In this week’s #YourFinancialPlanning Maestro podcast we talk to Oz Shtrosberg CFP™ from MAG Financial Services about his journey to become a CFP professional.   This is a fascinating conversation about how financial advisers need to shift their mindset to become CFP professionals.  Oz talks through the various aspects of the process to complete his financial plan for the CISI L7 assessment, where he was challenged and how it made him reconsider his approach to the assessment.   We also discuss what aspects of the business he went off and changed straight away!   #CFP #YourFinancialPlanningMaestro #podcast Oz Shtrosberg bio: Oz Shtrosberg CFP™ is a Financial Planner at MAG Financial Services Ltd.    He studied Economics at Manchester University and went on to complete a MSc in Management. Following a career as the Marketing Director of a successful hair care distributor, Oz came back to his roots and passion for financial planning, joining MAG Financial Services in early 2015.    Oz provides his clients with Lifestyle Financial Planning, initially spending time getting to know his clients, their goals, and aspirations, before working together to build a suitable plan to reach those objectives. He has a keen interest in behavioural finance and believes this enhances the value he can give clients. He will often be heard stating that managing people's emotions surrounding finances is as important, if not more so, than managing their finances.  

In this week’s #YourFinanciaPlanningMaestro podcast we talk to Natalie Norman Certified and Chartered Financial Planner at Blake Brooke Financial Advice Ltd.    Natalie shares her eventful journey to becoming a CFP professional.  Everyone’s path is different but commonly it is a bit of a rollercoaster! Natalie shares her feelings of being overwhelmed initially along with how she overcame them to be successful.    Natalie embarked on the CISI level 7 case study, the final part of the CISI CFP pathway, without support initially.  But after being unsuccessful, she found the support she needed to rectify her financial plan and pass.      We also talk about what difference the whole process has made to her business as well as the aspects that have helped her improver her approach to client meetings and the advice that flows from them.    Natalie Norman’s bio:   I’m a Certified and Chartered Financial Planner at Blake Brooke Financial Advice Ltd, based in East Leake, near Loughborough.     I work with clients around the country to allow them to live their best life now and in retirement. Prioritising their needs, we work together to create a financial planning roadmap to ensure they remain on track to achieve their goals and objectives. I offer face to face advice in all areas of financial planning, including retirement planning, tax planning, inheritance tax planning, life and critical illness cover and savings and investments.     When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children and our wider family. I also enjoy exercising at the gym and running a couple of times a week to maintain my fitness. 

In this week's podcast we talk to Dan Boden CFP™, Managing Director of Abode Financial Planning, about his interesting journey to become a CFP professional. We discuss his approach, his struggles and what he did to overcome them. We also discuss the important and often unreported positive impact that gaining CFP can have on a business and the client experience proposition. Daniel Boden bio: Daniel is dedicated to helping clients and their families secure healthy financial futures.  He has a calm approach and takes time to demystify financial matters. Providing peace of mind is always at the forefront for Daniel as he works with you to plan the future you envision.  He has over 10 years’ experience working hand in hand with clients as a trusted adviser as they design and secure their financial goals. He has advanced qualifications in tax and pensions advice and holds the highest designation with two governing bodies; the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI).  Daniel is an ex-rugby league player, but these days it’s his three young daughters keep him active. Family time is precious to Daniel and he enjoys all the new experiences that fatherhood brings. 

In this week’s #YourFinancialPlanningMaestro we talk to Dani Nicholls CFP™ Senior Paraplanner at Cooper Parry Wealth, about her journey to becoming a Certified Financial Planner.   We talk about how working in a positive supporting environment that supports their team through to gain their CFP certification was a big help in setting high expectations.  Her employers have also built a strong support network and walk the talk, all of which made life a little less stressful for her.   In this episode we talk about her approach to the CISI Level 7 case study financial plan assessment, how it challenged her thinking as wellas the impact on her work going forward.   This episode is a must for employers who want to support their teams better.  Gains like these can encourage team members to come forward with ideas of improvement in the business and create a more supportive and forward-thinking culture.   Dani also offers lots of tips to those about to embark on their own journeys to become CFP professionals.   #CFP #Employers #Tips Dani Nicholls bio: Dani started working in financial services in 2012, mainly in a paraplanning role. Having achieved Chartered and Fellowship status with the CII, she decided to undertake the CFP to challenge herself further. Although coursework isn’t something that comes naturally, Dani persevered and was successful completing the qualification in 2023. Now she hopes to help guide others through the process by sharing her own experience.    

