Six Months In: A Retrospective
It’s been just over six months since I took the leap to set up my own financial planning practice (we went live March 2025). After joining the industry back in 2020, training, and then working as an adviser in my old firm, I knew that at some stage I wanted to take the step into running my own business. It’s safe to say it’s been more work than I expected! But it’s also been incredibly rewarding, and I thought it was time to share an update on how things are going.
The short version is everything is going well! I’m enjoying the freedom, the responsibility, and most importantly, the chance to build something that reflects the way I think financial advice and planning should be done.
Looking Ahead
Over the next 12 months, I’ll be using this website to post blogs on specific areas of financial planning. Topics will vary from how to build wealth, pensions and how they work to preparing for tax year end.
Yes, there’s plenty of information on these subjects online, but it’s often complex and not exactly easy reading. My goal is to strip things back, explain them in straightforward terms, and give clients and readers clear, practical takeaways. That way, people can feel more informed and confident, rather than overwhelmed.
Education is important to me, and I want as many people as possible to have the confidence to make decisions about their finances. Building a collaborative relationship rather than one of dependency is one of my main focuses.
Education is important to me, and I want as many people as possible to have the confidence to make decisions about their finances. Building a collaborative relationship rather than one of dependency is one of my main focuses.
A Bit About Me
I also want people to know who they’re working with. My wife, Jen and I have a two-year-old son, Robin, who keeps us busy. Outside of work, we spend a lot of time in the garden – We have experimented with a lot of different fruit and veg this year! Or exploring the local area of Northumberland, having only moved here 3 years ago. We welcomed two new (troublesome) family members this year, Happy & Bisky, two kittens who have really livened up the place, who will grow alongside Robin.
Sharing these things matters to me, because financial advice isn’t just about numbers and investments; it’s about real people and their lives.
Why I Ask About Family
Finally, a quick word on something clients sometimes find surprising: I’ll often ask questions about wider family members. The reason is simple; finances don’t exist in isolation. Many people want to pass wealth on to children, nieces, nephews, or others, and understanding these bigger-picture goals early, means I can give advice that truly fits the whole family.
At the heart of my approach is goals-based, holistic planning. It’s not just about today’s numbers, but about making sure clients—and their families—get the most benefit possible from their hard work and investments.
