“The right advice isn’t just technical – it’s knowing which question to ask next.”
Most people don’t stumble into financial planning – and neither did I. My route began in a marquee hire company in York, where, alongside my accounting and business finance degree, I learned to work with everyone from farmers to construction crews and picked up skills nobody taught in a lecture hall. That ability to read a room, adapt quickly, and connect with anyone has shaped how I work with clients ever since.
Today, I hold Fellow Chartered status – among the highest qualifications available in financial planning – and specialise in pensions, investments, Inheritance Tax planning, and financial strategies for business owners and senior professionals. But qualifications are only part of the story. What I find matters most is cutting through noise. Whether a client arrives with half-heard advice from a friend, a complicated pension they’ve never properly understood, or a business structure that’s quietly creating a tax problem, I ask the right questions and explain what it actually means – without the jargon.
Early in my career, I worked with a woman going through a difficult divorce who had been told she was only entitled to 20% of the matrimonial estate. By understanding the full picture – including assets that hadn’t been highlighted – I helped her secure 60%. That instinct to look beyond what’s presented, and to advocate clearly for my clients, has run through every case since.
I describe much of what I do as life coaching as much as financial advice. Recently, I helped a client answer one of the most important questions a person can ask: can I retire? A straightforward cash flow analysis showed the answer was yes – and he could walk away and have that conversation with his wife. That’s the kind of clarity I aim to deliver.
I also know that wealth isn’t reserved for those who’ve always had it. One of my most memorable clients worked in a bingo hall for 24 years and spent much of that time in serious debt. With the right guidance, he built a pension of over £100,000 and is now on track to retire on his own terms. I see that range – from business owners to people who’ve had to fight for every pound – not as a contradiction, but as the point.
Outside of work, I’m planning my wedding this October and follow Fulham and rugby with the kind of loyalty that’s good training for any financial adviser. I also enjoy golf when the English weather allows. I’ll happily talk sport, or – thanks to my partner – ballet, if that’s what breaks the ice.
If you’re a business owner, senior professional, or simply someone who wants a straight answer from someone who genuinely knows their subject, I’d love to have that conversation.