In this week’s #YourFinancialPlanningMaestro podcast we talk to Anick Sharma CFP™, Financial Planner at Mercury Wealth Management. He shares his journey to becoming a CFP professional in just four years from entering the profession.We talk through his structured approach to studying and the sacrifices he made along the way. He offers important insights to the financial planning business owners of today and tomorrow and discusses the importance of supporting your teams and working in the right environment where all roads lead to comprehensive financial planning. Whether you are embarking on a career in financial planning, starting your journey to become a CFP professional, own a financial planning firm, or aspire to own one in the future, this episode is packed with lots of helpful tips and advice. #YourFinancialPlanningMaestro #podcast #CFP Anick Sharma bio:  Having completed his MSc and published a postgraduate research white paper, Anick gained experience at another Financial Planning firm before moving to Mercury Wealth in May 2023. He is a Fellow with the Chartered Insurance Institute (Personal Finance Society) and a Certified Financial Planner, having achieved both in around four years. These qualifications are considered the gold standard across two professional bodies and were attained at an early stage of Anick's career, highlighting his exceptional dedication and aptitude.  Anick is passionate about connecting with clients and embarking on a collaborative journey to understand what they really want out of life. By understanding this, Anick ensures that their Financial Plan is tailored to their unique goals.  In his spare time, Anick enjoys being outside and active. He also loves to travel abroad as often as possible. 

In this week’s episode we talk to David Henry CFP™, Financial Planner at Sylva Financial Planning, about his journey from wealth manager to financial planner.   It is a fascinating discussion about the differences between investment management and financial planning and what drives people to change.   David passed his CISI Level 7 case study financial plan assessment on his very first submission – you get up to three.  That demonstrates that there is quite a lot of overlap between investment management and financial planning, but what he hadn’t fully appreciated was that embarking on the CFP certification would help him realise what parts of the advice process he enjoyed the most and ultimately that changed the direction of his career.   Being a wealth manger by the US definition is financial planning PLUS discretionary investment management.  This podcast episode shows clearly how those to complement each other. David Henry bio: Following successful completion of the CISI Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning, David Henry CFP™ has recently taken the step to move into financial planning by joining Sylva Financial Planning as a financial planner.  This follows a twelve-year career in discretionary investment management with Vestra Wealth and latterly, Quilter Cheviot.     Along the way he has helped hundreds of households to manage their affairs and has developed a passion for helping clients to make the most of their money.  He is passionate about improving financial literacy, and particularly enjoys writing about investing and personal finance.  You can find his blog at themoneyden.substack.com  

In the first episode of the seventh series of Your Financial Planning Maestro podcast we talk to Fiona Bolt CFP™, owner of Cameron Jones Financial Management.   Fiona shares her journey to become a CFP professional – and it was quite a journey!   Along the way she encountered the dreaded excel spreadsheets but overcame those and now reflects on an overall positive experience but also one that has made her a better financial planner too.   This is an honest and humorous conversation, packed with lots of help and tips for those wanting to become CFP professionals in 2024. Fiona Bolt bio:  I have worked as a Financial Planner for 18 years in Devon following a career in Marketing with BT based in Aberdeen and London. Previously working as an IFA in Exeter, I was delighted to be invited to join St. James's Place in November 2017 and opened offices on Exmouth Marina in February 2018. As a goals based Financial Planner, I help clients to develop their plans to meet their aspirations and goals. Using Cashflow modelling helps them to visualise their futures at different life stages.  I work with other Professionals, Business owners and Private clients, focussing on Pension and Retirement planning, Pensions on Divorce, Investment and Tax planning and how to ensure wealth is passed on down through future generations..  Having attained the SOLLA accreditation as a specialist Later Life Adviser, I help families and clients, who can be at a vulnerable time in their lives. This ranges from giving guidance about steps to take when looking into Care costs and allowances available, to helping construct plans to ensure monies are going to be available to cover the future costs of care, whether at home or in registered care homes.  Delivering seminars for women in business and highlighting the importance of Pensions and building Investment knowledge is important to me. As is helping children to learn the importance of learning about money.   As a business, I like to ensure we give back to the local community through a range of sponsorships and Charitable donations. Currently we are proud sponsors of the Withycombe Ladies Rugby team, East Devon Golf Club Juniors and Budleigh Salterton Bowls Club.  I remarried in 2020 and enjoy playing golf at East Devon Golf Course with my husband, Nigel. We also enjoy sailing and making passages to all the beautiful towns along the South Devon and Cornish coasts. We have adult children between us, some still at Uni, and like to visit and support them.      

