraplanner role, before being encouraged by her employer at the time to step into an Adviser role. This step, along with others, cemented the importance of mentorship for Laura, and instilled the benefit of having a strong support network around you to aid your progression.  

One of Laura’s main passions within her role as a Financial Adviser is developing strong relationships with her clients. We discuss how understanding your clients’ needs and taking time to get to know them on a personal level can help massively when working with them. 

Laura is part of an industry minority in that she is a female Financial Planner. We take a look into diversity within the Financial Planning profession, and how although there has been progress around diversification in recent years, more can and should be done. 

Coming from a standpoint of moving from a technical Paraplanner role into a client facing Adviser position, Laura knows a thing or two (hundred) about soft skills development and gives some key tips for those looking to develop in this area, explaining how leaning on those around you can help accelerate this. 

This week’s episode is a handy playbook for anyone aspiring to be a great Financial Planner with long-lasting relationships with their clients, built on trust and understanding! 

Time Stamps 

 00:00:00 | Intro 

00:01:23 | About Laura's career 

00:03:39 | Talking mental hurdles to take the next step 

00:05:03 | Employer support and encouragement 

00:07:11 | Building client relationships 

00:08:38 | Tailoring approaches & building trust 

00:16:42 | How to encourage more women into the profession 

00:17:49 | Important skills to have 

00:23:00 | Passion for the career 

00:24:15 | Soft skills & education 

00:28:12 | Meeting clients 

00:33:15 | How to personalise your approach to clients 

00:39:09 | 3 most important soft skills 

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

This week on the Financial Planner Life Podcast we speak with Tom Ham, Founder and Director of Calton Wealth Management, a Financial Planning firm that has experienced exponential growth in recent times. 

For Tom, variety is the spice of life when it comes to a career in Financial Planning, navigating a varied journey from within multiple firms, from trainee, to self-employed, to working within a hybrid Law and Financial Planning business before eventually setting up his own business based around his core values as an Adviser. 

Having a varied career experience puts Tom in the advantageous position of having seen many Financial Planning businesses with varied set-ups and ways of working. He offers his thoughts on what set-ups can work well for Advisers at different stages in their career, and how in his business, he’s mindful of what an Adviser who’s looking to join his firm is trying to achieve, and how positive outcomes for client, adviser and business are of equal importance. 

Tom shares his thoughts on niching down when taking on clients as a Financial Planner, the benefits and drawback associated with this, and some important points to consider when deciding whether to refine your niche in the market. 

We also explore the role of Non-Executive Directors and what they can bring to a business, discussing how forming a collaboration of experts within a range of specialist areas can take your business from small fry to big fish! 

Whether you’re just starting your Financial Planning career, going through a transition, or setting up your own business, there’s something for everyone in this episode! 

00:00:00 | Intro

00:03:32 | Quickest way to build a relationship

00:05:11 | Seeking out clients

00:08:41 | Key person of influence

00:15:04 | How Tom got into Financial Planning

00:31:33 | The divide between the legal team and financial planners

00:37:17 | Making a difference

00:42:34 | Tom's secret sauce to success

00:48:10 | Creating a succession plan

00:57:17 | Non-Exec Directors

01:06:22 | One area of the business that needs improvement

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

We have a very exciting episode for your eyes and ears this week on the Financial Planner Life Podcast. This week’s guest is James Rivers, Finance Degree Graduate, Chartered Financial Planner and Company Director at Lane Financial Management, all at the very young age of 24 years old! This impressive individual is a prime example of what can be achieved with the right guidance, determination, and access to opportunity for the next generation of Financial Planners.  

James talks us through what went in to laying the foundations for his successful career, starting at Uni, alongside taking his Level 4 Diploma in Financial Advice, before joining a firm as a Financial Analyst on a placement program to build confidence and experience. We also discuss what, if anything, James would do differently if carrying out this journey again. 

James talks to us about what drives him in his career, where his values are within his work as a Financial Planner and what drives his passion for servicing clients. We talk about other skills, aside from technical knowledge, that go a long way toward creating a great Financial Adviser that might not be obviously apparent at first glance. James also offers his insight into why many Financial Planning Professionals haven’t got access to the same rate of progression as him, what barriers are in place for employees trying to climb the corporate ladder, and what aspiring Financial Planners can do to get over this hurdle.  

