Financial Planner Life Podcast

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  Begin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

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 | Intro00:03:32 | Quickest way to build a relationship00:05:11 | Seeking out clients00:08:41 | Key person of influence00:15:04 | How Tom got into Financial Planning00:31:33 | The divide between the legal team and financial planners00:37:17 | Making a difference00:42:34 | Tom's secret sauce to success00:48:10 | Creating a succession plan00:57:17 | Non-Exec Directors01:06:22 | One area of the business that needs improvementBegin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

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 | Intro00:04:35 | How James got into Financial Planning00:10:40 | How James studied for his exams whilst in placement00:12:10 | How James studied for RO exams00:20:40 | University or Diploma?00:32:53 | Experience working in placement at a financial planning firm00:44:30 | The benefit of gaining experience in the placement00:54:15 | Becoming a chartered adviser at a young age00:56:27 | Imposter syndrome01:02:50 | Aspirations01:08:48 | What James would do to push his business forwardBegin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

Jamie Barnes, an Adviser at Pembroke Financial Services, shares his journey transitioning from Paraplanner to Adviser, overcoming age discrimination, and the importance of confidence in career progression. He discusses transferable skills, LinkedIn as a shop window, and the need for firms to invest in new talent in Financial Planning.

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 | Intro00:01:11 | Oliver's career journey00:05:44 | Finding opportunities00:10:05 | 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 role00:18:06 | Employed vs self-employed academy route?00:28:36 | Client development strategy in the early stages00:32:07 | Lead generation00:35:24 | Creating content00:40:07 | How to get into the corporate world00:48:01 | The sales and marketing strategy to get into the corporate world00:55:28 | Internal referrals, who to target00:59:57 | The inbound business tipping point01:04:01 | How to get companies interested in partneringBegin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

Following the overwhelmingly positive response we had from our feature episode last week on the Financial Planner Life podcast, we have decided to compile another special feature episode! This week’s topic; Inclusivity and Diversity! Financial Planning in the UK has always held connotations of old white men in suits, a stereotype that is being broken more and more as the industry progresses. Now more than ever, Financial Planning professionals recognise the importance of diversity in their workplace, and how being inclusive in their practice only opens doors for a better work environment.  This episode features clips from past guests; Lucy Byrom, Hayley Rabbets, Nicola Crosbie, Jai Street & Alice Lording, all Financial Planning professionals with lived experiences around inclusivity and diversity in their working or personal lives. It’s another episode packed full of insights, knowledge and top-tips when it comes to promoting inclusivity and diversity in Financial Planning, a must have for Financial Planners in the modern world! Enjoy!!00:00:00 | Intro00:00:33 | Lucy Byrom00:02:25 | Hayley Rabbett00:07:33 | Nicola Crosby00:12:39 | Jai Street00:17:50 | Alice Lording00:21:42 | OutroBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

This week we have a very special feature on the Financial Planner Life podcast, as we’re looking back at some of the best clips around marketing, brand development and content creation.  We draw on the wisdom of previous guests Pete Matthew, Nicola McKenzie, Sam Tate, Matt Cross & Michelle Wilson-Stimson, in this compilation of top-tips, interesting perspectives and advice for those building a brand and business in Financial Planning. Understanding how to market yourself is imperative for any Financial Planning professional trying to expand their network and build their business. We hope you learn as much as we did from these amazing guests!00:00:00 | Intro00:00:31 | Pete Matthew00:03:29 | Nicola McKenzie00:06:39 | Sam Tate00:08:16 | Matt Cross00:12:59 | Michelle Wilson Stimpson00:16:07 | OutroBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

