In this episode, Ryan Venner interviews Marianne Lombardi, a self-employed mortgage advisor with 17 years of experience. Marianne shares her journey from being an employed mortgage advisor to starting her own business, highlighting the challenges and rewards of self-employment. She discusses the importance of community support for mortgage brokers, which led her to create Mortgage Chat, an online platform for brokers to connect and share knowledge. Marianne emphasises the value of flexibility in her work-life balance and the lessons learned from past financial crises.

Chapters:

00:00 Marianne's Journey to Mortgage Advisory

07:54 Transitioning to Self-Employment

11:06 Navigating Challenges: The Impact of COVID-19

17:12 Building a Community: The Birth of Mortgage Chat

24:24 Future Plans and Community Initiatives

Takeaways:

Marianne transitioned from a cashier to a mortgage advisor at West Bromwich Building Society.

The 2008 financial crisis led to her redundancy, which opened new opportunities.

Working at Countrywide exposed her to a wider range of mortgage solutions.

Going self-employed allowed her to provide personalised service and build relationships.

Flexibility in her work schedule has improved her work-life balance as a mother.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time but reinforced her decision to stay self-employed.

Marianne's business has grown significantly since going self-employed in 2019.

Mortgage Chat was created to support mortgage brokers and foster community.

The community provides a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences among brokers.

Marianne is passionate about educating young people on credit management.

In this episode of Talk FS, host Ryan Venner is joined by Serena Smith, an inspiring mortgage adviser who built her self-employed business during lockdown — and hasn’t looked back since.

💬 Serena shares:

- Why she left her employed role to go self-employed

- The emotional and financial challenges of starting from scratch

- How she balances business and being a mum

- Her smart use of social media to attract clients

- Why she charges fees — and how it filters serious enquiries

- The power of personal branding in financial services

Whether you’re an aspiring mortgage adviser, self-employed professional, or just curious about how to build a business that works around your life — this episode is packed with practical takeaways and honest insight.

00:10 - Intro

01:00 - The leap to self-employment

5:15 - Navigating the challenges of self-employment

9:35 - The ups and downs of being self-employed

13:50 - Finding balance as a parent and business owner

19:15 - Understanding client misconceptions

21:35 - Building trust through personal connection

23:45 - Evolving business practices for efficiency

26:05 - Navigating the emotional challenges in mortgages

30:35 - The impact of social media on business growth

34:15 - How does self-employment influence your approach to social media?

38:55 - Outro 🎧 Listen now to learn how to set boundaries, build trust, and win loyal clients without buying leads.

📍 Guest: Serena Smith

🔗 https://mortgageswithserena.com/

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/9sAK7X2aZAE 

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on self-employment, finance, and growing your business the right way.

#MortgageBroker #SelfEmployedLife #FinancialServices #TalkFS #WomenInFinance #MortgageMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #businessgrowth

Join host Ryan Venner and guest Jason Butler, leading expert in financial wellbeing, as they tackle the rising importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in financial services. With technology taking over routine tasks, Jason explains why cultivating emotional capacity and engaging in deeper conversations is now a critical competitive advantage for financial advisers.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

📌 Who Should Watch:

⏱️ Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction

03:53 — Building a client-centric approach

07:31 — The challenges of entrepreneurship

10:30 — Innovating in financial services

15:18 — The importance of emotional intelligence

20:15 — Finding purpose and connection in finance

24:11 — The importance of training and delegation

25:16 — Overcoming adversity and building self-awareness

26:36 — Harnessing personal strengths

28:35 — The value of attitude over skills

31:04 — The role of technology in financial services

34:30 — Navigating client relationships and expectations

38:45 — Niche Specialisation in financial advisory

45:35 — Outro

✅ Subscribe to Talk FS for more episodes on mindset, leadership, and innovation in financial advice.

👍 If you’ve seen the impact of EQ in your practice, comment below: “How are you deepening emotional connection with your clients?”

🔗 Related Resources: Visit Premier Jobs UK for career tools and adviser support: https://www.premierjobsuk.com/contact...

Prefer to listen? you can listen to our podcast here:

Check out Jason Butler: https://www.jason-butler.com/ #TalkFS

#JasonButler #EmotionalIntelligence #FinancialAdvice #Automation #ClientEngagement

In this episode of Talk FS, Ryan Venner sits down with Peter McGahan, Chief Executive of Worldwide Financial Planning, to uncover a powerful truth: true financial wellbeing starts with understanding why—not just the numbers. Peter shares how aligning financial planning with human emotional needs—like security, purpose, and connection—leads to better outcomes for clients, teams, and businesses.

