Robert Doogan

“Personal integrity and quality advice: that’s what builds trust that lasts.”

After studying Business Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, I joined the Co-operative Bank and stumbled across an internal advert for a trainee independent financial adviser (IFA) role and haven’t looked back since. That was over 21 years ago – I’ve spent the last two decades at Cullen Wealth (now part of Mattioli Woods) building the kind of client relationships that don’t come with a quick fix.

Before stepping into an advisory role, I spent several years in paraplanning and compliance – understanding how the whole operation fits together.

My approach starts well before the numbers by understanding what matters to each client – what they’re building towards, who they want to help, and what life looks like when the planning pays off. For clients who don’t know where to start, I build the picture from the ground up: current spending, what changes in retirement, what stays the same. Cash-flow modelling then brings it to life. If you haven’t got an objective to work with, you don’t know if you’ve got enough.

For me, trust comes from personal integrity and quality – doing what you say you’ll do, responding promptly, and being honest when something hasn’t gone to plan. After 21 years, many of my client relationships have become genuinely long term – the kind where people open up, share what really matters, and make better decisions because of it.

Outside of work, life is shaped by the outdoors. I live close to the Peak District and use it – hiking, cycling, and the occasional round of golf. With my children keeping me busy and the Bullock Smithy hike on the horizon, I’ve got plenty to aim for. The same qualities that will see me through the 56-mile trek are the ones my clients rely on: endurance, consistency, and a quiet determination to see things through.