Financial Planner Life Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Financial Planner Life podcast, Kanishk Swarup shares his incredible journey from high-stakes equity derivatives trading at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse to launching his own financial planning practice through the St. James’s Place Academy.

We explore what it’s really like to work on a trading floor, the burnout behind big bonuses, and the unexpected truth: even successful finance professionals often have no financial plan.

Kanishk opens up about growing up in a small town in India, landing a scholarship at LSE, navigating culture shock in the UK, and building a life from scratch — all leading to a career defined by purpose over pressure.

He now runs Compound Wealth Planning, a thriving partner practice with £70 million in assets under management.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The harsh truths behind trading at global investment banks
• Why burnout pushed Kanishk to rethink his career trajectory
• How helping colleagues with their bonuses sparked a career shift
• What made the St. James’s Place Academy the perfect next step
• The mindset it takes to build a successful planning business from zero
• Why lifestyle creep is the hidden enemy of financial freedom
• How Kanishk defines success today — and why it’s not about the money

✨ Who This Episode is For:

• Career changers curious about financial planning
• Professionals in high-stress finance roles questioning their path
• Aspiring planners interested in the St. James’s Place Academy
• Financial services leaders looking to attract new talent
• Anyone who believes in the power of long-term thinking and purpose-driven work

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Learn more about St. James’s Place Academy
  
  
• Follow Kanishk Swarup on LinkedIn
  
  
• Check out Compound Wealth Planning 
• Connect with Sam Oakes on LinkedIn

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

In this episode of Financial Planner Life, host Sam Oakes sits down with Andrew Spence, Co-Founder of Aspen, to challenge the industry’s most controversial questions - what we call the Marmite topics of financial planning.

Aspen was born out of something deeper than disruption. After a personal health crisis led Andrew to reflect on the impact of his work, he decided to build a model portfolio service that put purpose, clarity & client outcomes first.

Now, he’s leading the charge on topics that divide financial services professionals daily.

🚨 Here’s what we cover:

• Is evidence-based investing just clever branding - or genuinely better for clients?
• Why most risk profiling tools are broken & unhelpful
• Should financial planners choose sides in the active vs passive debate?
• The rise of Bitcoin, the return of gold, & the role of private equity in portfolios
• How Aspen uses tech that actually works for financial planners & their clients
• Why first-principles thinking beats copy-paste product design

Andrew shares why financial planners need to stop overcomplicating things & start designing investment experiences that genuinely serve the people behind the portfolios.

This is a must-watch for:
✔️ Financial planners seeking clarity in the chaos
✔️ Firms looking to improve their MPS offering
✔️ Advisers questioning the one-size-fits-all model
✔️ Anyone ready to rethink what investment management should look like

📩 Learn more about Aspen or book a discovery session. 
🔗 Follow Sam Oakes & Financial Planner Life on LinkedIn

00:00 - Intro: From engineering to investment management  

00:34 - Andrew's early career & first role in wealth management  

02:45 - A personal health crisis & the search for purpose  

04:44 - Is finance a noble profession?  

05:39 - Why start an MPS business in a saturated market?  

08:06 - How engineering logic shaped Aspen's investment approach  

09:33 - Building intuitive tech for financial planners  

11:05 - Starting from scratch: Aspen’s early days & growth  

13:28 - Early supporters & the power of trust in MPS  

14:41 - Social proof & buying decisions in financial planning  

16:17 - Could AI avatars replace financial advisers?  

18:21 - Active vs Passive - is the debate pointless?  

22:34 - Is evidence-based investing just marketing?  

25:16 - Why risk profiling is broken  

29:01 - Should Bitcoin or gold be in portfolios?  

32:44 - Is private equity too complex for clients?  

34:43 - Andrew’s approach to LinkedIn & thought leadership  

37:04 - Sam’s take: Building trust & visibility on LinkedIn  

41:04 - Why YouT

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

If you’re a newly Level 4 Diploma qualified financial adviser with or without CAS status, an experienced financial planner wanting to run your own practice, or a mortgage broker looking to expand into financial planning, this episode of the Financial Planner Life podcast is a must-listen.

