The Financial Planning Podcast

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Nick Hutchings, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of The Retirement Lounge. Nick didn't set out to run his own firm, but after years of cultural misalignment and compromise, he decided to create a business that fits his life and values. In this episode, he shares how he found his niche in later life advice, why outso...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Victor Sacks, Director of VS Associates and one of the industry's straightest talkers. Victor opens up about the reality of building a firm from scratch, the setbacks, the slow starts, and the mindset shifts that helped him turn things around. From cold calls in industrial estates to running a business on his own terms, Vi...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Leticia Fonseca, Independent Financial Adviser and Founder of Master Your Finances. Leticia's journey from Brazil to becoming a UK-qualified adviser is as inspiring as her mission, making financial education accessible to all. With a background in tech marketing and a passion for helping others, she empowers people to buil...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Gareth Higton, Director and Independent Financial Planner at Finli. Gareth brings a fresh and commercial approach to financial planning, blending deep advice expertise with experience in growth, acquisitions, and partnerships across financial services. He's passionate about helping clients achieve real financial freedom and bu...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Rob Isherwood, Independent Financial Adviser at Arcus Wealth. With 17 years of experience, Rob specialises in retirement planning, tax-efficient investing, and care fees advice, with a particular focus on ethical investing. Known for his calm, informal style, Rob builds trusted, long-term relationships with his clients. Tune i...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Ashley Townsend, Co-Owner and Independent Financial Planner at Prosperity IFA. Ashley brings real-world entrepreneurial experience to his advice, helping business owners and executives align their financial plans with both business and life goals. His advice is clear, unbiased, and always tailored to the individual. Tune i...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Ed Stubbs, Financial Planner at Xentum. With over a decade of experience, Ed helps business owners and executives navigate key transitions, especially around business exits. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, he understands what makes business owners tick and brings a calm, strategic approach to planning. Outside of work,...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Gareth Shears, Co-Founder and Chartered Financial Planner at Sanctuary Financial Planning. With over 20 years in the profession, Gareth blends technical expertise with a refreshingly human approach to financial planning. As the ideas guy at Sanctuary, he's passionate about enhancing the client journey and helping people turn t...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Kate Daly, Co-founder of amicable and host of The Divorce Podcast. A leading voice in modernising divorce, Kate helps couples and parents navigate separation with empathy and collaboration. With a background in psychology and divorce coaching, she co-founded amicable after seeing firsthand how the traditional legal system...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Liz Beavis, Managing Director and Financial Planner at Financial Management Bureau. Since joining the business in 1999, Liz has climbed the ranks to MD while qualifying as a financial adviser, bringing decades of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of client needs. She's passionate about helping people navigate li...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Hayley Rabbets, Head of the Verve Foundation.  Hayley has been at the forefront of driving meaningful change in financial services, making the industry more inclusive, accessible, and genuinely human. Since starting her career in 2007, she's worked her way through nearly every role—from reception to senior management—givin...

Kate Shaw, Chartered Financial Planner and founder of Financial Life Planning, joins Lewis for a candid conversation about growing a firm on your own terms. With over 27 years in the industry, Kate shares how she prioritised operations before hiring, built a culture of trust, and leaned into organic, referral-led growth. From direct authorisation to managing burnout, this episode is full of sharp...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Anna Butcher, Managing Director at Sound Financial Planning. Anna is a dynamic leader who's passionate about building inclusive, high-performing teams. With a strong focus on creating an environment where people thrive, she ensures her team delivers exceptional client outcomes while growing together. Outside of the office, Ann...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Oliver and Katherine from Six Degrees. With strong foundations in wealth management, Katherine brings honesty, empathy, and a strategic mindset to her work - focusing on building deep, meaningful relationships with clients. Oliver blends financial expertise with a keen understanding of human behaviour, offering a refreshin...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Lisa Conway-Hughes, Founder of LCH/WEALTH and Chartered Financial Adviser. Lisa is on a mission to help high-earners design the lives they truly deserve. With a passion for making finance feel approachable and personal, she's not just about the numbers—she's in the dream-making business. Throughout her career, Lisa has gui...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Lucy Tarrant, Solicitor and Managing Director of Cognitive Law. With over 30 years of legal experience, Lucy specialises in commercial law, helping businesses navigate complex legal challenges with a client-first approach. Her career has been defined by innovation, ensuring that businesses receive the legal support they need t...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Guy Skinner, Director and Financial Planner at Citygate Financial Planning. With 17 years of experience in financial services, Guy specialises in helping lawyers and business owners achieve financial freedom through pensions, investments, tax planning, and cashflow modelling. His passion lies in guiding business owners through...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Ian Dempsey, Independent Financial Planner and Coach at The Moneyman. Ian is known for his no-nonsense, jargon-free approach to financial advice, making it simple, accessible, and easy to understand. With a straight-talking style (and a love of Midget Gems), Ian helps people take control of their finances without the overw...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Michelle Wilson-Stimson, CEO and Founder of eParaplan, and Shaunagh Wilson, COO. This dynamic mother-daughter duo is redefining adviser support with a fresh, modern approach to outsourced paraplanning. Michelle founded eParaplan to build the solution she wished existed, while Shaunagh brings a sharp focus on efficiency and...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Nathan Blackmore, CEO at WAY Trustees. With nearly two decades in financial services, Nathan brings a unique perspective from his experience as both a financial adviser and a specialist provider. Since rejoining WAY in 2022, he has been leading the team in estate planning, helping clients navigate the complexities of wealth pr...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Kate Phillips, Regional Director at Timeline. Kate is passionate about transforming the way financial advisers use technology to deliver expert advice. With over four years at Timeline, she works closely with advisers to help them lower costs, manage risks, and achieve the best possible outcomes for their clients. Previous...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Julie Greenwood, Head of Adviser Distribution at Octopus Money. With a wealth of experience at brands like Vitality and Legal & General, Julie is passionate about bridging the advice gap and making financial planning more accessible to everyone. Beyond finance, Julie's dedication to inclusivity extends to her role on the W...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford welcomes Georgia Taylor, Founder and Independent Financial Adviser at Tailored Wealth and Founder and Money Coach at Money Matters. Based in London, Georgia is passionate about bridging the gap between money and education, empowering people with the financial knowledge they need to take control of their futures. Recognising the lack of...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Isha Bhatt, Operations Director at 8 Financial Planning. Isha seamlessly manages a diverse range of responsibilities, including marketing, compliance, client engagement, financial operations, and HR, ensuring the firm runs like clockwork. With a background at HSBC and as a Chartered Surveyor, Isha brings extensive project...

This week on The Financial Planning Podcast, host Lewis Byford is joined by Daniel Olley, Managing Director at DSL Digital. With 25 years of experience in professional, regulated markets, Daniel has helped hundreds of financial advice firms generate and onboard new clients at scale. His expertise in refining client journeys and fostering strong relationships has made him a trusted advisor in the i...