BWD: In The Know

No Socks (with Crocs) Please, I'm French! Caroline swapped investment banking for financial planning, bringing a French lens to British money habits, career choices, and yes, fashion faux pas.   In this episode of In The Know, we cover: How redundancy and motherhood sparked a total career rethink Building a client base from scratch with two toddlers and no local network The cultural clash of...

“If you want the truth, you need trust.”   That line stayed with me.   In this week’s In The Know podcast, I spoke with Lena Sisco – former military interrogator turned leadership and communication expert – about trust, truth, and how to spot a lie.   She’s spent her career extracting the truth from people who had every reason not to share it. And it turns out the answer isn’t mind...

Less admin, more advice – AI without the hype. That’s the vision. But how do you actually get there? In this episode, James speaks with Oren Henry, Co-Founder of AutoAdvise, about how financial advisers can use AI to reduce admin and improve client outcomes. They explore where firms are losing time, the risks of misusing ChatGPT-style tools, and what being truly ‘AI-ready’ looks like in practice....

Once dubbed “The City’s Superwoman” , Nicola Horlick’s story isn’t just about finance. It’s about leadership in all its complexity.   From billion-pound turnarounds and public scandal to raising six children, navigating personal tragedy and building again - Nicola’s journey covers it all.   She shares her story openly, with the hope it inspires more women to lead in their own way.  ...

Is Financial Planning Dying? That’s what I asked Tom Hegarty in the latest episode of  In The Know  - a follow-up to the post that sparked so much debate. We covered: 📉 Adviser numbers – real growth, or just a pause before the cliff edge? 🔁 Why firms keep hiring experience but won’t back new talent 🧱 The power of apprenticeships and why more firms must engage 💬 Ho...

The Recruitment Industry’s Biggest Lie - And Why Clients Keep Falling for It Recruitment has been running on fumes for years. The contingent model dominates, yet it delivers an 80% chance of wasted time. Louise Archer and I dug into why the industry clings to it, despite better alternatives.    Some key takeaways:   Retained search isn’t just for execs in pinstripe suits —it’s a bet...

It was a privilege to host Jeff Lange, Group CEO of TFAS Enterprises, on the podcast. Jeff shared fascinating insights into the evolving financial advice sector, the role of technology, and the future of client engagement. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:   💻 Remote advice is thriving Face-to-face isn’t the only way. Remote advice, driven by trust and tech, is now the choice...

The Trilogy Nobody Thought Would Happen “All good things must come to an end”—and so does the final episode of our podcast series with the brilliant Dave Robinson. This time, we cover plenty of ground, including: 1️⃣ Regrets on LinkedIn? Dave’s outspoken views have sparked debates, drawn praise, and even got him blocked ! But does he regret any of it? His answer (and reasoning) is refreshingly hon...

"Talking with  Archana  was genuinely inspiring and thought-provoking. Her insights brought a fresh perspective on what leadership truly means, especially in today’s rapidly changing world." -  James Walker In this episode, we unpacked: Redefining Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World: Archana shared how the role of leadership has transformed – it's no longer just about guiding teams...

🚨 Alert : "Businesses must start transitioning to be data-led, or they risk becoming irrelevant. Those who fail to integrate data into their operations will fall behind as the industry evolves. It’s not just about compliance or efficiency anymore – it’s about survival." In this insightful episode, I sit down with Poppy Achilles to discuss three critical pillars for the future of UK financial plan...

It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with Carla Brown, Managing Director of Oakmere and President of the PFS, to discuss some truly important and sobering topics. Carla shared her personal journey into financial services, highlighting the critical gaps in financial education that persist, particularly in schools. We touched on the need for early intervention and education to help the next gener...

Join me for an illuminating conversation with the brilliant Brendan Frazier, Chief Behavioural Officer at RFG and host of the Human Side of Money podcast. This episode is packed with valuable insights for financial planners, and anyone interested in the human side of financial advice! You don’t want to miss this! Key topics discussed: 🌟 The Human Element in Finance: Brendan shares his passion for...

In another Ask The Actuary special, Kieran Mistry shares his actuarial journey with us, from Deloitte to Hymans and finally, the award-winning Bulk Purchase Annuity (BPA) insurer, Standard Life in January 2022 – the last 2.5 years have been very busy in the BPA market!   Keiran describes the difference between being an actuary advising the trustee side of a BPA deal to being an actuary acting...