This week, host Sam Oakes speaks with Mark Hobbs, founder of New Leaf Distribution - an IFA network that supports advisers at every stage of their career. From helping mortgage brokers future-proof their income by transitioning into IFA, to supporting financial planners ready to launch their practice, and guiding newly qualified advisers without CAS into successful self-employment, New Leaf is redefining what a supportive network looks like.

With over 60% of New Leaf’s 108 financial advisers coming from a mortgage background, many have seen huge success in year one, some building six-figure incomes by adding financial planning services alongside mortgages. This approach helps advisers not only boost revenue but also safeguard their careers against the rise of AI in mortgage processing.

We’re also proud to produce The New Leaf Podcast — over 30 testimonials from members sharing the highs and lows of self-employment, and how New Leaf’s hands-on, family-first culture has supported them every step of the way.

Whether you’re curious about becoming self-employed, scaling your advice business, or making the leap from mortgages to IFA, you’ll hear real-world success stories, practical advice, and why so many advisers choose to call New Leaf home.

Links & Resources:
🔗 Connect with Sam Oakes: LinkedIn | 📧 sam@financialplannerlife.com
🔗 Learn more about New Leaf Distribution: Website
🎙 Listen to The New Leaf Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
📺 Subscribe on YouTube

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Administration, often seen as a great starting point for those beginning their career in Financial Planning, but due to being stigmatised as a career stepping stone, finding an experienced, highly capable admin is gold for Financial Planning firms aiming for success. 

In steps this week’s guest, Maria Mushtaq, Award Winning IFA Administrator at Holden & Partners, Chartered, B Corp Financial Planning firm! Maria is a shining example of the value added by this often-overlooked area of the profession, as having a trusted back-office team to lean on is crucial for the success of any Financial Planning business.

Maria built strong foundations in Law before moving to Financial Services, a transition we’ve regularly come across in our conversations, and hasn’t looked back since. She describes some of the key highlights of working in this industry, as well as some of the challenges involved in this highly varied and challenging role. 

As an administrator, Maria is involved in the entirety of the client journey, we discuss the incredible breadth of her knowledge required to carry out this role effectively, and the importance of Admins maintaining regular contact with clients. 

As well as being a great foundation for moving into any role within Financial Planning, strong IFA Administrators put themselves into a position of having a range of career prospects. Maria talks us through the wide variety of options available to those in an administration position, including team management, compliance, investment management and more, as well as when to consider the move.

If you’re an administrator looking for ways to exceed expectations and add maximum value to the Financial Planning process, check out this episode and take a leaf out of Maria’s book!

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

The Financial Planner Life hosts Sam Oakes, Elena Stephenson and Charlie Scott were recently invited to speak at The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) Changefest event, to talk all things careers in Financial Planning. 

This was a chance for us to champion the profession of Financial Planning, raise awareness of the abundance of opportunity out there for those entering the industry, as well as offering expertise on securing a position in a firm.

We covered:

-        Roles within Financial Planning

-        Salaries, qualifications and relevant skills

-        Financial Planning as a career choice

-        Opportunities for future Financial Planners

-        Diversifying the profession

-        The value Financial Planning offers to clients

-        Niching to suit your interests

-        Financial Planning Academies

-        Alternative routes into the profession

We also answered some great questions from the audience of aspiring professionals exploring their future career prospects. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to speak at Changefest, who knows, we might even see some of those in attendance on the podcast one day!

