The Financial Planning Podcast

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Marnel Stafford. Marnel's route into financial planning has been anything but conventional. After a career in hospitality in South Africa, she discovered finance later in life, moved to the UK, requalified and became a financial adviser at 50, building her client base from the ground up. We talk about putting people at the heart of financial advice, why Marnell believes the money follows when you focus on genuinely helping clients, and how building the right team has allowed her to concentrate on what she does best: spending time with people. Marnell also shares one of the biggest changes she's made in her business letting go of control and delegating everything from administration to managing her diary and how that shift has helped her scale while still giving clients the attention they need. We also get into the changing role of the financial adviser in an AI-enabled world, why understanding a client's life, family and relationship with money matters far more than simply choosing products, and the business lesson Marnell thinks more advisers need to embrace: stop trying to do everything yourself. 🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Duncan Butler-Wheelhouse, Founder of Hoe Bridge Wealth. Duncan shares his journey from accountancy and education into financial planning, and the lessons he's learned from building his own firm, from knowing who you work best with to being comfortable saying no to the wrong-fit clients. We also talk about industry uncertainty, the frustrations of legacy providers, and why Duncan is focused on building a business that works for his clients and gives him the freedom to enjoy life outside of work. 🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Freddie Winter, Founder of Gratitude Financial Planning. Freddie talks about building his firm from scratch, balancing business growth with family life, and the challenge of creating enough space to work on the business rather than always being in it. We also get into the opportunities around inheritance tax planning, how AI could reshape financial advice, and why human connection, judgement and helping clients through big life decisions will continue to set great advisers apart. 🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Jas Nattrass, Events & Partnerships Lead at Verve. Jas takes us behind the scenes of Transformation, from growing the event from fewer than 100 delegates to more than 500, to the feedback, planning and constant evolution that goes into making each year better than the last. We also talk about shaking up the traditional financial services conference, the importance of creating genuinely useful events and partnerships, and why sometimes bigger isn't always better. 🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.

Next up on Podcast on Tour from Verve Transformation 2026, we're joined by Cathi Harrison, Founder & CEO of Verve. Recorded live at the event, Cathi talks about the journey behind Verve, how the business has evolved, and why so much of her focus is now on helping financial planning firms operate better, scale more effectively and make finance more accessible. We also get into Verve's Careers in Finance platform and the work being done to bring new talent into the profession, as well as the role AI can play in making services more efficient and reducing costs for firms and clients. Cathi also shares what she'd change in the profession if she had a magic wand, why business owners need to spend more time thinking about the business itself, not just the advice, and what makes Verve Transformation such an important day in the calendar. A quick-fire conversation covering growth, talent, technology, accessibility and the future of financial planning. 🎙️ Recorded live at Verve Transformation 2026.