“Technically confident, endlessly curious, and always ready for what’s next.”
I didn’t stumble into financial planning. My school work experience was with a local financial adviser firm, and the people there gave me a clear roadmap: get a degree, join an insurance company, do your exams, then move to an independent firm. I followed it. It’s a path I’ve never regretted – and it gave me an early appreciation that the right guidance, at the right moment, can really matter.
I’ve been a wealth management consultant for over two decades, working with individuals, families, and business owners – helping them grow, protect, and, when the time is right, transfer their wealth. That work spans investment planning, pension strategies, Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, and tax-efficient structuring. While I enjoy the technical side of the work, especially the problem solving, what really drives me is building long-term relationships with clients and helping them achieve the things they want to achieve in life.
No two clients are the same, and that is one of the things I value most about this work. Everyone comes with different priorities, concerns, and ambitions, so there’s never a one-size-fits-all solution. What I’ve found over the years is that when there is real engagement between client and adviser in building their plan together, the results are always better. A plan works best when it feels personal, practical, and genuinely owned by the client.
Trust is something I take seriously. Many of my clients are in drawdown – the transition from accumulating wealth to drawing an income from it. That moment brings real anxiety. When a plan starts to deliver, it builds real confidence that they are on the right path. I’ve gone from advising individuals to looking after their children and grandchildren too. When you’ve known a family across three generations, the conversations are honest and direct in a way that’s hard to replicate.
I’m straight-talking by nature. If there’s a problem, I pick up the phone and we sort it out. I don’t let things drift. Over the years, I’ve also developed a real interest in the more complex areas of advice – particularly the cases that others may have stepped away from because they’re difficult or problematic. I work closely with accountants and solicitors on behalf of high-net-worth individuals, often helping clients untangle complicated arrangements or where previous planning no longer fits their circumstances. Getting a result in those cases, where the route forward is not always obvious, is especially satisfying.
Outside of work, I enjoy helping at my local football club. It’s something I find genuinely rewarding, and it reflects a value that matters to me – supporting people, encouraging progress, and giving something back. Someone gave me a hand up once, and I try to do the same for others where I can.
