
Financial Planner Life Podcast
Welcome to The Financial Planner Life Podcast. We cover an intimate and honest account of what it’s really like to work in the financial planning profession. Our guests share their stories of success, failures and learnings, as well as what to expect from a career in the financial planning profession! We host guests at various stages in their careers, as well as multiple roles to ensure that our audience has a variety each week. Financial planners, business owners, paraplanners and back-office staff all have their own story to share, and The Financial Planner Life podcast is a platform for them to talk about their personal and professional journey. The podcast covers a multitude of topics, from mindset and motivation, health and wellbeing all the way to diversity and inclusion. We approach each episode with the idea that it is going to educate and spark a conversation within the industry with topics that may not be openly discussed. So, if you are thinking of becoming a financial adviser, or you’re curious about learning more about this brilliant sector, we urge you to give the podcast a listen. The Host: Sam Oakes is the host of The Financial Planner Life Podcast. since 2008 Sam has been supporting leading national and global financial planning firms in finding the best talent, he was the director of Recruit UK, a 7 figure turnover financial planning recruitment company that he successfully exited in 2024, Sam now works as the Head of Creative for Hoxton wealth, building out podcasts, YouTube and social content for this fast growing fee based international financial planning firm. Sam has always had a passion for financial services, starting out as a trainer for leading product provider in the UK, he has been in the industry for over 20 years. He sees himself as a partner to the industry and wants to contribute useful resources such as this podcast to educate those further who are seeking advice and help about how to push their careers forward in this amazing profession. Be sure to check out Financial Planner Life Academy - start your career today! https://financialplannerlife.com/academy/
Latest episodes

Aug 11, 2022 • 51min
Your Sustainable Investment Comfort Zone - Rebecca Kowalski
This week Charlie is joined by Rebecca Kowalski, sustainable finance specialist and director of Overstory Finance. Today Rebecca shares her financial planning career, from Paraplanner to business owner. She explains how she helps forward thinking financial planning firms to fully enter their sustainable investment comfort zone. Maybe they simply lack in-house resource and expertise in the sustainable investment space or perhaps they are worried about recommending inappropriate investment solutions to their clients. Rebecca tells why this area of financial planning is her main focus, the barriers that she’s faced when talking about sustainability, the real life impacts the climate crisis is having and she gives some great advice for those looking to get into sustainable finance. We cover: Rebecca’s career journey What service does Overstory Finance provide? What is sustainable investing? How the conversation around financial planning has changed Advice for someone wanting to get into the sustainable side of the financial profession Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

Aug 4, 2022 • 1h 22min
A jargon busting approach to financial planning – Keith Boyes
This week Sam is joined by Keith Boyes, Managing Director at Spentwell. Keith has an extensive career in the financial profession, starting from Paraplanning and working his way up to a financial planner and now he’s running his own business. At one point his career took him over to Hong Kong working on expat financial advice and it was during this time in Hong Kong that he really learnt a lot about himself and what kind of financial planner he wanted to be. Keith shares some really interesting insights on what working and living in the far East looked like. Now back home and running his own business, Keith talks about some of the ups and downs of being the boss and how he manages to balance work and family life. Today we also talk about Keith’s jargon busting approach to financial education and how he uses blogs and vlogs to get his message out there. A conversation jam-packed full of value, enjoy! We cover: Keith’s career journey Staying organised Mental health & work/life balance Living and working in Hong Kong Keith’s jargon busting approach to Financial Planning Having non-negotiables in your life Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

Jul 27, 2022 • 1h 14min
Build trust and you’re good, no matter your age – Nick Adamthwaite
This week Sam is joined by Nick Adamthwaite, Director of Masterplan Lending Advisers. This is an interesting conversation because Nick is under 30 years old and running his own business. With his youth comes ideas on how to do things differently within the profession and today he tells us what that means for his staff and clients. Nick thinks that age doesn’t matter as long as you can build trust, great advice for any young financial planners out there. We also discuss Nick’s career progression and how in the beginning, he was thinking about giving up the profession during a very painful time in his life. Nick is very open and honest about this difficult time and shares with us how he bounced back and quickly learnt what it takes to be a great financial advisor, thanks in part, to support from some great mentors along the way. We cover: Nick’s career progression and why he almost quit the profession for good. Advice for young financial planners Overcoming hardships How to beat impostor syndrome The importance of customer exposure as soon as possible Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

Jun 17, 2022 • 1h 15min
Can money buy you happiness? Paul Bradley
This week Sam is joined by Paul Bradley, Founder of Chiltern Hills Financial Planning. The focus of the conversation today is an interesting one, does money make you happy? According to Paul it’s not enough to be rich, it’s having a purpose that gets us all out of bed in the morning. Paul also dives into positive psychology and the way that we should be setting goals. Once a goal is achieved, then what? We also talk about how the role of a financial planner has evolved into more of a lifestyle coach type role. Wealth and health are so intertwined, therefore by providing sound financial advice and coming up with a long-term plan, financial planners can reduce stress and anxiety in their clients. We also touch on philanthropy and how supporting causes close to your heart can play a part in your overall happiness and health. We cover: Paul’s career journey Positive psychology Does money buy you happiness? What is cashflow planning? Advice for finding clients in your first year as self-employed Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

