“People first, pensions second – real financial planning is about the whole human being.”
I’ll be upfront with you: I didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in financial services. I came from a background in HR, having worked in civil engineering on the railway, factories and a fair few other places besides. What those years gave me – more than any technical qualification – was the ability to talk to anyone and, more importantly, to actually listen.
That matters in this job more than most people realise. When a client hands over a pension pot they’ve spent decades building, they’re not just trusting you with their money – they’re trusting you with their future. Building that kind of trust starts long before any spreadsheet gets opened. It starts with finding common ground, understanding what someone’s life actually looks like, and working out what they genuinely need. The human connection comes first.
I actually joined the world of financial planning after a contact in the industry spotted that what I did in HR – helping people and organisations reach their goals through empathy and honest conversation – translated well into wealth management. Eight years on, I’m confident that was the right call.
One of the biggest misunderstandings I come across, is that financial planning is simply about picking the right pension fund or Individual Savings Account (ISA). Those are tools, not the job. The real value I offer is the wider picture: whether a pension is even the right vehicle, how to plan legacies for grandchildren, when to think about Inheritance Tax (IHT), or whether now is the right time to draw money down. Sometimes the most useful thing I can do, is nudge a client towards something they already know they should do – setting up a lasting power of attorney, for instance – but haven’t quite got round to.
I’m personable, thorough and genuinely interested in the person in front of me, as I believe that good advice isn’t about delivering the most complicated solution – it’s about delivering the right one, clearly explained and properly understood.
Outside of work, hockey takes up a significant chunk of my life. I captain Rotherham Hockey Club’s men’s second team, I also volunteer to umpire most weeks, and I’ve coached junior groups as my own children have come through the club. I’ve shared a pitch with both my kids, which isn’t something many parents get to say – and it’s something I’m genuinely proud of. Music and attending live gigs with my son, fill the gaps in between.
The thread that runs through all of it – the HR years, the hockey pitch, the client meetings – is people. That’s where I start, and that’s where good financial planning begins too.
