How did you get into Financial Planning and what attracted you to the profession?
I guess my story is a little different to most in that rather than stumbling into Financial Planning, as I gather many did, I very deliberately chose it as a career. After leaving university I still didn't know what I wanted to do and thought I'd figure it out during my subsequent travels around Europe. Unfortunately, however, this proved not to be the case, so when I returned I really thought hard and made a list of everything I felt I wanted from a career. When my research and conversations helped me to come across Financial Planning, all the dots just seemed to join up and straight away I knew what I wanted to do.
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Reflecting on this now I'd say that Financial Planning was perfectly aligned with my 'why' and with the benefit of hindsight, I sometimes wonder how it took me so long to figure it out, although perhaps in part this points to the general lack of awareness of Financial Planning among graduates, which, as a profession, we know is an issue we must tackle and overcome.
There were many things which attracted me to Financial Planning but in a nutshell it was because it is all about helping people to make consistently good decisions about their finances, in order that they can get as close as possible to living the life they really want, free from stress and worry about money. I understood from personal experience the consequences of unexpected events, of making poor financial decisions, of not having someone to turn to for support and guidance. I also understood that it is not only a shortage of money which can lead to anxiety, confusion and the need to take difficult decisions, because wealth comes with its own icebergs which need careful navigation.
How long have you had your current role and what year did you start at Chamberlyns?
My business partner, Geoff Husaunndee, and I acquired Chamberlyns in June 2009, having set up our business the previous year and have been patiently and deliberately building it along what we believe to be the right lines.
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What sort of a company is Chamberlyns and what services does it offer? Does it specialise in particular clients or services?
Chamberlyns is a Financial Planning 'boutique' based on the Bedfordshire / Hertfordshire border. We are a firm of Chartered Financial Planners but more importantly, we are also very proud to be an Accredited Financial Planning FirmTM. We specialise in delivering comprehensive Financial Planning to professionals and executives, helping them to plan and manage their wealth for the long-term in accordance with their personal values and life goals.

What have been the key lessons you have learned in your time at Chamberlyns? What tips would you give other planners?
There really are too many to mention, but some key lessons / tips would include always putting the client at the centre of everything you and your firm does, trying to see the business and the service it delivers from the client's perspective, continually learning and trying to improve every aspect of the business and surrounding yourself with high-quality people who can really add value in key areas and accelerate development.
Can you explain the importance and benefits of your company being an Accredited Financial Planning Firm?
Being an Accredited Financial Planning FirmTM is very important to Chamberlyns because it provides an opportunity for us to support the development of the planning profession, marks us out as one of the leading planning firms in the UK and also speaks to the fact that proper Financial Planning is both in the DNA of the business and forms the core of the service that all of our clients experience. With regard to benefits, aside from peer recognition, it is clear that when talking with both existing and potential new clients that Accredited Firm status has proved to be very reassuring and an excellent additional differentiator.
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What has been your greatest achievement so far in running your business and what are you proudest of?
It's hard to know what our greatest achievement is because, me being me, I tend to focus on what I still have to do rather than what I've already done - and unquestionably the former is far more significant than the latter. However, there have been several pleasing milestones along the way, including achieving Accredited Firm status, but I guess I'm proud we've built the foundations of what I hope will become a great Financial Planning business, after beginning aged 25 in the worst economic conditions in 60 years with no money, no clients, no recurring income - in fact nothing at all - and resisting the temptation to do the easy thing in the short-term, through a steadfast belief in doing things the right way on behalf of the business and its clients in the long-term.
What has been the biggest hurdle or challenge to overcome for you personally in your career and for the company itself?
Aside from the 'emotional rollercoaster' of building a business, a big challenge for me in the early part of my career was the same as for all young graduates coming into the profession in the future; namely, that in order to get to a point where you even have a chance of being a good Financial Planner, many years of commitment, academic and on the job learning will be required. In fact, the process of learning and personal and professional development never ends, which is something I personally love about my work and business, but I recognise may be a bridge too far for many, especially if they have already spent many years in an academic environment.
