“Good financial planning is about the life behind the numbers.”
I didn’t take the obvious path to financial planning. I completed my Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, in a region shaped by industry, and also as a challenge. Engineering teaches you to solve complex problems methodically, to break things down, and to think in systems.
After university, I began work in mortgages and spent four and a half years learning the financial industry from the ground up – eventually mentoring new joiners and taking on more responsibility while also doing my financial planning exams in my own time. One conversation then led to a role in administration, which led to joining the wealth planning team. It was the longer route but I understood every part of the business by the time I started seeing clients, and that matters.
Today, I work with clients on everything from pension and investment planning to Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, protection, wills, and powers of attorney. Most people arrive thinking we just deal with pensions. In reality, good financial planning is about spotting the blind spots – the things clients haven’t thought about yet but really should. That’s where the value lies in the service I offer.
One client stays with me. She came in frustrated, with a couple of old pensions she didn’t understand. She wanted to release funds to renovate her home but the regulations and complexity had stopped her doing this. I took the time to work through it with her properly and ensure the pensions were in the right place. When it was finally resolved, we sat having a cup of tea in a completely transformed home. That moment said everything about why this job matters.
What I try to do is explain things at the right level for each person. Some clients are confident with financial concepts – others aren’t, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Jargon gets in the way. Plain, honest conversation builds trust. I’ve been told I’m good at making complex things feel straightforward, and I genuinely enjoy doing that, whether we’re building a retirement cash flow or working through an IHT strategy.
Most of my meetings are face to face because people aren’t looking to Google the answer. They want someone sat across from them, talking things through, helping them feel steady. That’s especially true at moments like now, when global uncertainty is affecting markets and clients want a calm, reasoned voice rather than alarm. I’m there for that.
Outside of work, I run – a lot. Eight marathons and counting, and I run three or four times a week. Running has taught me that the longer, harder route often leads somewhere better. It’s the same in financial planning. Getting things right takes time, patience, and a proper plan. I’m happy to take the time.
