Adviser 3.0: The Podcast

You Built It. Can You Afford to Sell It?
In Episode 126, Louise Jeffreys joins the show to discuss M&A, valuations and the market forces reshaping financial planning.
We explore what firms are actually selling for, how buyers assess value, and why succession should begin years before an exit is agreed. Louise explains the difference between buy-side and sell-side models, the role of private equity in consolidation, and the importance of cultural fit over headline price.
We also discuss the emotional side of selling, the risks that derail transactions, and what the next phase of the advice profession may look like.
If you are building a firm today, this is a conversation about the future.

Financial Advice at the AI Crossroads: Empathy, Expertise, and Human Touch in the Agentic Era
In this episode of Soapbox, Matt, Abraham and Philippa Hann explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in financial services.
They examine whether AI challenges the empathy advantage of human advisers, the potential risks to entry-level roles, and the importance of protecting new professionals from scams. The discussion also addresses the debate around qualification standards and the persistent myth of market concentration risk.
A thoughtful conversation about how the profession adapts to technological change without compromising trust, competence and human judgement.

What does it look like to build a financial planning firm that is not designed to be sold?
In this episode, Abraham sits down with Andy Hounsell, Managing Director of Beyond Finance, to explore stewardship over ownership, leadership beyond control, and why succession should start far earlier than most advisers think.
Since taking over the business in 2015, Andy has reshaped the firm around long-term responsibility rather than short-term valuation. A significant proportion of profits are committed to a charitable trust. An employee share scheme allows the team to participate in dividends. And the ownership structure is being designed to ensure the firm transcends its founder.
This is a conversation about:
Designing a firm to outlast you
Moving from manager to multiplier
Taking risks to unlock real growth
Sharing equity and responsibility with your team
Planning for generations rather than an exit
If you are building a business you want to endure, not simply monetise, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, ownership and scale.

In Episode 124 of Adviser 3.0, we are joined by Ian Dempsey to explore what it really takes to build a modern advice business.
From going independent and finding his voice, to using content with intent rather than chasing followers, Ian shares a grounded perspective on growth, credibility, and control. He explains why independence brings responsibility, why audience size is often misunderstood, and why behavioural coaching has become a core part of how he adds value to clients.
This is a practical conversation for advisers thinking seriously about independence, visibility, and how to build a business that lasts without losing focus on what matters.

In this episode of Adviser 3.0 The Podcast, Abraham is joined by Ashton Chritchlow, Managing Director and owner of IFC Max, to unpack one of the rarest outcomes in financial advice: internal succession that genuinely works.
Ashton shares his full journey, from joining the firm in 2008 with no industry experience, to remortgaging his home to buy equity, taking on the role of Managing Director, and completing a successful management buyout.
The conversation explores what separates employees from owners, why most succession plans fail, and what founders must do if they want their firm to outlive them. This is a practical, honest discussion about leadership, accountability, legacy, and the long game of ownership in financial advice.
A must listen for founders thinking about succession, advisers aiming for ownership, and firms navigating growth without losing independence.