On a personal Level, James, like all of us, has experienced doubts, imposter syndrome, and uncertainty around his aspirations and career goals. We look into the steps James took when facing these feelings, and how he overcame personal roadblocks that could have otherwise held him back. 

If you’re in position where you feel stuck in your career and are wondering how to move things forward, or if you’re just setting out on your Financial Planning Career journey, this episode provides a boat load of useful insights that can help get your future career path clearly laid out! Go get ‘em! 

00:00:00 | Intro

00:04:35 | How James got into Financial Planning

00:10:40 | How James studied for his exams whilst in placement

00:12:10 | How James studied for RO exams

00:20:40 | University or Diploma?

00:32:53 | Experience working in placement at a financial planning firm

00:44:30 | The benefit of gaining experience in the placement

00:54:15 | Becoming a chartered adviser at a young age

00:56:27 | Imposter syndrome

01:02:50 | Aspirations

01:08:48 | What James would do to push his business forward

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

Welcome back to another episode of the Financial Planner Life Podcast and this week’s guest is Jamie Barnes from Pembroke Financial Services. An Adviser for just under a year, we reflect on Jamie’s career to date, why he made the decisions he did at different stages, and what he would have done differently if starting again. We discuss in depth what is required on a personal and professional level, in order to maximise your progression in your Financial Services Career.

Jamie spent around 10 years as a Paraplanner, a role that he was very comfortable doing, but always had aspirations of stepping into advice. Having an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, Jamie still carries that same mindset with him today, with aspirations of continuously progressing his career. Unfortunately, experiencing age discrimination as a young adviser, not wanting to rattle the cage of his bosses, and a lack of personal confidence all played a big part in hindering his rate of progression. 

Jamie offers his thoughts on transferable skillset’s, transitioning between roles within a Financial Planning business, and how self-belief and confidence plays a big part in your rate of progression. We also look into how now is the time for firms to invest in bringing new talent into Financial Planning, and what can be done to further encourage second careerists and graduates to enter into the industry.

We dive into how your LinkedIn profile is your shop window in Financial Planning, even as an individual navigating your career journey, and how showcasing your skills, experience and connections can be used as a marketing tool.

This episode truly is a toolkit for success when it comes to moving your career in the right direction, so give it a listen and take the first steps toward securing your dream job!

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.

This week we have an exceptional guest on the Financial Planner Life podcast; Oliver McDonald is a Financial Planner and Co-Founder/Director of Engage Wealth Management, experts in helping corporations take a deeper look at their finances, employee benefits packages and the future of their company.

Oliver walks us step-by-step through his journey from starting out in personal banking, to moving across to Financial Advice, explaining the steps he took, what worked and what didn’t, and the decisions he faced when navigating his career progression journey.

We also look at which career routes are best suited to those from non-financial services backgrounds, exploring the different options available and what key points to consider when embarking on this journey. 

Oliver is a self-built, hard worker who’s no stranger to business development, and he outlines for us the differences in how he approaches corporate clients, and individuals when offering his services and picking up new business.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to accelerate their career progression, market their services and learn the ropes of business development within Financial Planning! We hope you find it as valuable as we did!

00:00:00 | Intro

00:01:11 | Oliver's career journey

00:05:44 | Finding opportunities

00:10:05 | Administrator/Paraplanner route or Trainee adviser route?

00:12:51 | Trainee adviser experience or sales experience?

00:15:08 | How to develop whilst in the paraplanner role

00:18:06 | Employed vs self-employed academy route?

00:28:36 | Client development strategy in the early stages

00:32:07 | Lead generation

00:35:24 | Creating content

00:40:07 | How to get into the corporate world

00:48:01 | The sales and marketing strategy to get into the corporate world

00:55:28 | Internal referrals, who to target

00:59:57 | The inbound business tipping point

01:04:01 | How to get companies interested in partnering

Be sure to follow Financial Planner life on YouTube for extra content about career development within Financial Planning.

Reach out to [email protected] in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production.

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? drop Sam a message.