The Transact Platform Podcast

How much is your advice business really worth, and what can you do today to increase its value? In this episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, Daniel Smith, Succession Planning Manager at Transact, is joined by Louise Jeffreys, Managing Director of Gunner & Co, to explore the key factors that influence business valuations and what advisers should consider when planning for a future sale. To...

Financial advice is entering yet another period of significant change. New technologies are emerging, regulation continues to evolve, and adviser firms are growing larger through consolidation, all while client expectations continue to shift. In this episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, Tom Dunbar, Transact's CEO, sits down with Abraham Okusanya, CEO of Timeline, to discuss the trends res...

In this episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, Tom Dunbar, Transact’s CEO, is joined by Sam McBride from Ani Tech and Richard Brian from Curo to discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents are reshaping the future of financial advice and what this could mean for advice firms in the years ahead. Together they explore: the difference between bespoke AI agents and AI capabilities embedded with...

In this episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, Tom Dunbar, Transact CEO, is joined by Keith and Josh Butten of Boosst to discuss how trusts can be used for future succession planning of advice firms and help clients plan for long-term wealth transfer. Together they explore: the succession options available to adviser firms, including consolidation, management buyouts, family succession and Empl...

In this episode of the Transact Podcast, Tom Phillips, Integrations and UX Manager at Transact, speaks with adviser Francois van der Merwe about how small and medium sized firms can make better use of AI, data and APIs without needing a dedicated IT team. Together they explore: why smaller advice firms may be uniquely positioned to benefit from AI how AI powered workflows can help reduce administr...

In this episode of the Transact Podcast, Stuart Fleat, Head of Distribution, is joined by Mark Fenlon, Head of Technical, to unpack the proposed ISA reforms and what they could mean for advisers, platforms, and investors ahead of their expected introductions in April 2027. Together they explore: the proposed reduction in Cash ISA subscription limit of £12k for individuals under 65 the new 22% char...

The FCA, Client Cash and the Future of Platform Charging In this special edition of the Transact Podcast, Chief Development Officer Andrew Cullen-Jones is joined by Transact CEO Tom Dunbar, James Daley of Fairer Finance and Jack Gilbert of Citywire New Model Adviser to explore one of the most closely watched issues in the UK platform market cash interest retention. Together, they discuss: how clie...

In the latest episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, we explore a range of recent enhancements to Transact Online, designed to make financial planning easier and improve the experience for both advisers and their clients. Joining the discussion are David Styles, Transact's Head of System and Service Development, and Stuart Fleat, Transact's Head of Distribution, who provide an overview...

In this episode of the Transact Podcast, Andrew Cullen-Jones, Chief Development Officer at Transact, is joined by Tim Horrocks, Founder of rockwealth, to explore the lessons, decisions and philosophies that have shaped rockwealth's journey from a small advisory firm in Cheltenham into a UK-wide financial planning business. Tim shares the story behind becoming directly authorised, the challenge...

In this episode of The Transact Platform Podcast, Transact’s CEO, Tom Dunbar, speaks with Bella Caridade-Ferreira, Founder of Fundscape, one of the leading authorities on platform market data and analysis. With over 20 years of experience studying the platform market, Bella shares how the industry has evolved from a handful of providers into a complex ecosystem shaped by regulation, technology and...

In this episode of The Transact Platform Podcast, Transact’s Chief Development Officer, Andrew Cullen-Jones, sits down with James de Lisle Wells, Chartered Financial Planner and Director of de Lisle Financial Planning, to explore the reality of building and running a modern advice business. James shares his journey into financial planning, the experience he gained before launching his own firm in...

In this episode of The Transact Platform Podcast, CEO, Tom Dunbar, is joined by Non-Executive Chair of Integrated Financial Arrangements Ltd (IFAL) and former Skandia CEO, Nick Poyntz-Wright, to explore how the financial advice market has evolved and what lies ahead. Drawing on experience across platform leadership and frontline supervision at the FCA, Nick shares a unique perspective on regulatio...

