Foster Denovo Talks

Sustainable investing has become one of the most talked-about areas in financial advice, but also one of the most misunderstood.  In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, Helena is joined by Gavin Francis, founder of Worthstone, to cut through the noise around sustainable investing and explore what it really means in 2026.  They discuss why sustainability can still feel cliquey, overly technical or...

What makes a great financial adviser? For years, the focus has been on technical expertise. But as the industry evolves, that may no longer be enough on its own. In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, Helena is joined by Emma Boardwell, founder of Emotional Finance, to explore how emotional intelligence, trust and human connection are becoming the true differentiators in financial advice. Drawing...

AI is rapidly becoming part of the conversation across financial advice but turning it into something that genuinely supports growth is another challenge entirely.  In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, Helena sits down with Gary Abela to explore how firms should be thinking about AI in a more practical and strategic way.  Drawing on his experience across both financial services and technology,...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , Helena is joined by Seb Balrow , who shares how he went from cold calling straight out of university to becoming a self-employed financial adviser at just 23.  Seb talks about resilience, rejection and deliberately putting himself in uncomfortable situations to accelerate his growth. He reflects on qualifying while working full time, managing imposter syndr...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , Patrick Horwood is joined by Daniella Humble , our People and Culture Manager.  From starting her career at the Wimbledon Championships to leading People and Culture during a period of rapid growth and acquisitions, Daniella shares how Foster Denovo has built a culture that puts people at the centre of everything.  She talks about rebranding HR to People an...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , Helena is joined by Raymond Pirrie , founder of Rosemount Asset Management and now part of Foster Denovo, who shares an honest and practical account of what it really takes to prepare a business for sale.  Raymond talks through his journey from founding Rosemount in 2010, to spending several years preparing the firm for acquisition, to becoming part of Fost...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , Helena is joined by Liberty Elder-Davis , who shares her powerful and honest journey through financial services, from starting her career overseas to rebuilding her life and career in the UK.  Liberty talks about beginning her career in an IFA firm in Spain, where a planned gap year turned into a decade working in offshore advice. She opens up about being t...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we meet Hayley Mills , Client Experience Team Leader, who joined the business just under 2 years ago and has already become a central part of adviser support, staff development and innovation across the firm.  Hayley shares her career story, from starting work at fourteen, to moving through financial services, to discovering her love of developing people. S...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Paul Hurley , Director of Compliance at Foster Denovo. Paul’s career spans an extraordinary journey: thirteen years in the military, over a decade as a financial adviser and a further two decades shaping the compliance function that underpins the business today.  Paul talks candidly about how he unexpectedly moved into compliance, how the land...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we sit down with Matthew Mitten , Director of Secondsight, the employee benefits division of Foster Denovo. With nearly thirty years in financial services, Matthew shares the journey from his early days chasing a sales job in London to building one of the most respected employee benefits teams in the industry.  Matthew talks openly about the origins of Seco...

In this episode of  Foster Denovo Talks , we meet  Leigh Cook , Partnership Practice Manager in Newcastle, who brings more than thirty years of experience acquired during her time at Wade Financial  Leigh takes us through her career journey, from working in a small attic office to becoming the person who helped hold the Wade Financial acquisition together. She talks about the intense due diligence...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, we meet Daniel Thomas , Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Project Lead at Foster Denovo.  Daniel joined the business in 2021 as a PA, unsure of where his career was heading. Fast forward three years, and he’s now a central figure in our mergers and acquisitions team, supporting every stage of the firm’s growth journey.  He shares how his role evolved from a...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Jamie Smith , Senior Partner at Foster Denovo.  Jamie shares his journey from starting out as a self-employed adviser to becoming an employed Senior Partner, a less common route in financial advice.  He talks about why he made the move, how the employed model has supported his growth, and why trust and relationships are still at the heart of w...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, hosted by Darren Laverty, we sit down with Joanne Bunn, Head of Client Operations at Secondsight, to explore how a career can evolve when you follow your strengths, stay curious and lean into change.  Jo reflects on her 14-year journey with the business from her first role in marketing to leading the client operations team through growth, change and a large...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , Chris Thomas , Head of Investment Management, joins Helena and Nikos to unpack what his role involves and why the investment function exists to serve advisers and their clients, not the other way around.  Chris breaks down the four core pillars of his work: adviser development, proposition design, the investment committee, and leading the internal team. But...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Marnel Stafford , Senior Partner, about the power of specialisation and how her lived experience shaped a career focused on supporting women through complex life stages.  Marnel works with clients navigating divorce, menopause, and major financial transitions. She shares how she built trust in this space, the types of conversations that matter...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, we speak with Neal Shepherd, Senior Partner at Foster Denovo, who reflects on more than 25 years with the business.  Neal talks us through the early days, joining the firm that would eventually become Foster Denovo, and how his role evolved over the years. From sales manager to private wealth adviser to employee benefits specialist, he shares the pivotal dec...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Gavin Zaprzala-Banks , Head of Client Consulting at Foster Denovo, about leading through the acquisition of Punter Southall Aspire and managing one of the smoothest transitions the business has seen. Gavin shares his experience of joining Foster Denovo through acquisition - from client communications and adviser alignment to building a shared...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Gracie McAuliffe , Client Relationship Manager at Foster Denovo, about her career journey, the challenges she has faced, and what it means to grow professionally in a business that supports your ambitions. Gracie joined Foster Denovo four years ago and has developed her role from the ground up. She speaks openly about what the last year has me...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Ross Stevens , Financial Adviser at Foster Denovo, about what it means to take full ownership of your work. Ross joined the firm during the pandemic, inheriting a client bank from three retiring Partners. It was a steep learning curve, but one that taught him how to lead with trust, build strong client relationships and develop his own rhythm....

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks , we speak with Ameeta Bhayani , Senior Partner at Foster Denovo, about her career journey from cashier to qualified adviser and how she found the right fit after many years in financial services.  Ameeta shares:  Her early days working in the finance industry  What it was like to take on a client bank and make it her own  How she managed personal challenges...

What’s it really like to go through an acquisition and come out the other side stronger?   In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, we sit down with David Hulland , Partner and former adviser at Brian Mole, who shares his honest experience of being acquired by Foster Denovo.  Rather than a job move or a fresh start, this was a full-scale transition, professionally and emotionally. David opens up ab...

How do you build a culture where people feel safe, supported, and inspired to do their best work?   In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, Louise Blair , Director of People and Culture, shares how the firm approaches culture, wellbeing, and talent in a fast-evolving financial services environment.  Louise speaks openly about the challenges and opportunities of driving cultural change, from improv...

Selling your business is one of the biggest decisions an adviser can make and Ian Little has done just that.   In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, Ian shares the journey behind selling his financial advisory business and why Foster Denovo was the right partner for the next chapter.  From the emotional side of letting go to the strategic benefits of joining a larger firm, Ian reflects on what r...

In this episode of Foster Denovo Talks, COO Helen Lovett sits down with host’s Helena and Nikos to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth, transformation, and innovation.  Helen shares:  Insights into Foster Denovo’s seven recent acquisitions and how the firm integrates new Partners (advisers) while maintaining cultural alignment.  The emergence of new roles and career opportunities for people...