Dont Shoot The Messenger – Details, episodes & analysis

When I started Hoxton Wealth in 2018, we had $35 million of assets, five people, and two small offices.

Today the business manages over $4 billion for more than 10,000 clients globally, with licences and offices across multiple jurisdictions.

But the journey from there to here was not simple.

In this episode of Don't Shoot the Messenger, I sit down on my own to walk through the full story of how Hoxton grew.

If you are a financial planner thinking about starting your own firm, or someone building a business from scratch, this episode will give you a realistic view of what the journey actually looks like.

If you enjoy the episode, make sure to subscribe and follow the show.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife 

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩  

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Don Bennyhoff, former Vanguard investment leader and one of the key architects behind the widely referenced “Advisor Alpha” research.

Don spent nearly 23 years at Vanguard, helping redefine how financial advisors communicate their value beyond portfolio performance. He later served as CIO and Investment Committee Chair at a $1.7bn RIA and now works as a fractional CIO through Bennyhoff & Co, helping advisory firms build disciplined, repeatable investment frameworks.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines of “3% alpha” and into what truly drives long-term value in financial advice.

We discuss:

• What Advisor Alpha actually meant, and what it never claimed
 • Why behavioural coaching often adds more value than stock picking
 • The dangers of unnecessary portfolio complexity

If you are building an advisory firm, refining your investment philosophy, or thinking about the evolution of financial planning, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Because in the end, the real value of advice is not about outperforming markets. It is about helping clients make better decisions over time.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

What does a day really look like for a financial advisor managing £250 million in assets?

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball (CEO of Hoxton Wealth) is joined by Jonathan Jay (JJ), Head of UK Operations of Hoxton Wealth, for a behind-the-scenes look at the daily structure, mindset, and systems it takes to build and manage a quarter-billion-pound book of business.

From early morning routines and prospecting strategies…

To team structures, client relationships, time management, and emotional resilience, Chris and JJ break down the real day-to-day life of top-tier advisers.

Whether you're a new planner, a seasoned pro, or someone curious about the profession, this episode gives you a raw and practical insight into:
- What advisers actually do all day
- How to balance new business vs existing clients
- Why routine and preparation are critical
- Building the right team around you
- When to scale, delegate, and invest in support
- What they wish more advisers understood
- The mindset behind staying sharp and constantly learning

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

Artificial intelligence isn't just changing financial planning, it's revolutionising it from the ground up. This candid conversation explores how AI is transforming daily operations for advisors and reshaping client relationships in ways previously unimaginable.

We dive into practical applications that are already delivering results: dictating meeting plans during commutes, creating training materials in minutes instead of hours, and deploying sophisticated meeting assistants that capture every client detail while advisors focus entirely on the human connection. For planners drowning in administrative tasks, these tools offer a lifeline, automating the mundane while enhancing what matters most.

The privacy question looms large in our discussion. How do we balance leveraging AI's capabilities with protecting sensitive client information? We explore approaches some firms are taking, including developing proprietary systems that compartmentalise client data by advisor. Beyond compliance concerns, we examine the deeper question of whether client data is truly at risk and how to navigate these waters responsibly.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

Is the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification worth the significant time investment? In this revealing episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to achieve financial planning's highest credential and whether it actually matters for your career success.

For those considering the qualification, this episode offers invaluable insights into the potential salary uplift (with chartered and certified planners commanding up to £100,000 compared to £35,000-£60,000 for those with basic qualifications), employer support for the qualification process, and the practical benefits in day-to-day client work.

Whether you're early in your financial planning career or considering your next professional development step, this honest conversation will help you determine if the master's-level CFP qualification deserves a place in your career strategy.

Subscribe now for more insights that help you build a thriving financial planning practice.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Jake, Hoxton Wealth’s Global Advice Manager, to break down one of the most underrated drivers of success in financial advice: tracking your numbers.

Together, they cover:
- Why tracking activity and results is the fastest way to grow your business
- The exact metrics Hoxton advisers track daily (and why)
- How data has helped Hoxton scale to $3B+ AUM across multiple countries
- Why accountability beats motivation every time
- How to set targets you’ll actually hit (and avoid setting yourself up to fail)
- The simple tracking habits that turn “busy” advisers into high-performing ones

If you’re a financial adviser who wants to grow faster, earn more, and scale your practice with clarity, this episode is packed with practical strategies and real-world lessons you can apply immediately.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Bobby Sahota, a top-rated UK financial adviser with over 20 years of experience, £160m AUM managed, and a track record of mentoring, endurance challenges, and charity work.

Bobby shares:

- How prospecting has evolved from high-volume cold calls to trust-based relationships
- Her top strategies for building a client base from scratch
- Why passion is non-negotiable in financial advice
- The power of events, networking, and an authentic online presence
- Overcoming challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry
- How complacency kills growth – and how to stay sharp
- Whether you’re an aspiring adviser, an experienced planner, or simply interested in the business of building trust, this episode is packed with practical tips, real-world lessons, and inspiring stories.

Whether you’re an aspiring adviser, an experienced planner, or simply interested in the business of building trust, this episode is packed with practical tips, real-world lessons, and inspiring stories.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to get notified when new episodes drop.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like please visit:  @HoxtonLife  

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For more videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

There were only 174 financial advisers under the age of 25 in the entire UK in 2024.
Yes, you read that right.

In this episode, Chris Ball sits down with Sam Oaks to unpack a growing problem that’s been swept under the rug for too long: the advice gap.
Why are young people avoiding a career in financial planning?
What’s stopping them from entering one of the most meaningful, high-earning professions?

We discuss:
- The shocking talent shortage in financial advice
- Why the industry has an image problem
- Barriers to entry for new advisers
- What needs to change - from education to leadership

If you care about the future of wealth, this one’s worth your time.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like please visit:  @HoxtonLife  

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

 Ithis episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball and Sam Oakes dive into the brutal truths of running a business.

We talk:
- Why anger almost wrecked our businesses
- How alcohol was killing our productivity
- The cost of hiring the wrong people (and how to do it better)
- The dangers of perfectionism and launching too late
- The importance of coaching, mentors, and extreme ownership

No fluff. No fake guru chat. Just real stories, real mistakes and what we learned.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like please visit:  @HoxtonLife  

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball and Sam Oakes dive into the REAL truth about sales, especially in financial services.

Chris Ball shares his personal sales journey, from being terrible at selling to building a £250 million+ business through relentless prospecting, learning from mistakes, and developing a simple, repeatable sales process.

We cover:

• Why sales isn’t a “dirty word” (especially in financial advice)
  
  
• Common mistakes new advisors make with selling
  
  
• The art of building trust without being pushy
  
  
• How to handle objections (before they even come up!)
  
  
• Prospecting, follow-ups, and booking more meetings
  
  
• The power of process and why structure beats winging it
  
  
• Why some people are naturals at selling, and why it doesn’t matter if you’re not
  
  
• Whether you’re a financial advisor, entrepreneur, or just someone who wants to improve their sales skills, this episode is packed with practical insights, funny stories, and brutally honest lessons.

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit: / @hoxtonlife

For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com

For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube: ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