Show Notes
What happens when the business exit you worked towards finally happens and the money creates a completely new set of problems? In Part 2, James Ashford gives Adam Carolan an unusually candid account of financial planning from the client’s side. Before building GoProposal, James describes himself as financially fearful, poorly informed and carrying the consequences of a failed business. Financial planning helped align him and his wife around their values, give their business a purpose and turn an unimaginable future into a route they could work towards. But selling the business changed the game. James went from playing to win to playing not to lose. He explains the fear of moving large sums away from the apparent safety of a bank account, why trusted referrals mattered more than a polished sales message and what advisers need to understand about communicating with entrepreneurial clients. The conversation also tackles the profession’s most difficult value question. For James, the greatest return has not been a tax wrapper or an investment figure. It has been the change from anxious weekend voice notes to calm, constructive decisions and the peace of knowing somebody capable is in control. Finally, James and Adam explore AI. James is an enthusiastic user, but he will not give it responsibility for his children’s and grandchildren’s financial future. His challenge to planners is not to resist the technology, but to use it safely so there is more time for the human relationship clients value most.
More from The Plannex Podcast
What changes when you move from fund management into building your own financial planning firm? Stewart Heggie joins Adam Carolan to discuss the work behind setting up Heggie & Co and why he chose to focus his message on fund managers. He explains how his own search for financial planning helped shape the idea, what he wanted from a network and why getting the infrastructure ready took more work than he expected. They also explore LinkedIn, the first-year goal of working with 20 families, the psychology of fees and the role of human judgement as AI becomes more capable. It is an honest account from the start of the journey, with decisions still being tested rather than a finished formula for success. Business experience and opinions are discussed; this is not personal financial advice.
How do you move into financial planning when you already have an established career? And what happens when the relationship skills come with you, but the technical confidence needs time to catch up? Adam Carolan is joined by Oliver Jones from Five Wealth, who moved into the profession after nine years at Handelsbanken. Ollie talks openly about the decision to leave banking, weighing a lower initial pay package and what it felt like to take part in his first financial-planning client meetings. They also get into studying alongside a new job, setting exam deadlines, learning through real client examples and finding experienced people to learn from. For anyone considering a career change, or helping someone make one, this is a practical look at the transition beyond the job offer. Ollie describes his position at the time of recording. His experience is one route into financial planning, rather than a template for everyone.
What should a financial adviser say when a client asks about Bitcoin? Dan Parkinson, founder of The Bitcoin IFA, joins Adam Carolan to examine what Bitcoin means for UK financial planning. They discuss the difference between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the changing regulatory environment and the practical limits advisers currently face. The conversation also explores client retention, intergenerational wealth, self-custody, large Bitcoin holdings and what advice firms can do now to prepare. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
In Part Two of Adam Carolan’s conversation with Alan Smith, they move from operational growth to marketing, personal branding and client acquisition. Alan explains how content, newsletters, podcasts, referrals and professional partnerships have created a connected marketing ecosystem for his financial planning firm. They also discuss niche positioning, recurring-revenue complacency, succession, recruitment and what Alan would do if he were building an advice firm again today. Listen to Part One first: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fbIlDDw85FWQWY9nSEyIb?si=a867952ad56a4992
Alan Smith built Capital Partners one client at a time, then reached the point where being involved in everything stopped the firm from growing. In part one, he explains why he handed over almost every client, stepped away from day-to-day advice and rebuilt his role around strategy, growth and culture. Alan and Adam also explore client handovers, consistent discovery, premium client experience, hiring the right operations leader and how AI could reshape financial planning and paraplanning. Part two continues with Alan’s marketing strategy and personal brand.