This week on the Financial Planner Life podcast, Sam Oakes sits down with Rosie Hooper, Chartered Fellow and Financial Planner at Quilter Cheviot. Rosie shares her inspiring 26-year journey from her early days in bank management, through corporate employee benefits, to becoming a highly respected private client planner.

Rosie talks candidly about how growing up in a household where money was tight shaped her relationship with finances and fuelled her passion for planning. She opens up about the emotional depth of her client work, why she proudly calls herself a "financial planner" rather than an advisor, and how truly understanding her clients’ lives, not just their portfolios, makes all the difference.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The mindset shift from corporate benefits to private client advice, and how the two worlds are more connected than you think
• How to create a referral engine by delivering a first-class, emotionally resonant client experience
• The power of coaching and mentorship in developing new talent (and why "menchoring" might be the secret sauce)
• Why confidence is just as important as competence, and how Rosie helps emerging planners build both
• How AI is enhancing client service at Quilter Cheviot while preserving the all-important human touch
• Rosie's two "magic wand" wishes for the future of the financial planning profession

Plus, hear about the "health and wealth seesaw” she uses to help clients balance financial goals with living a fulfilling, healthy life. Discover how this approach, alongside her deep client relationships, has earned her the nickname Rosie Poppins.

Whether you're new to financial planning or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and practical wisdom for building a client-focused, referral-based business.

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.

This week on the Financial Planner Life podcast, Sam Oakes speaks with James Westpfel, a financial planner at Foster Denovo, who shares his career journey from self-employed to employed and how going hyper-local helped him build a thriving client base from scratch.

After 22 years working in a building society, James made the leap into self-employment. With no client book and no lead funnel, he turned to his local community for opportunity. His strategy? Show up in person, build trust and offer financial guidance where people needed it most.

By setting up a weekly financial advice clinic in a local community library, James became a familiar, approachable presence. That hyper-local client strategy helped him win over 40 clients organically, through word of mouth and relationships built face-to-face.

In this episode, James opens up about:
✅ His transition from redundancy to retraining as a financial planner
✅ The highs and lows of being a self-employed financial planner
✅ How he used a hyper-local strategy to win clients and build trust
✅ Why he moved to an employed role at Foster Denovo
✅ How structure and support have helped him thrive, managing a book of 170 clients
✅ What financial planners should consider when choosing between self-employed and employed paths

If you're exploring a financial planner career, looking for new ways to connect with clients, or considering the realities of self-employed vs employed advice, this episode is packed with insight and real-world experience.

00:00 – Intro: Why finding clients is the hardest part
00:30 – Redundancy after 22 years in banking
01:45 – From cashier to branch manager: James’ early career
04:00 – The reality of high street banking and community connection
06:20 – Is banking still a good route into financial planning?
08:00 – Retraining at 42: Overcoming fears and starting again
09:40 – Finding opportunities after qualification
10:20 – Choosing the self-employed route in financial advice
11:30 – The biggest challenge: confidence and standing out
12:40 – The hyper-local idea that changed everything
14:00 – Setting up a financial advice clinic in a community library
16:00 – Becoming “The Library Guy” and winning 40+ clients
18:10 – Why James works with clients of all wealth levels
19:40 – Building a referral network with care and integrity
22:00 – Hyper-local visibility: how trust builds trust
24:00 – Connecting with local businesses and schools
26:30 – From library pop-ups to career opportunities
27:20 – Why James chose to join Foster Denovo
29:00 – Managing 170 clients: structure, support, and growth
30:30 – Balancing work, family, and purpose
32:00 – Keeping the community work alive at Foster Denovo
34:00 – Advice for planners considering employed vs self-employed
36:00 – Final thoughts: trust, career clarity, and client care

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 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

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.