The day after presenting to a group of financial planning business owners this week on the topic of strategic growth & decision making, I found myself in a conversation with one of my two teenage kids discussing their post school decision making.  This led to me discovering many similarities between teenage kids and financial planning business owners right now…

Who hasn’t been part of a conversation about a colleague or a manager or a decision that no one was prepared to raise in the actual meeting? If you haven’t then I’d bet that one of those meetings was about you!

The uncomfortable truth is that leaders are talked about, judged and held to a standard that is both unreasonable and unrealistic to live up to.  Ignorance can be bliss for leaders not knowing what their teams or colleagues are thinking and saying about them, relying solely on a six-monthly engagement survey.  The issue is that this creates an artificially polite environment and ultimately impacts business performance.

“How do I choose a capital partner?”

This is a question Encore is asked more and more often as the number of capital providers grow and the value propositions evolve. To help answer this question you should first work out if a capital partner is what you actually need. Tip – in most cases it is not!

It’s “planning season” in advice businesses and institutions. Or so we say.

But let’s be honest – most of what happens isn’t planning. It’s target setting. We throw around words like strategy, ambition, vision...

But really? It’s a spreadsheet, a revenue number, a few assumptions and a hope that this year will be different.

I see it all the time. Done it this way plenty of times myself. And if I am being honest, it’s because “planning” is hard. Setting a target is easy, because hitting it is (usually) someone else’s job!

We all want new business, new clients, new revenue. I don’t focus on that. Strange? Maybe! But here’s the thing: at the start line of a marathon, I’m not thinking about the finish line – that’s 42.2 km away.

If I focused on the end, I’d feel overwhelmed. I’d worry about the distance, maybe even start doubting myself. Instead, I focus on each step, the moment, the preparation. Sales, believe it or not, works the same way.

Sales goals (or goals in general) can feel just as daunting. They can trigger anxiety and procrastination. No one talks about it. I’ve felt it, and I bet you have too.

Mark shares insights on overcoming the fear of marketing, clarifying your value proposition, and why social media remains an underutilised tool in the industry. They also discuss the significance of intergenerational wealth transfer, identifying your niche, and the myth of organic growth.

If you’re looking to build a sustainable and scalable financial advice business, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you refine your approach and invest in long-term success.

Multi-partner “super firms” are reshaping the future of financial advice. Discover how scalable, multi-owner advisory models are driving growth, improving client outcomes, and setting new standards for the next generation of financial planning businesses.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping financial advice by making it more accessible, affordable, and personalized. Explore how AI-driven tools are bridging the advice gap, empowering advisers, and expanding financial inclusion for individuals and families worldwide.