The Plannex Podcast

Plannex
  • 3.5 (4)
  • Careers
  • Weekly

Hosted by Adam Carolan and Rohan Sivajoti (Co-founders of Plannex), this is the podcast for ambitious UK financial planning firm owners. We sit down with top-performing advisers to unpack how they build client banks, scale profitable firms, hire well, structure fees, and navigate regulation - without the fluff. If you want practical insights on growing a modern advice business, this is for you. Find out more about our Community by searching 'Plannex' on Google.

  1. 5d ago

    From UK Financial Planning to Malaysia: What International Advice Really Looks Like | Rob Atherton

    Building a financial planning career overseas brings a different set of challenges to setting up in the UK. What does it take to transition from British financial planning into the cross-border space, and how do you rebuild trust in markets where the profession still carries a stigma? Adam Carolan speaks with Rob Atherton, who moved from running UK advice firms to leading the advisory team at Melbourne Capital Group in Malaysia. They discuss the technical and lifestyle transition, why UK advisors need to leave their ego at the door, how holistic financial planning translates across borders and the regulatory and cultural differences that shape client expectations. Rob also explains why international financial planning is not the Wild West, how Melbourne Capital Group operates to UK standards in a Malaysian regulatory environment and the questions expats should be asking before working with an overseas advisor. From cashflow modeling in multiple currencies to building an employed academy and attracting the next generation of cross-border planners, this is a practical conversation about what it really takes to build a professional advice firm outside the UK. Subscribe for part two, where Rob and Adam discuss academies, training pathways and bringing new talent into international financial planning. More from Plannex: Connect, learn and grow with the financial planning community. 💬 Join Plannex Connect: https://plannex.co.uk/connect/ 📚 Explore Plannex Training: https://plannex.co.uk/app/ 🚀 Grow your firm with Plannex Scale: https://plannex.co.uk/scale/ 🎟️ Discover Plannex Live: https://plannex.co.uk/live/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/plan-nex Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plannnex?igsh=MWluaXAwcmk4NjB3bQ%3D%3D Subscribe for more conversations from the Plannex Podcast.

    From UK Financial Planning to Malaysia: What International Advice Really Looks Like | Rob Atherton

  2. Oct 23

    How a CEO and COO Run an Advice Firm Together | Chirine Harb

    What happens when you hire someone to run the business, but keep stepping back in? After Alan Smith’s appearance last month, his COO Chirine Harb joins Adam Carolan to share her perspective on running Capital. She explains how she and Alan learned to challenge one another, clarify who communicates decisions and give each other space to do the work they do best. They also discuss building client-service teams, making existing processes easier to follow and understanding what is happening when people become stretched. Chirine shares how she assesses new technology and uses business data to test whether an ambition has a workable plan behind it. A conversation for financial planning firm owners, operations leaders and the people making the business work behind the scenes. More from Plannex: Connect, learn and grow with the financial planning community. 💬 Join Plannex Connect: https://plannex.co.uk/connect/ 📚 Explore Plannex Training: https://plannex.co.uk/app/ 🚀 Grow your firm with Plannex Scale: https://plannex.co.uk/scale/ 🎟️ Discover Plannex Live: https://plannex.co.uk/live/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/plan-nex Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plannnex?igsh=MWluaXAwcmk4NjB3bQ%3D%3D Subscribe for more conversations from the Plannex Podcast.

    How a CEO and COO Run an Advice Firm Together | Chirine Harb

  3. Oct 16

    Starting a Financial Planning Firm After 20 Years in Fund Management | Stewart Heggie

    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.

    Starting a Financial Planning Firm After 20 Years in Fund Management | Stewart Heggie

  4. Oct 9

    Changing Careers into Financial Planning: What the First 18 Months Really Look Like | Oliver Jones

    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.

    Changing Careers into Financial Planning: What the First 18 Months Really Look Like | Oliver Jones

  5. Oct 2

    Recommended Why Ignoring Bitcoin Could Cost Financial Advisers Clients | Dan Parkinson

    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.

    Recommended Why Ignoring Bitcoin Could Cost Financial Advisers Clients | Dan Parkinson

  6. Sep 25

    How to Grow a Financial Advice Firm with Content and Personal Brand | Alan Smith Part 2

    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

    How to Grow a Financial Advice Firm with Content and Personal Brand | Alan Smith Part 2

  7. Sep 18

    He Gave Away Every Client to Scale His Financial Advice Firm | Alan Smith Part One

    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.

    He Gave Away Every Client to Scale His Financial Advice Firm | Alan Smith Part One

  8. Sep 11

    How to Start a Business Podcast That Wins Clients (Most Get This Wrong) | Charlie Perry

    Want to start a business podcast that attracts the right audience and delivers meaningful results? Charlie Perry, founder of podcast network Astrid, joins Adam Carolan to explain what separates a successful business podcast from another show disappearing into the noise. Having built the podcasting arm of Steven Bartlett’s Social Chain and produced shows that have entertained millions, Charlie shares a practical guide to defining your audience, choosing the right format, booking guests and creating conversations people genuinely want to consume. They discuss why businesses shouldn’t simply copy The Diary of a CEO, the realities of studio and remote recording, what happens during post-production and how one long-form episode can power an entire content strategy. Charlie also explains why YouTube has changed podcast discovery, how to approach SEO, titles and thumbnails, and why conversions, trust and audience relevance matter more than vanity metrics. A practical conversation for financial planners, business owners and marketing teams who want to build a podcast with a clear purpose, not merely chase views. The Plannex Podcast is proudly sponsored by Iress.

    How to Start a Business Podcast That Wins Clients (Most Get This Wrong) | Charlie Perry
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Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Hosted by Adam Carolan and Rohan Sivajoti (Co-founders of Plannex), this is the podcast for ambitious UK financial planning firm owners. We sit down with top-performing advisers to unpack how they build client banks, scale profitable firms, hire well, structure fees, and navigate regulation - without the fluff. If you want practical insights on growing a modern advice business, this is for you. Find out more about our Community by searching 'Plannex' on Google.

Information

  • Creator
    Plannex
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    312
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Plannex
  • Show Website
    The Plannex Podcast

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