This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Sarah Steele, Operations Director at Yellowtail Financial Planning.

With 20+ years in financial services, Sarah shares her refreshingly honest view of what it really takes to build a high-performing team, deliver an outstanding client experience, and lead a values-driven firm.

In this conversation, she opens up about her journey from private banking at Coots to operations leadership in Devon, including how she re-entered the workforce after five years at home, the shift from culture activities to a culture of consistency, and what she’s learned from reshaping the Yellowtail team for growth.

From DIY to leadership, tech overwhelm to team kindness, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for owner-managers serious about building a better business.

🎧 A must-listen for anyone navigating change, culture, or team growth in a modern advice firm.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Sarah Steele

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Nick Hutchings, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of The Retirement Lounge.

Nick didn’t set out to run his own firm, but after years of cultural misalignment and compromise, he decided to create a business that fits his life and values. In this episode, he shares how he found his niche in later life advice, why outsourcing is key to his model, and how being authentic has transformed the way he works.

From school struggles to SOLLA accreditation, this is a refreshingly honest take on lifestyle firms, freedom, and designing work around the life you actually want.

🎧 Whether you're DA, AR, or just rethinking the way you run your business this one will resonate.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Nick Hutchings

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Victor Sacks, Director of VS Associates and one of the industry’s straightest talkers.

Victor opens up about the reality of building a firm from scratch, the setbacks, the slow starts, and the mindset shifts that helped him turn things around. From cold calls in industrial estates to running a business on his own terms, Victor shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes.

If you’re an adviser who never set out to be a business owner, this one’s for you.

🎧 Expect insight on resilience, referrals, personal branding, and how to stay human in a fast-paced profession.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Victor Sacks

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Leticia Fonseca, Independent Financial Adviser and Founder of Master Your Finances.

Leticia’s journey from Brazil to becoming a UK-qualified adviser is as inspiring as her mission, making financial education accessible to all. With a background in tech marketing and a passion for helping others, she empowers people to build better money habits through workshops, mentoring, and bilingual courses.

Outside of work, she’s a proud mum, lifelong learner, and advocate for personal growth.

Tune in to hear how Leticia is breaking down barriers and helping people master their finances with confidence.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Leticia Fonseca

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Gareth Higton, Director and Independent Financial Planner at Finli.

Gareth brings a fresh and commercial approach to financial planning, blending deep advice expertise with experience in growth, acquisitions, and partnerships across financial services. He’s passionate about helping clients achieve real financial freedom and building businesses that deliver meaningful results.

Tune in to hear how Gareth supports both people and firms in getting the most out of life and planning.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Gareth Higton

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Rob Isherwood, Independent Financial Adviser at Arcus Wealth.

With 17 years of experience, Rob specialises in retirement planning, tax-efficient investing, and care fees advice, with a particular focus on ethical investing. Known for his calm, informal style, Rob builds trusted, long-term relationships with his clients.

Tune in to hear Rob’s approach to simplifying complex financial issues and why values-based advice matters more than ever.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Rob Isherwood

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Ashley Townsend, Co-Owner and Independent Financial Planner at Prosperity IFA.

Ashley brings real-world entrepreneurial experience to his advice, helping business owners and executives align their financial plans with both business and life goals. His advice is clear, unbiased, and always tailored to the individual.

Tune in to hear how Ashley combines practical insight with personalised planning to support clients at every stage of their journey.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Ashley Townsend

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Ed Stubbs, Financial Planner at Xentum.

With over a decade of experience, Ed helps business owners and executives navigate key transitions, especially around business exits. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, he understands what makes business owners tick and brings a calm, strategic approach to planning.

Outside of work, Ed’s an adventurer, sailing the Adriatic or storm-chasing in the American Midwest.

Tune in for insights on purposeful planning and supporting clients through life’s pivotal moments.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Ed Stubbs

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Gareth Shears, Co-Founder and Chartered Financial Planner at Sanctuary Financial Planning.

With over 20 years in the profession, Gareth blends technical expertise with a refreshingly human approach to financial planning. As the ideas guy at Sanctuary, he’s passionate about enhancing the client journey and helping people turn their goals into reality, whether that’s growing a business, building wealth, or simply living life on their terms.

From profit coaching to personal discovery, Gareth’s work is rooted in understanding what truly matters to his clients.

Away from the spreadsheets, Gareth is a proud dad, self-declared foodie, and currently on a fitness reboot.

Tune in to hear his perspective on modern financial planning, how to elevate the client experience, and why meaningful conversations are at the heart of lasting financial success.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Gareth Shears

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website 

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Kate Daly, Co-founder of amicable and host of The Divorce Podcast.

A leading voice in modernising divorce, Kate helps couples and parents navigate separation with empathy and collaboration. With a background in psychology and divorce coaching, she co-founded amicable after seeing firsthand how the traditional legal system often fails families.

Kate has since become a passionate advocate for no-fault divorce and greater access to fair, family-focused solutions. Her work is transforming the way people experience separation—making it kinder, clearer, and more constructive.

Tune in to hear Kate’s journey, her mission to reshape divorce, and why financial planners play a vital role in supporting clients through major life transitions.

Connect with Lewis Byford

Connect with Kate Daly

Follow The Financial Planning Club

The Financial Planning Club Website