When I joined Emery Little in 2007 as an administrator I didn’t even know what an ISA was. But I worked my way through the exams and fell in love with the profession, achieving full Chartered Financial Planner status in 2015.
My approach to life and work was transformed by an experience on sabbatical in 2012. Travelling in Bolivia, we worked in a mine for a day. Seeing the conditions the guys worked in was an eye-opening experience, and after 3 or 4 hours I came out and felt I could never complain about work again. At the ripe old age of 24, I realised I had an incredible life in comparison, and I needed to do something more with it. When I returned to the UK, I had a new purpose and energy, and a real motivation to become a Financial Planner. I committed myself hard to exams and in less than two years became the first person at Emery Little to gain Chartered status, taking on my first client in early 2015.
I discovered that, as a Chartered Financial Planner, I have the ability to make peoples’ lives better. Everyone has a story, and it’s all about connecting with them on it. Clients open up to me and share stories and experiences, then I share back. You create real relationships with people and I really enjoy the behavioural side of the role, the human and emotional aspects, the reasons we behave in certain ways and how that impacts our lives.
I have a constant desire to keep learning. To stay fresh and challenge my thinking, I’m always listening to podcasts, reading books and attending webinars on leadership, business, finance, and financial planning.
My friends and family are the most important thing in my life. My wife Miranda is a rock of support, and my parents continue to inspire me – my mum donated a kidney to a friend a few years ago. Miranda and I recently welcomed our daughter, Winnie, to the world.
I love sport, following Chelsea, keeping fit and strong, gaming, food, good-quality craft beers and nice red wine. I love living in East London and I’m always keen to find new places to eat and drink – I’m always happy to dispense advice on this as well as my financial expertise!