Regarding the business, there have been many hurdles in these first few years, but one of the biggest and most frustrating has been how to successfully create awareness of Chamberlyns and the valuable help we are able to provide to our ideal clients. With continued endeavour and support from some of the excellent people we are fortunate enough to work with, both directly and indirectly, in the development of our business, we are starting to make big improvements in this area and I'm hopeful this will continue.
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What's the best thing about being a Financial Planner?
There are lots of great things but ultimately the best must be the positive difference we can make to clients' finances and lives. I genuinely feel privileged to be able spend my time helping clients to achieve clarity, confidence and comfort around their money, as well as stress-free, well-organised financial affairs and a fulfilling, enjoyable life. In fact, I can't think of a job I'd rather do.
Many planners are concerned about the rising cost of regulation and other threats to their businesses. What do you see as the main threats to your business?
I tend to view the cost of regulation as an irritation rather than a threat, but I would say some of the threats / objectives common to all Financial Planning businesses over the coming years would include: reaching a certain scale and level of profitability, the need to create much more professionally run and structured corporate entities, potential commoditisation, the ability to adequately educate and persuade consumers about the value of proper Financial Planning, the ability to attract clients away from banks / private banks / stockbrokers / DFMs and the ability to attract high quality new entrants to the profession.
What do you think the key is to making more of the general public aware of the benefits of using a Financial Planner and making this easier to understand?
Financial Planners and Financial Planning itself are the keys. By delivering a consistently great experience to clients, awareness and referrals will rise, such that others will then want to experience proper Financial Planning themselves - and as any planner knows, it is when clients experience proper Financial Planning that they really understand it and its value.
I also think the Institute of Financial Planning can and will play an important role, as it has a growing reach and ability to really get the message out there. Financial Planning Week was an excellent example of just what can be achieved with significant and sustained combined effort by the IFP and the planning community, as it created a huge buzz and level of interest up and down the country. As such, hundreds or even thousands of people will have come into contact with Financial Planning, maybe for the first time. I'm sure many of those people will have been inspired and enthused.
If you could change anything about the profession what would you choose and what's the future for Financial Planning?
If I had a magic wand I'd make Financial Planning much more widely understood and would ensure the only type of financial advice available in the UK was high-quality, highly personalised, proper Financial Planning advice.
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I think the future for Financial Planning could be absolutely golden in that it's hard to imagine any professional service, which could be more valuable to individuals and families than Financial Planning when done really well. With this in mind, it would be nice to think that working with a Financial Planner will become something of a 'cultural norm', but in any event I do sincerely believe that firstly, more people who would really benefit from Financial Planning will choose to work with a professional and secondly, that in 10 -20 years time we'll all look back in amazement at the transformation in the profession and in the way in which people plan for their futures.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Outside of work I like to spend time with my family, including my two lovely young daughters who ensure I'm always busy and never get enough sleep! I enjoy reading (my wife says I read 'work-related' books a bit too much) and watching sport. I used to play football, be a regular gym-goer, enjoyed getting out on my bike and played cricket to a reasonable standard, although unfortunately I haven't had as much time for these things recently. Hopefully I'll start picking up some of these again at some point!
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My day
8.30 – 10.00: arrive at the office, finalise preparations for the day's client meeting
10.00 – 12.00 / 13.00: client meeting
14.00 – 17.00: client work, business-related tasks / projects

Bio
After some early corporate roles Michael recognised the need to do things the way he believed in, so aged 25 he decided to start his business. This enabled him to combine his passion for proper Financial Planning and innovation with a desire to help bring about real and lasting change in the way financial advice is delivered in the UK.
Michael holds the globally recognised Certified Financial Planner qualification, as well as being a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He is a co-owner and director of Accredited Financial Planning FirmTM, Chamberlyns.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter: @Chamberlyns_MS