In this Christmas Special episode we talk to Dante De Gori CFP®, CEO of Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB). The FPSB is the global standards setting body for the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification which is licensed in 27 territories around the world and boasts over 213,000 CFP Professionals worldwide. In this episode we talk about the new Financial Planner Competencies that were released in April 2023. These will affect all CFP awarding bodies around the world, including hte CISI in the UK. All bodies have until 1 Jan 2025 to implement these changes. The major addition is that of behavioural finance. But it not just intended that all CFP professionals learn more about the theory but we also need to demonstrate how our awareness helps us moderate our behaviours to enable better client outcomes. Dante's bio: Dante De Gori, CFP®, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), the nonprofit standards-setting body for the global financial planning profession and owner of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program outside the United States.   Prior to this, De Gori served as Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) – the financial planning professional body in Australia and sixth largest Affiliate within the FPSB Network. For six years, he led teams focused on standards, certification, education, events, advocacy and consumer awareness, and made exceptional contributions to the Australian financial planning profession through a period of tremendous reform to help raise education and professional standards.  A proud CFP professional, De Gori is passionate about advancing the profession of financial planning and supporting CFP professionals around the globe. He has served on several FPSB committees and working groups, including as chair of the Council and chair of the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) from 2018 to 2021. In early 2022, De Gori joined FPSB as Head of Stakeholder Engagement.   De Gori has more than 20 years of experience in the financial planning profession. He’s worked in various senior roles within financial planning and compliance at ClearView Financial Management, Zurich Financial Services, Asteron Life and Suncorp Bank. He also spent six years as General Manager, Policy and Government Relations at FPA Australia before being named CEO. De Gori also served as Director of the Future2Foundation, the charity foundation of the financial planning profession in Australia, from 2016 to 2021.    De Gori was recently awarded the Association Influencer of the Year 2022 by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (finance and marketing), a graduate certificate in politics and policy, a diploma in financial planning, has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (2021), and is currently completing a Master of Laws at the Australian National University.   De Gori is a proud husband and father who dedicates his life to the four F’s: family, food, football and financial planning. 

In this week's episode we talk to Rachel Howard CFP™, Director at Rachel Howard Wealth Management, about why she embarked on her CFP certification. We talk about her inspiring journey and the struggles she overcame to become a CFP professional. Rachel shares her honest do's and don'ts when it comes to preparing for and completing the CISI L7 case study financial plan assessment. This episode is packed full of helpful advice and tips for those starting their CISI L7 case study as well as some great business expansion tips for those looking to attract more clients. Rachel Howard bio:  Rachel is a highly motivated, enthusiastic individual and is driven to succeed but without compromise delivering a first-class client experience. Rachel has 35 years’ experience in the Banking industry, 12 of those in Senior Leadership roles including Directorship. Rachel decided to channel her experience and set herself a new challenge with St. James's Place as a Partner of her own Practice, Rachel Howard Wealth Management. Rachel has now achieved Level 7 Chartered Fellow status.  Rachel has vast experience with individuals and businesses looking for a personalised service aiming to achieve financial goals. Rachel's focus is upon maintaining long term trusted relationships with clients demonstrating quality, integrity and excellence. Rachel specialises in Investment planning, Retirement planning, Inheritance tax planning and wealth protection - helping to change clients financial lives for the better. 

In this week's episode we are back talking to CFP professionals who have recently passed their CISI L7 case study financial plan assessment and gained their CFP certification. Just two years ago Jamie Little CFP™was in the heating engineering trade managing a team of plumbers working on building sites. In this interview we talk about how he transitioned to becoming a financial planner, why he decided to change, how he went about it and why he continued on to become a CFP Professional. This is a must listen episode for anyone thinking of joining the financial planning profession. Jamie Little bio:  Jamie joined Bailey Cook in September 2021 in his first role in Financial Services, having gained the Level 4 Diploma Certificate in Personal Financial Planning.   Through further study and exams and gathering day-to-day practical experience of working with our clients, in January 2023 Jamie achieved his ambition of becoming a Financial Planner within the business. In addition to this, he has now gained the qualification of becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).  Jamie is married to Charlotte with whom they have a son, Jonas and a daughter, Nola.