“Half the job is not even doing the job. It’s just hearing somebody out and making it meaningful.”
My relationship with money started earlier than most. My dad retired young, and as his health deteriorated, my mum became his carer. I found myself making sure we were covered, thinking carefully about budgeting, saving, and making money work harder. It wasn’t just about me anymore. I had to think about my parents too. That sense of responsibility pushed me toward financial services, and it’s never left me.
After graduating with an honours degree in economics, I spent a few years as a risk analyst in the energy sector, helping SMEs navigate uncertainty and build strategies that actually held up. That grounding in analysis is what drew me toward wealth management, and I went on to complete my Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
What genuinely excites me about this role is the variety. Every client is different, every solution is different, and you have to think on your feet. Right now, Inheritance Tax planning (IHT) is the conversation everyone is having, and I find it fascinating, because the answers are rarely simple. How much control does a client want to keep? What does their family look like? What are they actually trying to achieve? The nuance in those conversations is what keeps me energised.
One client had spent nearly 40 years in the NHS – her whole career giving to other people. When she came to me, she was approaching a semi-retirement she had earned every bit of, and for the first time in decades, the focus was entirely on her. We started from scratch, built a plan around what she actually wanted her life to look like, and watching someone give themselves permission to think about their own future – after so long putting everyone else first – is something that stays with you.
I’d describe myself as a good listener first and a problem solver second. I take time to understand not just what a client wants to do, but why they want to do it and what the end goal actually looks like for them. I’m naturally extroverted and I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, but I also take accountability seriously. If something isn’t working, I want to know about it, learn from it, and fix it. I plan on having these clients for the rest of my career, so the relationship has to be built on trust from day one.
Outside of work, I travel, train, and play football. I‘ve always gravitated toward challenge and I think that shapes how I approach everything, including this job. Show up, stay curious, ask the right questions – it tends to work.
