Financial Planner Life Podcast

Welcome to The Financial Planner Life Podcast. We cover an intimate and honest account of what it’s really like to work in the financial planning profession.

Our guests share their stories of success, failures, and learnings, as well as what to expect from a career in the financial planning profession! We host guests at various stages in their careers, as well as multiple roles, to ensure that our audience has a variety each week.

Financial planners, business owners, paraplanners, and back-office staff all have their own stories to share, and The Financial Planner Life podcast serves as a platform for them to discuss their personal and professional journeys. The podcast covers a multitude of topics, from mindset and motivation, health and wellbeing, all the way to diversity and inclusion.

We approach each episode with the idea that it will educate and spark a conversation within the industry on topics that may not be openly discussed. If you're considering a career as a financial adviser or are curious about learning more about this exciting sector, we encourage you to give the podcast a listen.

The Host: Sam Oakes is the host of The Financial Planner Life Podcast. since 2008 Sam has been supporting leading national and global financial planning firms in finding the best talent, he was the director of Recruit UK, a 7 figure turnover financial planning recruitment company that he successfully exited in 2024, Sam now works as the Head of Creative for Hoxton wealth, building out podcasts, YouTube and social content for this fast growing fee based international financial planning firm.

Sam has always had a passion for financial services, starting as a trainer for a leading product provider in the UK, and he has been in the industry for over 20 years.

He sees himself as a partner to the industry and wants to contribute useful resources, such as this podcast, to educate those who are further seeking advice and help about how to push their careers forward in this amazing profession.

Be sure to check out

Financial Planner Life Academy - start your career today!

https://financialplannerlife.com/academy/

Last refreshed: September 25th, 2025 at 2:36 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Richard Mikdadi Chartered Fellow on Ultra High Net Worth Financial Planning, Why Team Work Makes the Dream Work, And a Career at Tilney.

“As a Financial Planner, you are not trying to sell a thing; you are trying to solve a problem.” I love this quote from Chartered Fellow Richard Mikdadi, a partner at Tilney. I’ve known Richard for over a decade - we sat opposite each other when we both worked for Aviva. I knew back then that he was destined for great things, and that day came when he got to be a guest on The Financial Planner Life podcast. Joking aside, Richard was a fantastic guest who shares some absolute gems around a hugely...

Jul 16, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Jonathon Jay, from Trainee Paraplanner to Chartered Financial Planning Director at Investec

This week’s guest is Jonathon Jay - Associate Director level Financial Planner at Investec Wealth. Jonathon is a prime example of how ambition, hard work, self-belief and a clearly defined goal can propel your financial planning career forward within a short space of time. Jonathon didn’t leave school with the greatest of A-Levels and didn’t go to University. However, this didn’t stop him from achieving his Level 4 DipFA within 7 months and Chartered by the age of 26. Yet again, proving that you...

Jul 07, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Cathi Harrison - business owner, CEO of the Verve Group talks graduate recruitment, outsourced paraplanning & compliance.

This week's guest is the amazing Cathi Harrison, the CEO of the Verve Group, a collection of companies that provide outsourced paraplanning, compliance, and training for financial planning companies. Cathi shares her career journey from starting as an employed administrator, progressing to paraplanner, deciding to go freelance, and eventually setting up and running a group of companies that hire over 40 staff! I really enjoyed recording this, Cathi is so honest and a must-listen for any current ...

Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Nathan Smith - From college to financial planner, the power of mentorship & why entry level roles are the way forward!

Episode 7 of the financial planner life podcast is now live, my guest this week is Nathan Smith who is a Financial planner from Mattioli Woods. Full of gratitude for his employer and passion for the industry, Nathan is a classic example of what can be achieved when a financial planning firm invests in training and development for entry-level candidates. Nathan left college at the age of 19 to pursue a career within financial planning, he is now 27 years old and working towards his chartered exam...

Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Simon Parfitt - Fee Based, Life Centred Financial Planning in Hong Kong

In episode 6 of the financial planner life podcast, I talk to Simon Parfitt about his financial planning career, starting at the age of 23 in Amsterdam to becoming a founding partner and money coach in one of the few fee-based financial planning firms in Hong Kong. Simon is a big advocate of life centred financial planning, in fact, Pyrmont is the only firm in Hong Kong offering this approach to financial advice, and it's hugely refreshing to see an offshore firm adopt this model. In this episod...

Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Makala Green on networking, advising the entertainment industry and being the first black chartered female financial planner in the UK.

My guest on Episode 5 of the financial planner life podcast this week is Makala Green. the principal of Green wealth Planning. Makala Green dropped out of college at the age of 16 and started working for a building society as a cashier, she quickly rose through the ranks to become a Financial Planner at the age of 21! Makala’s passion for studying and self-improvement helped her become the first black female Chartered Financial Planner in the UK and most recently a board-level member for the ass...

May 18, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 5

James Prince - the realities of making it as an International financial planner in Abu Dhabi

On Episode 4 of the financial planner life podcast, I interview James Prince from Arlo Wealth Management. James is a multiple business owner, certified international financial adviser, and a qualified lawyer based in Abu Dhabi. On this episode we talk about: · Why he moved from criminal law to financial planning. · the realities of working offshore, are the roads really paved with gold? · How he went from a £25,000 salary in the UK to $1,000.000+ a year in Abu Dhabi · What to expect in your firs...

May 11, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Jade Rose: From fashion to finance: Why health and wellness, financial literacy and educating young women on finance is crucial

I was delighted to be joined by Jade Rose from Reddings Wealth Management on The Financial Planner Life podcast this week. We discussed a range of topics including her journey into financial planning, as she originally had built a career in fashion design and buying, which admittedly is not the typical route someone enters financial planning from! In this episode, we cover topics such as health and wellness, financial literacy as well as women in finance. I hope you enjoy it! Please make sure to...

Apr 20, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Emmanuel Asuquo: The importance of personal branding, and educating young adults about financial literacy

This week I’m joined by Emmanuel Asuquo from The Eman Effect. After initially starting his career in Barclays as a cashier, Emmanual has developed himself to become an independent adviser, TV personality, coach and motivational speaker for financial literacy and black people in finance. In this episode, we cover topics such as self-employment, branding, and the lack of ethnic diversity within financial planning. Please make sure to subscribe to The Financial Planner Life podcast and give us a ra...

Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Cleona Lira: Moving from Mumbai, first year self employed as an IFA and the importance of branding - and how it will propel your career forwards!

This week I’m joined by Cleona Lira from Conscious Money an appointed representative of 2plan Wealth Management. After initially starting her career as a car saleswoman in Mumbai, Cleona shares her journey from migrating to the UK, to building her career as a self-employed Chartered Financial Planner. In this episode, we cover topics such as self-employment, social media, branding and women in financial planning. Please make sure to subscribe to The Financial Planner Life podcast and give us a r...

Mar 19, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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