Tune in for inspiring lessons on:

✅ Values-led financial advice

✅ The “9 Emotional Needs” every client has (and most ignore)

✅ How to avoid costly emotional decisions in retirement

✅ Why financial planning is not about chasing higher returns

✅ The one question Peter asks daily to grow as a leader

01:20 Understanding the 'why' in financial planning

07:45 Emotional needs and financial security

12:16 The impact of emotional needs on decision making

17:16 Retirement planning and emotional well-being

21:45 Understanding emotional needs in financial planning

28:05 The importance of values in financial advice

37:30 Learning from experience: The Key to Growth

Check out Peter McGahan: https://linktr.ee/PeterMcGahan

In this episode, Emmanuel Asuquo shares his inspiring journey from being a cashier at Barclays to becoming a prominent financial advisor and content creator. He discusses the importance of financial education, especially for underserved communities, and how social media has allowed him to reach a wider audience. Emmanuel emphasises the role of financial influencers in bridging the gap for those who may not have access to traditional financial advice. He also addresses the challenges within the financial advisory industry and offers insights for young aspiring advisors.

Key Takeaways:

- Emmanuel started his journey as a cashier while studying finance.

- He transitioned to a financial advisor to help those in need.

- Social media became a platform for him to educate others about finance.

- Content creation took off during the lockdown, leading to greater visibility.

- Emmanuel emphasises the importance of sharing financial knowledge with the community.

- Financial influencers play a crucial role in providing relatable advice.

- The financial advisory industry needs more qualified professionals.

- Young advisors should focus on helping clients rather than competition.

- Emmanuel's TV experience opened doors for greater impact.

- It's essential to maintain authenticity and a client-first approach.

In this episode of Talk FS, Ryan Venner interviews George Thomas, a financial planner and director at Four Pillars Financial Planning. They discuss George's journey from university to becoming a financial planner, the importance of mentorship, qualifications, and soft skills in the financial services industry, and the challenges and rewards of running a small business. George shares insights on building client relationships, the significance of goal setting, and how his experiences have shaped his career.

Key Takeaways:

- George transitioned from retail to financial services.

- He found his passion in working with people.

- Qualifications are essential, but soft skills matter more.

- Mentorship played a crucial role in George's development.

- He learned from multiple advisors to create his own style.

- Running a small firm offers closer client relationships.

- Goal setting and accountability drive progress.

- Continuous learning is vital in the financial industry.

- George emphasises the importance of personal connections.

- The journey of becoming a director has been rewarding.

Contact Us:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvenner/

In this episode of Talk FS, Ryan Venner interviews Ravi Bhalla, the former head of innovation at the FCA. They discuss the FCA's role in promoting innovation within the financial services sector, the importance of proactive engagement between firms and regulators, and the impact of the new consumer duty on the industry. Ravi shares insights on the regulatory sandbox, global collaboration in regulatory innovation, and the significance of academic partnerships. He also reflects on career advice and the importance of viewing one's career as a journey with various paths.

Key Takeaways:

Contact Us:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvenner/

In this episode, Ryan Venner speaks with Julia Smith, a seasoned professional in financial planning and mortgage advisory. They explore the misconceptions surrounding networks in the financial services industry, the benefits of being part of a network, and the critical importance of business planning. Julia shares her insights on coaching versus mentoring, emphasising the need for accountability and clear communication in achieving business success. The conversation highlights the value of patience and regular reviews in business planning, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own practices.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Contact Us:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvenner/

In this episode of Talk FS, Ryan Venner engages with Adrian Watson, a seasoned expert in financial recruitment, to explore the current landscape of the financial planning market. They discuss the challenges faced in recruitment, the impact of economic factors such as cost of living and interest rates, and the evolving dynamics between employed and self-employed financial advisors. Adrian shares insights on the importance of salary benchmarking, the demand for support staff, and the significance of aligning values in recruitment. The conversation also touches on the hesitancy among candidates and the role of recruiters in guiding individuals through their career journeys, emphasising the need for adaptability in a changing market.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Contact Us:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvenner/

Adrian Watson:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-watson-84265214/

📞 07828 570200

In this episode, Ryan Venner interviews Elaine Cook, an expert in equity release and later life lending. They discuss common misconceptions about equity release, the evolution of products in the market, and the importance of independent advice. Elaine shares her journey in the industry, the regulatory protections in place for clients, and the significance of educating both clients and their families. The conversation highlights the value of listening to clients and tailoring advice to their unique situations, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the current equity release market.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Contact Us:

✉️ [email protected]

💬 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanvenner/