“A good financial plan works like a well-built computer: every component matters.”
I studied physics and went to university with the intention of becoming a teacher, just like my father. Unforeseen circumstances led me down a different path – one that has taken me through 35 years of financial services and given me something I never expected: a career I genuinely love.
That teacher instinct never left me, though. It just found a better home. After fast-tracking through TSB Bank into management, then moving into financial planning with the Prudential, Barclays Wealth and beyond, I discovered that the advisers who truly serve their clients aren’t just technically strong – they know how to explain things, how to read the room.
Today, I work with clients on wealth management, pension planning, investments and Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning. My approach starts with listening. I gauge where each person is – what they know, what worries them, what they actually want. Then, I pitch everything accordingly. The goal is never to impress with jargon; it’s to make sure you finish every conversation knowing exactly what you’ve got, why you’ve got it, and what happens next.
I think of it a bit like building a high-performance computer – a hobby I’ve had since the early days of gaming. A machine is only as fast as its slowest component. If one part isn’t working, the whole thing stalls. It’s the same with a financial plan. If we find the weak spot, fix it, then everything else runs smoothly. That’s the bit I enjoy – the detail, the diagnosis, getting it right.
The clients I’ve worked with the longest will tell you they don’t ring me in a panic when markets fall. That’s intentional. Over time, I educate clients – often without them even realising it – so they understand the risks they’re taking and why. When they understand, they stay calm and staying calm is one of the best financial decisions anyone can make.
I’ve been told more times than I can count: “Don’t retire, Steve.” I have no plans to. As long as I’m able and enjoying it, I’ll be here. My clients know they can trust me – not because I tell them so, but because the proof of the pudding is in the eating. After 35 years, the results speak for themselves.
Outside of work, I’m happily married to Deb, father of two and grandfather of four – including two granddaughters who have just started at King Edward’s Grammar School, the same school I attended. When I’m not with family, I’m building or upgrading computers, or spending time on the shooting range. Both hobbies, in their own way, are about precision – and precision is something I bring to every client I work with.
