Advertise on podcast: Dont Shoot The Messenger

What does it take to build a successful career in financial advice? And how is technology changing the future of wealth management? In this episode, Chris and Jake discuss how Hoxton is developing the next generation of financial advisers, creating opportunities for career progression and investing in the people and technology shaping the future of financial planning. From Hoxton's Trainee Wealth Manager Programme to the growing role of AI in financial advice, Chris and Jake share their experiences of building a global wealth management business and what they've learned along the way. In this episode, we cover: - Building the next generation of financial advisers: How Hoxton's trainee programme has evolved and what makes a successful trainee wealth manager. - Career progression in wealth management: Why patience, professional qualifications and stepping outside your comfort zone are essential for long-term success. - Developing future leaders: How Hoxton identifies and supports talent, with real examples of employees progressing into financial planning and leadership roles. - The importance of professional qualifications: Why financial advisers should prioritise their exams and continue developing their expertise throughout their careers. Whether you're an aspiring financial adviser, an experienced wealth manager or a business leader looking to develop your team, this episode offers practical insights into career development, leadership and the future of financial advice. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

What actually separates the most successful financial advisors from everyone else? In this episode, Chris Ball sits down with Mark Tenenbaum, Director of Advisor Research at Kitces.com, to look at what the data really says about building and growing a successful financial advice business. Mark spends his days analysing advisor productivity, technology, marketing and practice management. In this conversation, he shares some of the biggest findings from that research, including why some financial advisors continue to grow while others eventually plateau. They discuss: • The four biggest drivers of financial advisor success • The ideal team structure for a growing advice practice • Why more clients doesn't always mean a better business • The marketing strategies that actually generate growth • Why advisors can become too reliant on referrals • When to hire your first team member • Why social media and content creation may not be as cost-efficient as you think • The truth about fee compression and advisor pricing • AUM fees vs flat-fee financial advice • How to calculate your revenue acquisition cost • The key numbers every financial advisor should be tracking • What the fastest-growing financial advice firms do differently If you're a financial advisor, practice owner or leader looking to grow a financial advice business, this episode is packed with data-backed insights you can apply to your own practice. Mark also explains why the strategies that get an advisor to their first stage of growth aren't necessarily the strategies that will take them to the next one. Watch the full episode to find out what the research says actually works. You can access the Kitces research here: https://www.kitces.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leading financial advisers, entrepreneurs and industry experts. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

What if you could build a financial advice practice generating more than $2 million in annual revenue, while taking over 250 days off a year? Matthew Jarvis has done exactly that. But his journey looked very different at the beginning. During the 2008 financial crisis, Matthew's practice was struggling, his income had fallen to just $16,000, and he was seriously considering walking away from the industry altogether. Today, he runs a highly profitable financial planning practice, is the co-founder of The Perfect RIA, and is the author of Delivering Massive Value. In this episode, Matthew joins Chris Ball to break down the systems, decisions and lessons that transformed his practice. They discuss: • How Matthew went from near bankruptcy to more than $2 million in annual revenue • Why working harder isn't the answer to building a successful advice business • How "surge meetings" helped him take months away from the office • Why most financial advisers are undercharging • How to deliver massive value to clients without creating an unscalable service • When and how to "graduate" clients who are no longer the right fit • The communication rules that protect his time without compromising client service • Why simplicity is one of the most valuable skills an adviser can develop • How he would build a financial advice practice from scratch in 2026 • What financial advisers misunderstand about what clients truly value Matthew also shares the extreme accountability methods he uses when coaching advisers, why revenue matters more than vanity metrics like AUM, and the prospecting strategy he would use if he had to start again today. You can find Matthew's podcast here: https://theperfectria.com/podcasts/ If you're a financial adviser, practice owner or business leader looking to build a more profitable business without sacrificing your entire life to it, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can actually implement. Subscribe for more conversations with leading financial advisers, entrepreneurs and industry experts. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

