The Plannex Podcast

Plannex
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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. Sep 4

    James Ashford Part 2: Sold My Business. Then Money Became the Problem.

    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.

    James Ashford Part 2: Sold My Business. Then Money Became the Problem.

  2. Aug 28

    James Ashford Part 1: Great Clients Don’t Exist. You Create Them.

    What does it actually take to build a team that sells confidently, protects standards and performs without the founder becoming the bottleneck?James Ashford, founder of GoProposal, joins Adam Carolan for a characteristically honest conversation about ethical selling, client experience, culture and letting go.James explains why clients compare financial planners with Amazon and Uber, not simply with other firms. Why knowledge has little value without implementation. He challenges founders who project their own discomfort withselling onto younger team members and argues that ‘great clients’ are created by the standards set from the very first meeting. The conversation then turns to building a 12-person team that produced the output buyers expected from a business four times its size. James shares how playbooks, weekly training, radical candour and safe-to-fail experimentscreated freedom rather than bureaucracy. He also reveals the two-poker-chip exercise that finally trained him to stop solving every problem himself.Expect an unusually direct conversation about sales, delegation, standards and the truths business owners too often avoid. You don't want to miss this! Find out more about Plannex: https://plannex.co.uk/

    James Ashford Part 1: Great Clients Don’t Exist. You Create Them.

  3. Aug 7

    Laura Pearson Part 2: Building a Business That Scales

    What does it really take to scale a financial planning firm? In part two of our conversation with Laura Pearson, founder of Storeton Rose, we explore the systems, people and leadership decisions that have fuelled the firm's growth. Laura shares how client experience has become their biggest marketing channel, why hiring the right people matters more than hiring the most experienced, and the challenges every founder faces as a business grows beyond them. We also discuss how AI is changing recruitment, building a high-performance culture, and the operational rhythms that keep the business moving. In this episode: Why client experience drives referralsBuilding a team that can scale with the businessThe founder bottleneck and knowing when to let goHow AI is changing hiring decisionsCreating systems that support long-term growthLeadership lessons from scaling Storeton RoseWhether you're building your first advice firm or leading a growing business, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone who's doing it today.

    Laura Pearson Part 2: Building a Business That Scales

  4. Jul 31

    Laura Pearson Part 1: Building an Advice Firm From Scratch

    Building an advice business is one thing. Building one without existing clients, recurring income or previous wealth advice experience is another. In Part 1 of the Plannex Podcast, Laura Pearson shares the journey from corporate mortgage management to launching Storeton Rose from her spare bedroom. We discuss: Leaving corporate lifeStarting with no clientsWhy she chose independenceBuilding confidence despite inexperienceThe power of simple marketingGrowing to £180k revenue in year oneA practical conversation for anyone thinking about starting or scaling a financial planning business.

    Laura Pearson Part 1: Building an Advice Firm From Scratch

  5. Jul 24

    Jon Doyle Part 2: What Won't AI Replace?

    AI is dominating conversations across financial planning but what does it actually mean for advice firms? In Part 2 of our conversation with Juniper founder Jon Doyle, we move beyond the hype to explore where technology is genuinely creating value, and where the industry risks getting carried away. Jon shares how his team has built automations that save time, why he's sceptical of claims that AI can replace the human side of financial planning, and the principles guiding Juniper's investment in technology. We also discuss developing advisers, building scalable systems, and why, even in an AI-driven world, people skills remain the profession's greatest competitive advantage. If you're a financial planning firm owner trying to work out where AI fits into your business, this is a conversation you'll want to hear.

  6. Jul 17

    Jon Doyle Part 1: Build It Your Way

    When Jon Doyle launched Juniper in 2018, he didn't set out to build the fastest-growing financial planning firm. He set out to build the right business for his life. Starting with £18 million of assets under management and around 40 client families, Jon shares the lessons from growing Juniper to more than £140 million while balancing family life, navigating difficult hiring decisions and building a business with intention. In Part 1 we discuss: • Why he turned down the opportunity to sell • Starting Juniper with just one administrator • The hiring mistake that slowed growth • Why building around your lifestyle isn't a weakness • Growing from £18m to £140m • Developing advisers from outside financial services A refreshingly honest conversation about building a financial planning business on your own terms.

  7. Jun 29

    Victoria Hicks and Gaynor Rigby Part 2: What Is Your Firm Really Worth?

    What makes a financial planning business valuable? And more importantly, what makes it sellable? In Part 2, Gaynor Rigby and Vicky go behind the scenes of more than 100 financial planning transactions to explain what buyers are really looking for, why some firms struggle to sell, and how owners can maximise the value of their business. We discuss: • How financial planning firms are valued • Why profit matters more than revenue • The data every firm should be tracking • Common mistakes sellers make • What buyers really want • Succession planning and exit readiness • Why culture and people can impact value Whether you're planning to exit next year or in the next decade, this episode is packed with practical lessons for building a stronger business.

    Victoria Hicks and Gaynor Rigby Part 2: What Is Your Firm Really Worth?

  8. Jun 19

    Victoria Hicks and Gaynor Rigby Part 1: The Business Behind The Advice

    From £120m TO £1bn After helping grow Equilibrium from £120m to more than £1bn in assets under management, Gaynor Rigby learned a simple truth: Most advisers become business owners by accident. In this episode, Gaynor and Vicky discuss what it really takes to build a successful financial planning business, from leadership and culture to marketing, systems and growth. We discuss: • How Equilibrium grew from £120m to £1bn+ • Why many advisers accidentally become business owners • The importance of data, structure and accountability • Building a strong culture as your team grows • Why marketing should be a business priority • The biggest mistakes firms make when trying to scale A practical conversation for advisers and firm owners looking to build a better business, not just a bigger one.

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Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
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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
    304
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Plannex
  • Show Website
    The Plannex Podcast

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