“Building something from nothing teaches you exactly what your clients need.”
Most people my age are still figuring out what they want to do. I’ve already built it. At 24, I run a Punjabi cultural dance academy with over 40,000 social media followers and millions of views – something I started from scratch, with no backing and no guarantee it would work. I also run a Punjabi language tutoring business. Neither was planned. Both grew because I connected with people, delivered something real, and kept showing up.
That’s exactly what drew me to financial advice. It’s not a spreadsheet job – it’s a people job. I joined the Mattioli Woods Financial Adviser Academy, having previously trained in mortgage advice and paraplanning. One of the main reasons I chose this career is because I genuinely like people – and because of that, I’m easy to talk to. For a subject that makes so many people feel anxious or out of their depth, that isn’t a small thing.
Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning is the area I’m most passionate about – and a single meeting early in my career showed me why. I met with an elderly client who was worried about what her family’s IHT liability looked like. She didn’t know about nil-rate bands or the allowances available to her, and the uncertainty had been weighing on her. That meeting stays with me. Families are sitting on significant, avoidable exposure simply because no one has had the conversation with them. I want to be the person who has it.
I also enjoy working with business owners. Having built something myself, I understand the mindset – the focus, the time pressure, and the desire to protect what you’ve created. Tax planning, succession, and making sure the wealth you’ve built is working as hard as you are: these are conversations I find genuinely energising.
My approach is straightforward. I’ll listen first, tell you honestly what I think, and focus entirely on what you’re trying to achieve. Some clients want the relationship; some want to get straight to the point. I’ll follow your lead. What I won’t do is give you a vague answer when a clear one is possible, or let something important drift because it feels complicated.
Building the dance academy taught me that trust is earned by turning up, being straight with people, and delivering on what you say you will. I bring exactly the same approach to every client I work with.