What if the biggest thing holding your advice business back isn’t your strategy, but your mindset? In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Stephanie Bogan, founder of Limitless Advisor Coaching, to explore how financial advisers can build more profitable businesses without sacrificing their time, freedom or personal lives. Stephanie has spent more than 30 years helping advisers transform the way they think, work and grow. After building her first consulting firm at just 24 and later selling it for seven figures, she went on to help shape the practice management strategies used by thousands of advisers across the United States. If you’re a financial adviser, business owner or ambitious professional who wants to achieve more without allowing work to consume your life, this episode is for you. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don't Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with financial adviser, author and behavioural investment coach Mike LeGassick* to explore why great financial advice has far less to do with investment performance than most people think. After more than 30 years in financial planning, Mike has become convinced that the biggest factor behind successful investing isn't markets, products or portfolios. It's human behaviour. The conversation explores how advisers can use psychology, storytelling and now AI to create better client outcomes, build stronger relationships and communicate in ways that clients actually remember. In this episode, you'll learn: - How AI can improve client conversations rather than replace advisers - Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools an adviser can use - The books and mentors that shaped Mike's career - How simple props and memorable analogies can transform client meetings - Why great communication builds trust better than charts and technical jargon - What the future of financial advice could look like Whether you're a financial adviser, planner, business owner or simply interested in how psychology influences decision-making, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can apply immediately. If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and share it with someone who would find it valuable. If you would like to hear more from Chris, you can sign up for his bi-weekly newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/yt6ucav3 If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

Tom Brookes didn't enter financial planning the traditional way. After writing a list of 200 possible careers, he decided financial advice was the one. Three and a half months later, he had passed six CII exams, secured multiple job offers, and begun a career that would eventually lead him to launch his own boutique wealth management firm, Arboretum. Tom has built much of his firm's technology himself using AI, creating automations that generate meeting notes, draft reports, review compliance, check data accuracy and dramatically reduce administrative work. In this episode, Tom and I discuss: • How Tom went from property management to founding his own financial planning firm • Passing six CII exams in just three and a half months • Why more firms should invest in training the next generation of advisers • How AI is changing financial planning and what firms should be doing now • Whether wealth management businesses should build their own technology rather than rely on off-the-shelf software • The opportunities and risks AI presents for advisers over the next decade • What it really takes to start your own financial planning firm Whether you're a financial planner, business owner or simply interested in how AI is reshaping professional services, this conversation is packed with practical insights and a fascinating look at where the profession is heading. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a comment with your thoughts. #FinancialPlanning #ArtificialIntelligence #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvice #AI #Business #Entrepreneurship #Technology #Podcast #ChrisBall If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

The financial advice profession has a talent problem. Experienced advisers are approaching retirement, firms are struggling to attract younger talent, and artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape many of the entry-level roles the profession has traditionally relied upon. In this episode of Don't Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Hannah Moore, founder of Guiding Wealth and Amplified Planning, creator of the Externship programme, and one of Investopedia's Top 100 Financial Advisors. They discuss: • Why financial planning struggles to attract new talent • The biggest mistakes firms make when training advisers • How AI will change entry-level roles • Why relationship skills matter more than ever • The future of adviser education and development • Why career changers are entering financial planning • What firms need to do to build the next generation Hannah has helped thousands of aspiring planners gain real-world experience through her Externship programme and is helping reshape how financial advisers are trained. If you work in financial advice, wealth management, or are considering a career in the profession, this conversation is essential listening. #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvice #FinancialPlanner #AI #Careers #WealthManagementCareers #FinancialServices If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

How do you build a successful financial planning business? In this episode of Don’t Shoot The Messenger, Chris sits down with Guy Skinner, founder of Citygate Financial Planning, to discuss how he built a thriving financial planning firm, won 139 clients in his first year, and why most planners underestimate what it really takes to run a business. Guy shares the lessons that shaped his approach to financial planning, from cold calling and niching into lawyers, to building a referral engine and scaling a growing team. Guy opens up about the personal experiences that shaped his belief in financial planning, including losing his father at a young age and seeing first-hand the impact proper protection planning can have on a family. Whether you are a financial planner, business owner, or someone interested in wealth, growth, and building a meaningful business, there is a huge amount to take from this conversation. Subscribe for more conversations with leading financial planners, business owners, and industry experts. #FinancialPlanning #FinancialAdvisor #WealthManagement #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

