“The best advice removes complexity – not adds to it.”
When I first started studying for my financial planning exams, I kept thinking: why didn’t I know this before? I’d spent 14 years in retail management and leadership roles, and felt like I’d been building a decent life. But sitting with those books, my journey into financial planning began with a moment of clarity. I found myself studying for my exams realising how much I hadn’t known – and how many other people were in exactly the same position. That realisation is what drew me into wealth management, and it’s what still drives me today.
There’s a common misconception that building real wealth is complicated – or that proper financial planning is only for those who are already affluent. In reality, the small things done early, structured smartly and reviewed regularly make an enormous difference over time. Whether it’s pension planning, investment advice, Inheritance Tax planning and wealth preservation, or protection planning, my job is to take what feels overwhelming and make it straightforward.
I came to Mattioli Woods through the Financial Adviser Academy, having self-funded half of my exams while working full time in retail. That journey taught me patience and commitment – values I bring to every client relationship. Since qualifying in 2024, I’ve advised clients on everything from pension planning and investments to estate planning and protection – no single area is more important than another. I take a genuinely holistic view of financial planning because no part of your financial picture exists in isolation.
One client came to me having just sold his business for £1 million. He wanted £50,000 a year in retirement. By structuring his income across pensions, ISAs, an offshore bond and Venture Capital Trusts, we got him there paying virtually no tax at all. That’s what good retirement income planning looks like – not clever for its own sake but giving people the freedom to do far more with the wealth they’ve worked so hard to build.
What makes working with me different? I ask questions because I want the honest answers, not the rehearsed ones – that’s when real planning can begin. I won’t shy away from a difficult conversation if it’s the right one to have and going the extra mile isn’t something I have to think about; it’s simply how I’ve always worked. Clients tell me they’re often surprised by how much is possible – and that’s exactly the reaction I’m aiming for.
Outside of work, I’ve recently taken up golf and have enjoyed it enough to take over hosting a local golf networking event. I’m also working towards chartered financial planner status, because the best advisers never stop learning.
My ambition is simple: to help as many people as possible understand their options, take control of their finances, and get the most from what they have. Ultimately, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing my clients achieve the life they have worked towards – their success is, and will always be, my success.