This week we have something a little different for you here at Financial Planner Life, demonstrating the power of developing a strong industry network!As you may know, we are powered by Financial Services Recruitment Specialists Recruit UK, experts in talent resourcing within the Financial Planning Profession.Recruitment often gets a bad rap, but in reality, it genuinely changes people’s lives.  Take Richard for example:Richard was in a tough place. Self-employed and building/running his own firm was no longer enjoyable.  He had built AUM, had no problem winning clients, loved the business development aspects of his work, but by his own admission made some bad hiring decisions, didn’t enjoy the day-to-day runnings, and felt under pressure to grow the business. It was costing him £££s and causing him stress.  Richard wanted out of self-employment, but under his terms….He wanted to: Work employed for an IFASell his client bank to that IFAContinue servicing those clients and focusing on new business.Surround himself with experts who could support his professional growth and allow him to focus on what he’s good at. Maintain his flexible working set-up, as a new baby was on the way.  Everything Richard wanted, Recruit UK delivered on!Richard was marketed to Recruit UK and Financial Planner Life’s trusted clients, remaining clear on Richard’s objectives throughout. We then screened and selected 4 suitable options from over 30 requests for interview and managed the process from start to finish.  Thank you, Richard, for trusting us and the team at Recruit UK, we are truly grateful that we got the chance to improve your personal and professional Financial Planning career journey. If you’re a Financial Planning Professional looking to take the next steps in your career, reach out to Recruit UK and speak with your regionalised consultant here:https://recruitukltd.co.uk/job-consultation/ Below are some excellent links from our sponsor Recruit UK for any aspiring or experienced financial planners looking for new job opportunities or looking to get ahead in their career.    Financial Planning Qualifications guide https://recruitukltd.co.uk/whats-the-true-cost-of-becoming-a-financial-planner-or-paraplanner-a-definitive-guide/  2021financial planner salary guide    Financial planning Salary Guide https://recruitukltd.co.uk/recruit-uk-salary-survey-2020/  follow the financial planner life podcast on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6vdF54D6IfBGy20h6Xvt4k?si=RohuXyawSQ2jPCl-gqWMBQ  Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-financial-planner-life-podcast/id1505494249 Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

 Another fresh episode of The Financial Planner Life Podcast for your eyes and ears and this week’s guest is Pete Matthews Chartered Financial Planner, co-owner and CEO of Jacksons Wealth and founder of the Meaningful Money YouTube channel, which provides financial coaching on money management, investing and saving strategies. Pete shares his career journey with us from making a complete U-turn from his previous career in Hospitality Management, to relocating and joining a local firm, through to acquiring clients from retiring advisers.   Pete is also an originator in the world of Financial Planning content creation, starting and running his YouTube and podcast ‘meaningful Money’ channel since 2010, and still going strong today with over 4.5 million downloads! He offers some serious wisdom when it comes to content creation, including but not limited to: -       What goes into making enticing content for your audience?-       Building a business with purpose-       Selecting topics of discussion to boost engagement.-       Balancing content creation and your day-to-day workload-       The importance of consistency and continued engagementBegin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.

Yet another insightful episode of the Financial Planner Life Podcast and this time around we have Stuart Jackson, Founder and Financial Adviser at Cheetham Jackson, a longstanding Financial Planning firm with a unique outlook on what success means with regard to client outcomes.  Stuart outlines why within his business, having billions of assets under management and high net worth corporate clients ranks below developing stronger connections with and giving back to the local communities within which a business operates.  We also dive into Stuart’s thoughts on historically, what's been going wrong with the Financial Planning business model and how the clients that should be the most important to a local business, are often overlooked.  This is a prime example of an organisation that is truly committed to going against the grain and providing the best outcome for those individuals who don’t fit within the typical client profile for Financial Planning! Begin your financial planning career journey todayWhether you are looking to become a paraplanner, administrator, mortgage and protection adviser or financial planner, the Financial Planner Life Academy is for you. With limited entry-level job roles, giving yourself the best financial planning career education, will not only kick start your financial planning journey with relevant qualifications and skills, but it’ll also help you achieve success much faster.&nbsBe sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within Financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! If you're looking to start your career in Financial Planning, check out the Financial Planner Life Academy hereReach out to Sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or career development.