The Plannex Podcast

What makes a financial planning business valuable? And more importantly, what makes it sellable? In Part 2, Gaynor Rigby and Vicky go behind the scenes of more than 100 financial planning transactions to explain what buyers are really looking for, why some firms struggle to sell, and how owners can maximise the value of their business. We discuss: • How financial planning firms are valued • Why pr...

From £120m TO £1bn After helping grow Equilibrium from £120m to more than £1bn in assets under management, Gaynor Rigby learned a simple truth: Most advisers become business owners by accident. In this episode, Gaynor and Vicky discuss what it really takes to build a successful financial planning business, from leadership and culture to marketing, systems and growth. We discuss: • How Equilibrium...

After helping build a £700m advice business over nearly two decades, Dave Carter made one of the biggest decisions of his career. He left the firm he helped build to become CEO of Absolute Financial Planning. In Part 2, Dave explains why he took the leap, the vision behind Absolute, and why he believes independent financial planning still has a major role to play in the future of the profession. W...

In Part 1, Dave Carter joins Adam to share the story behind his rise from a cashier at Bradford & Bingley to becoming Managing Director of a £700m financial planning firm. The conversation covers the pre-RDR world, building a client bank from scratch, generating hundreds of referrals, developing advisers from non-traditional backgrounds, and the lessons learned from nearly two decades in one b...

In Part 2, Dominic McLoughney and James Thompson unpack how Becketts is approaching technology, AI, automation, and the future of financial planning. The conversation explores the development of Beckett’s Connect, solving the advice gap, integrating AI into the client journey, and why the firms that embrace technology early will have a major advantage over the next decade. But despite all the inno...

In Part 1 with Becketts Financial Services, Dominic McLoughney and James Thompson unpack the journey of building the firm from the ground up. From losing advisers and surviving the early years to scaling through culture, client experience, and strategic hiring. The conversation explores the turning points that shaped the business, why growth requires mindset shifts, and how they built a firm focus...

In Part 2, Steve Jordan shares how Five Wealth scaled to £1.2bn without sales targets, lead buying, or aggressive growth tactics. We explore culture, hiring, leadership, succession planning, and what changed after taking external investment. A practical conversation on what it really takes to build and grow a modern financial planning firm.

Steve Jordan, co-founder of Five Wealth, shares the reality of starting out as a financial adviser with no clients and no safety net. From early career uncertainty to building relationships through networking and honesty. This episode explores how he developed a client bank from scratch and the mindset that helped lay the foundations for a £1.2bn firm.

In Part 2 with Tom Morris (Ovation) and Rich Ellis (Ellis Davies), we go deeper into what it really takes to build and run a modern financial planning firm. We explore partnerships, decision-making, and why building a business alone is often overrated. The conversation covers tough moments. From COVID disruption to leadership pressure - alongside honest reflections on imposter syndrome, hiring, an...

Tom Morris (Ovation) and Rich Ellis (Ellis Davies) share their journeys from accidental entry into financial services to leading their own firms. We explore the reality of early career struggles, what it takes to become a great financial planner beyond technical knowledge, and the transition into leadership. From employee to MD, and from employed adviser to business owner. The conversation also di...

Philippa Hann, CEO of Paradigm Norton, joins the conversation to share her unconventional journey from lawyer. Spending 20 years suing financial firms to leading one of the UK’s most respected financial planning businesses. Together, they explore what Philippa learned from seeing the industry at its worst, why financial planning is “life-changing” when done well, and how she’s reshaping the firm a...

Barry Horner, a Founder of Paradigm Norton, shares the journey of building one of the UK’s most respected financial planning firms. From hand-to-mouth early days to scaling through acquisitions and transitioning to employee ownership. We explore the key decisions that shaped the firm, from pioneering fee-based advice in a commission-driven market to building a strong culture, hiring for values, an...

In Part Two of our conversation with Jo and Alfie from Emery Little, we go deeper into the realities of leadership, personal growth, and building a modern financial planning firm. Alfie shares his experience with imposter syndrome, explaining how self-doubt can still appear even for confident leaders, and why pushing through discomfort has been essential to his development. Jo reflects on her jour...

In this episode of the Plannex Podcast, Adam Carolan & Rohan Sivajoti are joined by Jo and Alfie from Emery Little, a third-generation financial planning firm navigating leadership transition, strategic change, and the power of niche positioning.   Jo, now CEO of the family-founded firm, shares the journey of stepping into leadership after her father, while Alfie reflects on his 18-year path f...

In Part Two, Sam Sloma dives into the niche that shaped Engage FS - advising professional footballers - and why that market runs on trust, discretion, and long-term agent relationships. While athletes make up 25% of the firm, the real growth engine is advising younger business owners exiting for £10m+. We explore how exit planning differs from traditional retirement advice, and why Sam uses financ...

In Part One, Sam Sloma, Managing Director of UK financial planning firm Engage FS, shares his journey from lower-league professional footballer to building a 140-family advice business. We unpack how he launched his IFA firm in 2017 with 25 loyal clients and £180k in first-year revenue, the early operational mistakes that shaped the business, and why he chose - and later questioned - a fixed-fee p...

In this episode of That NextGen Planners Podcast we chatted with Max Tennant. Here we discussed; the power of thoughtful client questions, misconceptions about ESG investments and shifting the advice profession's mindset from "Do Nothing" to "Do Something". Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode of That NextGen Planners Podcast we are joined by the brilliant Iona Bain. We discuss misconceptions about Millennials and Gen Z's financial habits, barriers to wealth building, and the impact of social media on young people's financial knowledge. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode of That NextGen Planners Podcast we talk to Ian Dempsey. Here we discuss; harnessing social media, building trust with clients online and the power of personal branding. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode of That NextGen Planners Podcast we sit down with Charlotte Phillips-Lynn. We chat about; the importance and impact of diversity, inclusion, and equity in financial services, practical steps firms can take to become more inclusive and why creating genuinely welcoming workplaces benefits both individuals and businesses. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode we chat with Steve Nelson, Insight Director at The Langcat. We discuss the data in the latest Langcat report, what trends are emerging now and what the future for the profession might look like. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode of That NextGen Planners Podcast we talk to the brilliant Jon Dunckley. We chat about; the importance of curiosity in financial planning, psychology's role in enhancing client relationships and explore the role of neuroscience in manifesting and stress management. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode we are joined by co-founder of Aila Money, Elisabeth Prager. We discussed the gender wealth gap, how education can empower women financially and the role of fintech in supporting traditional financial advice. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode of the NextGen Planners Podcast we chat to Ash Weston, Head of Managed Portfolio Services at 8am Global. Here we chat about the relationship between financial advisers and DFMs, the challenges of data transparency and reporting in the DFM industry and the age old question of whether a monkey or kangaroo would win in a fight. Join our community: www.nextgenplanners.co.uk

In this episode we are joined by Karl Dines. Karl works with UK Financial Services Firms on a consultancy basis with his firm Open Door Policy Building Propositions. In this episode we explore the importance of understanding and documenting the true cost of financial advice, how firms often underestimate their costs of service delivery and the challenges of pricing models. Join our community: www....