Adviser 3.0: The Podcast Abraham Okusanya

Simon Rogerson, Founder and CEO of the Octopus Group, shares the story of how he founded Octopus and the challenges they faced in the early days. He emphasises the importance of trust and simplicity in the financial services industry and how Octopus aims to build businesses that prioritise customer happiness. Rogerson also discusses the success of Octopus Energy and their disruptive force in the energy market. He explains the thinking behind Circle, Octopus' platform market venture, and their long-term commitment to building special businesses. Rogerson concludes by discussing Octopus' decision to remain a private company and their focus on creating value over the long term. Simon Rogerson discusses the possibility of Octopus Energy becoming a public company and his personal motivations for running the business.

Platforms 1.0 and 2.0 were not fit for purpose, but platform 3.0 is a true revolution. It prioritises the adviser-client relationship and allows for a fully digital proposition. The data fragmentation and lack of API integration in platform 2.0 led to a dysfunctional ecosystem. Platform 3.0 aims to align with advisers and their clients, moving control of the market closer to the customer. The commercial alignment of cost and the availability of real-time data are crucial for a successful platform. API-first companies like Stripe have set a new standard for seamless integration and instant data availability. In this conversation, Abraham and David discuss the differences between API-first and API-facade approaches in platform development. They explore the challenges of migrating from legacy systems to new technology and the impact it has on businesses. They also discuss the importance of creating a seamless integration of critical advice tools for financial advisers and the role of platforms in the distribution of financial services. They highlight the need for long-term commitment and resources to build and sustain a platform. Overall, they express excitement about the partnership between Timeline and Seccl and the potential for transformation in the financial advice industry.

In this episode, Abraham interviews Amyr Rocha Lima, the managing director of Strategic Wealth Partners.


They discuss the journey of young financial planners and the challenges they face in the industry. They also explore the trend of frustrated succession plans and the reasons behind their failure. Amyr shares his own experience of
starting his own financial planning firm and the vision behind Strategic Wealth Partners. The conversation highlights the importance of creating a firm where
both clients and employees can be proud to be a part of.

Find out more about the episode here.

Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele share their career journeys and the evolution of Yellowtail Financial Planning. Dennis started in direct sales and eventually transitioned to fee-based financial planning. Sarah joined Yellowtail after struggling to find part-time work in the industry. Together, they have transformed the business and focused on client-centric financial planning. They discuss the challenges of transitioning to a fee-based model and the importance of community and collaboration in the industry. They also highlight the impact of COVID-19 on remote client meetings and the need for adaptability in the changing landscape of financial advice. In this conversation, Dennis Hall and Sarah Steele discuss the future of Yellowtail Financial Planning and the challenges they face as they transition to the next generation of practitioners and managers. They emphasise the importance of organic growth, maintaining a mall and defined number of clients, and providing exceptional service. They also discuss the need for an economic model that allows the next generation to take over the business while preserving the legacy and value that has been built. They express their commitment to never selling the business to a consolidator and their desire to continue making a positive impact in the industry.

Nik Marsh, the managing director of Ashlea Financial Planning, shares his journey of transitioning from a career in high finance to financial planning and navigating the process of internal succession planning. He discusses his background, the challenges he faced, and the importance of finding a different way to provide financial advice. The conversation explores the role of Diane Weitz, the founder of Ashlea Financial Planning, and her desire to ensure the continuity of the business and the well-being of her clients. The chapter concludes with the restructuring of the management buyout and the future succession plans for the firm. In this conversation, Nik Marsh discusses the challenges of business transition and the need for a suitable model for financial planners. He shares insights on transitioning to the next generation and the difficulties of seller financing in management buyouts (MBOs). The conversation also covers the use of preferred shares and the importance of setting up the next generation of owners. Nik Marsh talks about the structure and team of Ashlea, as well as the technology stack and CRM challenges faced by the firm. The conversation concludes with a discussion on future plans and success.

Loic Fonteneau, Investment Director at Blackfin, discusses the influx of capital into the financial advice and wealth management space, particularly in the form of venture capital backing technology firms. He shares his background in VC and how he came to join Blackfin. Loic explains the differences between private equity and venture capital, highlighting the focus on majority ownership and control in private equity, while venture capital takes minority stakes and partners with founders. He also discusses the investment strategy of BlackfinTech, the venture capital arm of Blackfin, and why they invested in Timeline. Loic shares his insights on the current state of the venture market and the future of venture investing.