In Episode 04 of the NewIn podcast, Cathi Harrison is joined by co-host Hannah Pendlebury and guests Bernabé Gramajo and Lewis Byford to explore what it really takes to start your own advice firm - without quitting.
Bernabé Gramajo (Founder of GuideStone Wealth Management) and Hannah Pendlebury explore his journey from the motor trade to the world of financial services, and how he almost walked away after two tough years of trying to start his own firm.
Cathi is then joined by Lewis Byford (Co-Founder of The Financial Planning Club) who works with owner-managers of financial planning firms, who gives his frank take on why getting to Competent Adviser Status (CAS) is the industry's most under-acknowledged problem - and how we can fix it.
02:30 - Bernabé's background and why he chose financial services
12:00 - The challenge of getting a job after qualifying
18:00 - Why he nearly quit two months in
25:00 - The moment the it all clicked
30:00 - Lewis on trends in adviser business startups
35:00 - AI, technology, and the cost of advice
40:00 - The CAS problem, and what the industry should do about it
Cathi is Founder & CEO of Verve and the Verve Foundation, working to achieve their combined mission of building the future of financial services within the UK.
Hannah is a former sports commentator and co-host of the New Business episodes of the NewIn podcast after launching her own IFA practice.
Bernabé is Founder of GuideStone Wealth Management, who walked away from the motor trade industry and joined financial services with no clients, no contacts and a newborn at home.
Lewis is Co-Founder of the Financial Planning Club, working with owner-managers of financial planning firms to support them through both business and personal growth.