🎙️ Get ready for a special Ask the Actuary episode of BWD’s In The Know podcast! This time, we're joined by Adrienne (Ostroff) Lieberthal – the powerhouse CEO and Founder of Athena Actuarial Consulting and co-founder of NAWA (Network of Actuarial Women and Allies), boasting over 3,000 followers across the US. 🚀 Tune in to hear Adrienne's inspiring journey from her days as a college athlete in Phi...

Here’s Part II of our latest "In the Know" podcast featuring Dave Robinson FCCA APFS MCSI TEP LLAA IMC 🎙️✨ By any metric, Dave has been remarkably successful in the financial planning industry, and in this episode, we discuss his blueprint for building a successful financial advisory firm. Here are some key highlights: 🔹 Reflections on SJP : We discuss the feedback from the first podcast. 🔹 Bui...

We're excited to share our latest episode featuring a fascinating conversation with George Kinder , the father of the life planning movement and renowned author. In this episode, George delves into his early influences, the origin of life planning, and offers a glimpse into the future. Key topics include: Early Influences and Spirituality:  Growing up in rural Ohio and how his formative...

We're delighted to bring you another Ask the Actuary Special episode of BWD’s In The Know podcast, with LCP’s  Bart Huby  (the Football Actuary). Bart is an actuary with over 40 years’ experience in the pensions industry, but he’s managed to combine his passion for data science and Sport - in particular, football (or soccer for those of you in the States! - as Head of Sport Analytics at...

We're excited to share the full episode featuring Dave Robinson FCCA APFS MCSI TEP LLAA IMC. While many of you may skip ahead to the SJP discussion (1hr35), we encourage you to listen to the entire episode. In the first part, Dave shares his career highs and lows, offering valuable insights into why his belief system is deeply rooted in Independent Financial Planning, without conflict. Dave is a f...

In this engaging conversation, Ed takes us through his career from aspiring car designer to a leading figure in financial services. Key topics discussed: 🌟 Career Evolution: From creativity in car design to strategic leadership in financial services. 🥊 Adapting to Change: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." – Ed shares insights on navigating industry shifts. 📈 Benchmark's...

We're excited to share our latest episode featuring a fascinating conversation with Liz Frazier-Peck, a fee-only Certified Financial Planner and author of "Beyond Piggybanks and Lemonade Stands." In this episode, Liz delves into her unique career in financial services and her passion for financial education for kids. Key topics include: Career Path: From growing up with a financial planner mom to...

In this episode, Ben takes us through his journey in financial services, from his early days as an actuary to leading innovation at Wealth Wizards. Key topics include: 👨‍💼 Career Path: From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to actuary to CEO, Ben's career and the lessons learned. 💡 Wealth Wizards' Mission: Making financial advice accessible. 📊 Guidance vs. Advice: Insights on the Advice Guidance B...

Join us as Guy Skinner, Director at Citygate Financial Planning, shares his insights on starting solo, building a team, and working with the "Henrys". Topics covered include: Team Growth & Strategy : From one to a powerhouse Charging Structure : Guy’s approach to client fees Client Relationships : Mastering transitions and trust Personal Drive : How personal history shapes professional passion...

Let Tess take you on her actuarial journey from failing her probation as an actuarial trainee at WTW to becoming UK Wealth Strategy Leader (a job title she made up herself!) and Partner at Mercer – via investment consultancy, Head of Retirement Practice (or as Tess puts it “the proper actuaries”) in Manchester, DC Leader for the North, and UK People Leader responsible for people strategy and colle...

🚀 Latest BWD In The Know Episode: Business Exit Strategies Uncovered 🎧 In this episode, we explore the intricate world of exiting a business, focusing on innovative strategies that go beyond the traditional. Join us as we delve into: 🤝 Employee Ownership Explained : Chris shines a light on Employee Ownership, where founders sell to a Trust, reaping benefits like zero capital gains tax, and why...

We are delighted to bring you another "In The Know" episode featuring Alan Smith ➡️ CEO of Capital Asset Management 🌟. Join us as we explore: 🌱 Core Values : Alan discusses how core values such as family, travel, adventure, learning, and giving back, not only guide his personal life but also his professional practice.  🚀 Podcast Gems : "Bulletproof Entrepreneur" highlights key entrepreneur...