Jun 9, 2022 • 49min
Female Folio, a network supporting women on their investment journey – Claire Barker
This week Elena is joined by Claire Barker, Marketing and Communications Director for Brooks Mcdonald. Claire is here to talk about Brooks Mcdonald’s exciting project called Female Folio, a network to support high net worth and affluent women on their investment journey. Women have more financial power than ever before, with more than 60% of the UK’s wealth expected to be in their hands by 2025. Female Folio talk about savings and investing in a different way, an inspiring way, a way that empowers women to write their own investment story. In this episode we also talk about the importance of having someone in a communications role within your firm, the difference between investing patterns of men and women, inter-generational wealth, intra-generational wealth and how we can break down the knowledge barrier for women around financial planning. For more information on Female Folio you can visit their website here: https://www.femalefolio.com/ We cover: Claire’s career journey Moving from a different industry into the financial profession What a communications and marketing role entails What is Female Folio? What are the barriers for women seeking financial advice? Ways in which men and women invest differently Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

Jun 1, 2022 • 1h 33min
My first year as a financial planner - Natasha Percy Baxter
This week Sam is joined by Natasha Percy Baxter from Percy Baxter Wealth Management. 18 months ago, Natasha reached out to the Financial Planner Life Podcast asking how she could get into the financial planning profession. Now she’s running her own Partner Practice for St. James’s Place, what a fantastic story! This self-employed route into the profession has worked really well for her and today Natasha will share this journey with us as well as some great advice to anyone thinking about joining the profession. As you’ll hear, Natasha is a natural communicator and she goes to prove what’s possible when we put ourselves out there and network. She is an inspiration and a fantastic role model. Enjoy! We cover: Why Natasha is suited to Financial Planning Networking and building a referral team St. James's Place Wealth Management Academy process Marketing and building your own brand. Dealing with overwhelm and burnout Wellbeing and financial education Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

May 26, 2022 • 1h 15min
Financial Abuse with Michelle Hoskin - Helping you spot the signs
This week Sam is joined by Michelle Hoskin from Standards International Ltd, AKA Little Miss Woww! Michelle is dedicated to raising the international standards of the financial planning profession. She’s already responsible for the Paraplanner Standard certification, pioneering best practice among personal financial planners in the UK and overseas. Today the conversation is focusing on Michelle’s new certification, the Financial Abuse Specialist Certificate and the important role that you can play in identifying clients who are victims of financial abuse. We also talk about wellbeing within the workplace and the upcoming Standard Certification which is being created to improve the culture within financial planning firms. Of course, a happy and fulfilled workforce can provide the best service to their clients. What an inspiration Michelle is, she’s raising the standards of the financial profession, making it a better place for all involved. We cover: What is financial abuse How the Financial Abuse Specialist Certificate will help you and your clients Wellbeing within the workplace The differences between the financial profession in the UK and other countries Michelle’s career journey. How she got into the profession Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

May 19, 2022 • 46min
What an operational role within financial planning looks like – Laura Dean
This week Elena is joined by Laura Dean, Operations and Marketing Director of Balance Wealth Planning. Laura shares her career journey with us and gives us some great advice on how you can navigate different career paths within the financial profession. In particular she focuses on marketing and operational roles. Laura gives us an insight into what these roles entail, who would be a good fit for them and why these roles are important for all firms. She also stresses the importance of staff wellness and tells us how Balance Wealth Planning go about retaining a happy & loyal team. We cover: How Laura has navigated her way through different roles within the profession Advice for anyone thinking about an operational role Why a firm would need an operations director and when they should be employed. Transferable skills within the financial profession Staff wellness and retention Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

May 12, 2022 • 53min
Why it’s an advantage to be a young financial planner – Dan Martin
This week Elena is joined by Dan Martin, Director and Chartered Independent Financial Planner at MDM Wealth LTD. Dan talks us through his impressive (and quick!) career journey from a semi-professional rugby player, pulling pints in a pub, to company director. Dan is certainly in the younger demographic of financial professionals but he tells us how this hasn’t held him back, in fact, he tells us why it’s an advantage to be a young financial planner in this digital age. Dan set up an Instagram account ‘DanTalksMoney’ to help educate and connect with younger generations. Social media is not just good for business, it’s also an effective tool to get young people interested in joining the financial profession, addressing the issue of an ageing workforce. We cover: Dan’s career journey Work / Life balance Using technology and social media to improve a business Financial advice for young people Advice on climbing the career ladder How sport can help your career Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.

May 5, 2022 • 1h 8min
Good mentorship is how you make someone feel – Danielle Arnold
This week Sam is joined by Danielle Arnold, head of Paraplanning for Bespoke Wealth Limited. Danielle disproves the myth that Paraplanners are introverts. She is most certainly not an introvert, in fact, before she started her career in financial planning, she was training to be a helicopter pilot! Danielle shares with us why it’s important for a Paraplanner to work alongside a good financial adviser who can offer mentorship and include them in client facing activities. Danielle explains how the Paraplanner can be the eyes and ears for the adviser and ultimately help deliver the best experience for the client. A great episode for anyone wanting to enter the financial profession and rise through the ranks. We cover: Danielle’s career journey including her different roles Advice for anyone who wants to get into the profession Financial education in schools Getting women into the profession Training, mentorship and a career pathway Financial advisers and Paraplanners working together Be sure to follow financial planner life on YouTube for extra content about a career within financial Planning HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! 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 Planner Life Academies - Where we bring together the leading financial planning academies and entry-level opportunities to kick start your financial planning career. Learn more here. Experienced and searching for a new role within the financial planning profession? Click here for a free career consultation.Check out the 2022 Financial planning Salary Guide here. If you would like to discuss partnering with The Financial Planner Life for jobs, advertising, marketing or academies please reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com or call 07854778712. 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.