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Something a little bit different on this week’s Financial Planner Life podcast as we talk about the past, present and future of fintech in the Financial Planning profession with the following special guests:

Gareth Thompson, Co-Director at Plannr – “An open and modern alternative to the traditional back-office system”

Robert Roome, Chief Strategy Officer at Wealth Dynamix – “Revolutionising the way you manage client relationships”

Plus, special guest co-host Rob Harradine, Co-Founder at Ammonite – “Hybrid financial advice technology” 

We take a deep dive into the value these fintech solutions offer for Financial Planning firms to enhance their business. This isn’t just down to the enhancement of Adviser’s day-to-day duties, but the knock-on effect this can have on back-office teams, management and clients throughout the process.

In recent years, there has been a substantial shift in the way Financial Planning firms utilise technology to streamline their processes in order to provide a better service for their clients. We discuss the reasons for this, why it hasn’t happened sooner, and the impact technology could have on the profession in future.

We ask our panel of guests what they find are the key pain points for Financial Planning firms when it comes to revolutionising their technology and making changes to how they operate as a business. 

Of course, being in the careers space, we discuss the effect that technology has on attracting top talent to your business, and how, due to the solutions fintech provides, this could be a crucial factor in both attracting, onboarding and retaining Financial Planning professionals.

It’s no secret that having your finger on the fintech pulse is vital for anyone looking to be successful in Financial Planning, so thank you Rob, Gareth and Robert for helping us do exactly that! 

Time Stamps 

00:00:00 | Intro 

00:06:40 | Wealth Dynamics CRM target customer 

00:09:23 | Plannr's CRM target customer 

00:10:22 | Firms pain points 

00:12:38 | Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) 

00:16:17 | A family office service 

00:22:27 | The UK's adoption of new fintech 

00:28:49 | Wealth Dynamix’s competition 

00:30:20 | How Wealth Dynamix CRM makes and saves companies money 

00:31:30 | Plannr's competitors 

00:33:54 | Should Administrators & Paraplanners be worried or excited about this new tech 

00:38:02 | Biggest frustrations about CRM's 

00:46:13 | Talent attraction & market disruption 

00:50:23 | Hybrid Financial Planning 

01:01:44 | Fintech with marketing and social 

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Does the business you work in have a detrimental effect on your mental health? 

This week we're joined by Mike Jones, Founder of Better Happy, the organisation that aims to elevate the wellbeing of businesses, with the mantra of; ‘Creating happy places to work so any business can lead their industry through high levels of employee wellbeing, productivity and retention.’ 

Mike is a firm believer in the idea that in the UK, we have a misplaced definition of success, and often sacrifice certain things in order to improve other aspects of our lives, without looking at the effect that has on the big picture that is our wellbeing as humans. 

We talk about the value of routine, accountability, reflection and how these can remedy the factors that negatively affect your mental fitness, from both an employee and business owner standpoint. 

We look at hierarchical structures within businesses, the part they play in the wellbeing of those within the business and common mistakes that often lead to negative outcomes. On the other hand, we evaluate some key ingredients that go into designing a business that is set up for success in the wellbeing department. 

Whether you’re an employee who feels their wellbeing isn’t what it should be, or a business owner looking to improve your company culture, this episode will set you on the path to positive change! 

Time Stamps 

00:00:00 | Intro 

00:00:36 | How are you out of 10? 

00:06:51 | Ambition 

00:19:50 | Do business owners prioritise success over their personal health? 

00:28:00 | Conflict & Fear 

00:33:09 | Do personal transformations = business transformation 

00:38:12 | The mistake of promoting employees to management 

00:45:26 | Businesses can change the UK's mental health 

00:55:49 | Do things for purpose 

01:02:52 | Charity and generosity 

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Ready to embark on your paraplanner journey? We've got you covered with insights, advice, and valuable resources. 📚 

This is the audio version of the video found on the financial planner life YouTube channel.

🤝 Join Elena and Adam and explore the path to success as a paraplanner. Whether you're aiming for exams, seeking study tips, or honing essential skills, we've got all the guidance you need. 

Find out more and sign up to the Financial Planner Life Academy here: https://recruitukltd.co.uk/financial-planner-life-academies/   

👍 If you found this video helpful, don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe for more valuable content. Have questions or need further guidance? Drop them in the comments section below. Your journey to becoming a successful paraplanner starts here!
  