In this short update episode of the Transact Podcast, Natasha Walker, Lead Technical Consultant, is joined by, Mark Fenlon, Head of Technical Services, to revisit the upcoming Additional Pension Death Benefit Administration changes, following the latest HMRC guidance released shortly after their previous discussion in May. Together, they unpack the most important developments for advisory professi...

The Transact API is designed to make integrations with CRM and other systems, simpler, smarter, and more efficient for financial advisers. In this episode of The Transact Podcast, Integrations Manager, Tom Phillips, and Head of System and Service Development, Dave Styles, explore how the new API will transform the way the Transact platform and CRMs work together, now and in the future. By enabling...

In this episode of The Transact Podcast, Succession Planning Manager, Daniel Smith is joined by Victoria Hicks, CEO at Melo, to explore what it really takes to plan and deliver a successful business exit from an advisory business. Succession is one of the most important decisions a financial planning firm will make, yet it’s often left too late. In this podcast, Daniel and Victoria unpack: why suc...

From April 2027, significant changes to pension death benefits are expected to come into force, bringing pensions into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) and introducing new administrative requirements. In this episode of the Transact Podcast, Natasha Walker, Lead Technical Consultant, is joined by Head of Technical Services, Mark Fenlon, to unpack what these changes mean based on our understandin...

From April 2027, unused defined contribution pension fundswill be included in an individual’s estate for inheritance tax, a shift that could dramatically increase the number of clients facing an unexpected IHT liability. In this episode of the Transact Podcast , Stuart Fleat,Head of Distribution, is joined by Natasha Walker, Lead Technical Consultant, to explore why this change marks a turning poi...

Financial planning looks very different when you’re planning not just for yourself, but for a dependant with additional needs who may always need support. With over 638,000 Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in place for individuals in the UK, there is a greater need for advice than you might think. Navigating access, future needs and inheritance combined with the impact on benefits needs we...

In this episode of The Transact Podcast, Transact CEO Tom Dunbar is joined by financial planner Robin Keyte for an in-depth conversation on building a successful advice firm with ethics, independence and client outcomes at its core. Robin reflects on his journey from starting out in the advice industry to scaling and ultimately selling a thriving directly authorised business managing around £400m...

In this episode of The Transact Podcast, Russell Watson, Transact’s Head of Trading Operations sits down with Head of Distribution, Stuart Fleat, for a deep dive into one of the most critical — yet often unseen — parts of the platform: the trading function. Russell shares insights from his 25 years at Transact, explaining how the trading operation has evolved to today’s highly automated, resilient...

In this tax year end special, Stuart Fleat, Head of Distribution at Transact, is joined by Natasha Walker, Lead Technical Consultant, to share the key planning opportunities anddeadlines advisers need to be aware of before 5 April – effectively the 2 April as the Easter holidays fall early this year. Together, they cover: ISA, LISA and Junior ISA allowances and flexible ISA rules Pension annual al...

Join Transact MPS Manager, Ben Roberts, and BlackRock’s Hugo Thompson, as they explore the increasingly popular world of model portfolio services (MPS). In this episode, we look beyond performance and fees to uncover the deeper factors that determine whether an MPS truly fits a client’s needs. You’ll learn about: Why performance and cost are only the starting point when comparing providers The thr...

In this episode of The Transact Podcast, CEO Tom Dunbar sits down with Ashwin Field, Senior Partner at Sydney‑based NMG Consulting, to explore what UK advisers can learn from Australia’s fast‑evolving financial advice landscape. Whether you’re interested in market structure, client trends, platform strategy or regulation, this conversation offers a rare cross‑market perspective and insight. Togeth...

In this episode of the Transact Podcast, host Lee Comer is joined by David Styles, Head of System and Service Development, and Stuart Fleet, Head of Distribution, for an exclusive deep dive into Transact’s 2026 development roadmap. They unpack key developments including: Seamless direct debit mandates for investors and advisers Faster deposit matching and automated handling of banking limits Digit...

In this episode of the Transact Platform Podcast, Tom Dunbar sits down with Mark Polson, Founder of The Lang Cat and one of the most respected voices in the UK platform and advice industry. Together, they unpack the major shifts reshaping the platform landscape — including what really matters when selecting a platform, and why service experience is still the biggest long-term differentiator. Mark...