David Carter, CEO of Absolute Financial Group, shares his journey from a disciplined military upbringing to leading a new independent advice consolidator. He reflects on leadership, independence, consolidation, and what building a sustainable advice business really means post–Consumer Duty.

In this episode, David discusses:

• Growing up between Salford and Germany in a military family and how discipline shaped his mindset
  

• Why frequent moves made him adaptable, people-focused, and comfortable with change
  

• Choosing not to go to university and backing work ethic over traditional career paths
  

• Entering financial services at the ground level and building experience across every role
  

• Progressing rapidly by embracing responsibility, meritocracy, and opportunity
  

• How regulatory change (RDR) accelerated his career and reshaped advice businesses
  

• Becoming a director and later CEO, shifting focus from advising to operating and scaling a firm
  

• Building adviser academies, developing talent in-house, and creating long-term career paths
  

• Leading through growth, M&A, and increased regulatory expectations
  

• Being approached to help build Absolute Financial Group from a blank sheet of paper
  

• Why independence, culture, and legacy matter deeply to advice firm principals
  

• Challenging misconceptions around private equity and modern consolidation
  

• The risks of over-vertical integration and loss of adviser autonomy
  

• Absolute’s vision: scaling while protecting client outcomes, people, and local identity
  

David believes the future of financial advice depends on independent thinking, strong culture, and long-term client trust, not consolidation at any cost.