Episode Details

What does it take to leave a secure career, become self-employed and build a financial planning business managing close to £40 million in just three years?

In this episode of the Financial Planner Life podcast, Sam Oakes speaks with Samantha Wood, founder of Wood Mitchell Financial Planning and a Partner at St. James’s Place.

Samantha’s career began in the British Army, where she progressed from soldier to officer and developed the discipline, leadership and adaptability that would later shape her career in financial services.

After leaving the military, Samantha moved into investment management, completed her Chartered Wealth Manager qualifications and spent almost a decade working with high-net-worth private clients. She later made the decision to leave employment, become a self-employed financial planner and build her own business from the ground up.

Samantha shares how she started with zero clients, built trusted relationships with accountants and professional introducers, developed a niche working with business owners and grew her practice to nearly £40 million in assets under management.

The conversation also explores why financial planning is about more than investment performance. Samantha explains how strong financial planning can reduce anxiety, improve financial well-being and give clients greater confidence about their future.

This episode is essential listening for aspiring financial planners, investment managers considering a career change, military professionals exploring financial services and advisers who want to build a sustainable financial planning business.

Subscribe to Financial Planner Life for more honest conversations about careers, leadership, business growth and opportunities within financial planning and financial services.

In this episode, you will learn:

00:00 From Zero to Nearly £40m Under Management
00:40 Samantha Wood’s Financial Planning Career Story
01:40 Joining the British Army at 16
03:29 Transferable Military Skills for Financial Services
04:26 Leadership, Communication and Leading from the Front
05:33 Discipline, Well-Being and High Performance
06:34 Leaving the Military and Exploring New Careers
10:50 Breaking into Investment Management
13:11 Working with High-Net-Worth Private Clients
15:40 Why Client Relationships Matter More Than Technical Knowledge
17:27 Becoming a Chartered Wealth Manager
19:44 Investment Management vs Financial Planning
22:11 How Investment Experience Adds Value for Clients
23:54 Financial Planning, Anxiety and Financial Well-Being
27:47 Communicating with Clients During Market Volatility
32:14 Why Samantha Chose a Career in Financial Planning
34:00 Leaving Employment to Build a Financial Advice Business
35:10 Why She Chose St. James’s Place
36:44 Making the Leap into Self-Employment
39:31 Planning Your First Year as a Self-Employed Adviser
41:02 How Long Does It Take to Earn Consistent Income?
44:22 Building a Financial Planning Practice to Nearly £40m
45:43 Finding a Financial Planning Niche
47:09 Helping Business Owners Plan Beyond Their Business
48:28 Building a Referral Network with Accountants
50:13 Systems, Technology and Your First 12 Months
52:12 Taking Smart Risks and Aiming Higher
54:37 Autonomy, Family Life and Running Your Own Practice
57:50 The Reality of Being a Financial Planner and Business Owner

To find out more about Samantha's work at St. James's Place, visit www.sjp.co.uk

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