🎓 Stay tuned for more expert insights and career tips. Thanks for watching, and best of luck on your paraplanner career path! 

If you’re an existing paraplanner and are looking for a career change, check out the Recruit UK website here: https://recruitukltd.co.uk/   

Time Stamps 
00:00:00 | Intro  
00:00:57 | Where to start 
00:02:27 | Starting the exam journey 
00:06:16 | FPL Academy benefits 
00:09:03 | Study tips 
00:14:14 | Key skills 
00:17:04 | Outro 

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Are you part of a group that is underrepresented in the Financial Planning profession? 

This week, we’re joined by Women’s Financial Wellbeing advocate and Chartered Fellow Financial Planner Samantha Secomb, Director of Women’s Wealth – Financial Planning and Advice for Women. 

Throughout her career in Financial Services, Samantha has identified some key behavioural differences that often come to light when talking to couples about their finances. We discuss her findings and how these were the seeds of research behind her current company, Women’s Wealth. 

Samantha has a burning desire to bring women to the forefront of Financial Planning, as she feels that as they are underrepresented in the industry, resulting in fewer women seeing success as a female Financial Planner as a viable and achievable option. She shares her thoughts on how as a profession, we can change this for the better. 

We look at empowerment of clients, making Financial Planning accessible to women who might not fit the typical client profile and how Women’s Wealth is changing this, including their focus around subscription models as a means of servicing clients. 

If you’re passionate about diversifying the Financial Planning profession, this episode is truly inspiring and positive outlook on the future of Financial Services, from both a careers, and client service perspective. 

00:00:00 | Intro
00:00:55 | Samantha's career journey
00:07:50 | What made Women's Wealth happen
00:13:26 | Empowerment
00:29:21 | Subscription models
00:37:10 | Working for Women's Wealth as a woman
00:51:10 | What is keeping women in back-office roles
00:56:14 | Next stages for Women's Wealth

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.

Ever wondered how to become a financial planning administrator?  

This is the audio version of the video on the financial planner life channel, we are guiding you on your path to becoming a proficient Financial Planning Administrator! If you're eager to launch a successful career in the financial planning industry and play a crucial role in shaping people's financial futures, you've come to the right place. 

Join Charlie Scott and Adam Owen as they provide invaluable insights, tips, and expert guidance on the essential skills, knowledge, and tools required to excel in the role of a Financial Planning Administrator. 

But that's not all! To take your journey to the next level and access in-depth training, we highly recommend checking out the Financial Planner Life Academy, where Charlie, Adam and the team have curated comprehensive resources tailored to help you become a top-notch Financial Planning Administrator, paraplanner, financial advisor or mortgage advisor.

Sign up here: https://recruitukltd.co.uk/fpl-academy 

Ready to embark on this transformative journey and discover what it takes to thrive in this fulfilling career? Hit that subscribe button, and don't forget to visit the Financial Planner Life Academy link for an even deeper dive into your financial planning journey. Your future as a Financial Planning Administrator begins here! 💼📈📚  

Time Stamps:
00:00:00 | Intro 
00:00:57 | Where to start 
00:02:21 | Qualifications 
00:07:40 | Benefits of the Financial Planner Life Academy 
00:11:06 | Motivation & Barriers 
00:15:00 | Community 
00:16:44 | After completing the academy

Financial Planner Life is sponsored by Redmill Advance

Whether you're starting out, already qualified, or building a training academy, Redmill Advance delivers expert-led learning, exam support and CPD from Level 4 to Chartered.

✅ Trusted by top UK firms

👉 www.redmilladvance.com/fpl

Be sure to follow Financial Planner Life on YouTube for extra content about  career development within Financial Planning. 

Reach out to sam@financialplannerlife.com in regards to sponsorship, partnerships, videography or podcast production. 

Want to appear on the Financial Planner Life podcast? Drop Sam a message.