David Swanwick is Head of Client Communications EMEA at Dimensional Fund Advisors, but he didn't start there. He began his career in banking, moved into independent financial advice in Brisbane, helped merge 14 firms into a single national group managing $10 billion AUD, then made the leap to London to join Dimensional in 2011.  Whether you use Dimensional or not, this episode is packed with practical thinking on how to run a better advice business, communicate more effectively, and position the value of what you do with confidence. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris sits down with Paul Taylor, a financial planner turned coach who has spent over 25 years working with business owners and entrepreneurial families. After building a £100m client book, Paul stepped away to focus on what he believes is the most undervalued skill in the profession: Communication that actually drives action. In this episode, we cover: - Why clients do not act on financial advice - Why “sales” has become a dirty word (and why that is a problem) - The role of emotion in decision-making - How better conversations lead to better outcomes If you are a financial planner, advisor, or business owner looking to improve how you communicate, influence, and deliver real value to clients, this episode is for you. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Alan Smith, Founder and CEO of Capital Asset Management, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful financial planning business. Alan started his firm over 20 years ago from a small office in Victoria. Today, he is widely recognised as one of the most respected voices in UK financial planning. They cover: - How Alan went from a salaried role to building his own firm - Why being a great adviser does not automatically make you a great business owner - The reality of starting from scratch and managing early uncertainty - How referrals, niche positioning and content drive consistent growth - The story behind The Real Adviser Podcast (TRAP) and its impact on the profession - Why AI could elevate financial planning rather than replace it If you are a financial planner thinking about building a business, growing your client base, or positioning yourself in a changing industry, this episode is worth your time. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

When I started Hoxton Wealth in 2018, we had $35 million of assets, five people, and two small offices. Today the business manages over $4 billion for more than 10,000 clients globally, with licences and offices across multiple jurisdictions. But the journey from there to here was not simple. In this episode of Don't Shoot the Messenger, I sit down on my own to walk through the full story of how Hoxton grew. If you are a financial planner thinking about starting your own firm, or someone building a business from scratch, this episode will give you a realistic view of what the journey actually looks like. If you enjoy the episode, make sure to subscribe and follow the show. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Don Bennyhoff, former Vanguard investment leader and one of the key architects behind the widely referenced “Advisor Alpha” research. Don spent nearly 23 years at Vanguard, helping redefine how financial advisors communicate their value beyond portfolio performance. He later served as CIO and Investment Committee Chair at a $1.7bn RIA and now works as a fractional CIO through Bennyhoff & Co, helping advisory firms build disciplined, repeatable investment frameworks. This conversation goes beyond the headlines of “3% alpha” and into what truly drives long-term value in financial advice. We discuss: • What Advisor Alpha actually meant, and what it never claimed  • Why behavioural coaching often adds more value than stock picking  • The dangers of unnecessary portfolio complexity If you are building an advisory firm, refining your investment philosophy, or thinking about the evolution of financial planning, this episode is packed with practical insight. Because in the end, the real value of advice is not about outperforming markets. It is about helping clients make better decisions over time. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

Behavioral finance legend Carl Richards explains what great financial planners actually get paid for, and why human connection is becoming the most valuable skill in advice. In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris Ball sits down with Carl Richards (author of The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, and former New York Times “Sketch Guy”) to talk about the real craft of advice: trust, communication, and meaningful relationships. 📌 Featured resource Carl’s community for planners: The Society of Advice → https://www.thesocietyofadvice.com/ 🎧 Listen on @HoxtonLifePodcast 💬 Question for you: What do you think advisors will need to double down on in the next 5 years, technical skill or human connection? #HoxtonWealth #FinancialPlanning #BehaviouralFinance If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩

In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Chris sits down with Adam to break down what it really looks like to start in advice from scratch, build a client book, and make the leap from a network model into a larger practice without losing your entrepreneurial edge. Adam joined Hoxton Wealth in March last year and brought over a significant book of business. He started with no prior experience, cut his teeth in mortgages and protection, and over time transitioned into full wealth management. We talk honestly about the messy middle: confidence, structure, support, and why so many advisors feel stuck doing everything themselves. We cover: - How Adam started in advice with no prior experience - The reality of being advisor, admin, and paraplanner all at once - The moment you realise solo growth has a ceiling - How to retain independence while plugging into a bigger team - Where new business really comes from: referrals, leads, and professional connections - The fundamentals that separate great advisors: responsiveness, delivery, client-first thinking - Advice for anyone in a network or solo setup wondering what is next Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to get notified when new episodes drop. If you want to see what life in Hoxton Wealth is like, please visit:  / @hoxtonlife  For more information on Hoxton Wealth careers, please https://www.careers-page.com/hoxtonwealth.com For my videos by Chris, please visit his Youtube:  ⁨@ChrisBallHoxton⁩