The Financial Planning Podcast

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Stephanie Woodward from Poole Townsend.

Stephanie shares her journey back into financial services after time working in the NHS and environmental consultancy, and how those experiences have shaped the way she now approaches leadership, problem-solving and client work.

We also talk about Poole Townsend's move to employee ownership, the challenge of leading people through change, improving processes and compliance, and why getting the foundations right creates more space to focus on what matters most, clients and relationships.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Conor O'Sullivan, Founder of O'Sullivan Financial Planning.

Conor shares his journey from corporate financial services into building his own firm, how the business has grown from a small lifestyle practice into a growing team, and why his long-term ambition is to build a firm that can serve clients and their families for generations.

We also talk about outsourcing, AI, using technology to remove friction, and why great financial planning should always focus on the client's journey rather than just the products and vehicles around it.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Anna Butcher, Head of Operations at Finova Money.

Anna talks about settling into a new role after 12 years with her previous firm, helping Finova Money grow its team, and why she thrives on building the processes and structure that sit behind a growing business.

We also get into the launch of the Uniquely Wired Network, Anna's work around neurodiversity in financial services, and why creating more neuro-inclusive workplaces and client experiences could make a real difference across the profession.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Nathan McKerlie, Partnerships Manager at Albemarle Street Partners.

Nathan talks about how Albemarle supports independently minded financial advisers beyond investment management, from marketing and client communications to education and business growth, and why collaboration sits at the heart of its approach.

We also get into the next generation of investors, the intergenerational wealth transfer, and why advisers may need to rethink how they engage younger clients whose attitudes towards investing, technology and risk can look very different from previous generations.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Ryan Edwards from Foster Denovo.

Ryan shares his journey from apprenticeship and administration into financial planning, and why he believes technical knowledge is only part of what makes a great adviser, the real value comes from understanding people, their goals and the decisions that matter most to them.

We also talk about the role of cashflow planning, building a high-touch client service, finding your niche, and what it's like growing a career in advice as part of the next generation entering the profession.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Gretchen Betts, MD of Magenta Financial Planning and founder of SheFinance.

Gretchen reflects on 10 years of running Magenta, the role financial education can play in closing the advice gap, and why younger adults in particular need better access to useful, practical conversations about money.

We also talk about the importance of team culture, embracing change, and why in a world increasingly shaped by tech, AI and hybrid working, financial planning businesses still need to protect the human connection at the heart of what they do.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Zoe Howard from Rathbones.

Zoe talks about the role of bespoke investment management, how advisers and investment specialists can work together, and why more complex client needs often benefit from a genuinely tailored approach.

We also get into retirement planning, Rathbones' three-pot approach to decumulation, and the importance of balancing investment strategy with the very human and emotional side of retirement.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Adrian Denton from Fundment.

Adrian talks about Fundment's growth as a tech-led platform, why owning its own technology helps it move quickly, and how automation, open APIs and better integration can remove friction from financial planning businesses.

We also get into platform efficiency, the challenges of replatforming, the importance of strong adviser support, and why firms should think about their platform as part of their wider business strategy, not just as a standalone piece of tech.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Becky Adams and Emma Bird, Directors and Financial Planners at Hansford Bell.

Becky and Emma talk about running the firm as part of a five-person leadership team, balancing client work with growing the business, and why having the right people and culture matters just as much as growth itself.

We also get into their ambition to champion financial planning in the South West, bringing firms together through initiatives like Edge Southwest, and the importance of collaboration across the profession.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Richard Fletcher and Jackie Hickson, founders of Fletcher Hickson Legal Services.

Richard and Jackie share how their combined financial services and legal experience led them to launch their own specialist law firm, and why understanding the realities of the profession gives them a different perspective when supporting advisers and firms.

We also get into some of the legal issues business owners often overlook, from shareholder agreements and what happens when relationships change, to self-employed adviser contracts, restrictive covenants and the importance of getting things right before a dispute arises.

🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.