Kai Ansari

I didn’t take a traditional route into financial advice. After graduating what now seems like a lifetime ago, I spent several years figuring out what I wanted to do before a Government-backed scheme gave me the opportunity to sit my first financial services exam. I passed it first time and quickly realised I’d found a profession that genuinely suited me.

My career has given me experience across several areas of the industry. I started in investment research at 360 Services, moved into paraplanning at Equilibrium, and then worked as a trainee adviser at LEBC. Those roles gave me a solid understanding of financial planning from every angle, from analysing investments and understanding fund structures to the technical detail behind creating suitable recommendations for clients.

I joined Cullen Wealth (now part of Mattioli Woods) in 2021 and have since had the privilege of helping more than 127 households navigate some of life’s biggest financial decisions.

Today, I work closely with clients on wealth management, retirement planning, Inheritance Tax planning, and investment strategies. What matters most to me is taking a truly holistic approach. Financial planning isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet or the value of a portfolio. Every client has a family, a support network, and people they care about. A retirement plan can look very different if a child needs financial support, loses their job, or faces unexpected challenges. That’s why I always look beyond the immediate financial picture and focus on the wider family story.

I’m also passionate about cash-flow modelling and the role technology can play in making financial advice more meaningful. I regularly train new advisers at Mattioli Woods in using these tools because I’ve seen the impact they can have. When clients can visualise their future and see that their plans are on track, it often transforms their outlook. Seeing that they can spend more confidently in retirement without jeopardising their long-term security can be incredibly reassuring. For me, that’s what great financial advice is all about: replacing uncertainty with confidence.

My belief in long-term planning isn’t something I only talk to clients about; it’s something I practise myself. During the week each of my daughters was born, I opened both a pension and an ISA for them. Whenever I can, I contribute to their savings and invest in their future.

One of my favourite facts to share is that if you contribute £2,880 annually into a child’s pension for just five years, and those investments achieve an average return of more than 8.5% a year over the long term, that pension could potentially grow to more than £1 million by age 55. I’m securing the future for my children even if I can’t leave them an inheritance. It’s a powerful example of what time and compound growth can achieve.

For me, generational wealth isn’t about complex strategies or financial jargon. It’s about making thoughtful decisions early enough for them to make a meaningful difference, both for your own future and for the generations that follow.