Charlie Harnett DipPFS

“I found my calling when I stopped counting numbers and started listening to people.”

Most financial advisers come straight into the profession. I didn’t. After graduating from the University of Leicester with a degree in Geography, I spent three years as a trainee accountant working towards my ACCA qualification in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. While I was more than capable as an accountant, I felt like I’d lost my spark. The work felt like ticking boxes rather than making a real difference to anyone, so I changed course.

That decision turned out to be the making of me. I joined Mattioli Woods through the Mattioli Woods Financial Adviser Academy and qualified with a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (DipPFS). But those accountancy years were far from wasted. My grounding in tax mechanisms, business structures and financial processes gives me an edge that most consultants my age simply don’t have. I can sit with an accountant, a business owner or a senior executive and speak their language – understanding not just the numbers, but how the whole picture fits together.

What drives me is straightforward: doing right by the client. That means truly understanding what a client wants and helping them get there in the way best suited to their needs. It also means pairing complex reports with a plain-English summary sheet, because real confidence comes from understanding, not from glossy paperwork. Whether it’s pension planning, investment strategy, Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning or tax-efficient savings wrappers such as Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), my approach is to break things down, be transparent, and make sure clients have every option on the table before making a decision.

The work isn’t always straightforward. I once worked with a client whose pension was being drawn down at an unsustainable rate. I laid out every option, explained the long-term risks clearly and pushed hard for a solution that would protect her future. In the end, she chose a different path. I found it genuinely difficult, but I walked away knowing I’d done everything right – crossed every t, dotted every i. That’s the standard I hold myself to, every time.

Outside work, I follow Wycombe Wanderers to grounds around the country and have recently added Cape Town to a growing list of destinations I’ve visited. South Africa changed how I see the world – stunning landscapes, incredible food, and a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone is almost always worth it. It’s a mindset that carries into every client conversation I have.