Quilter Financial Planning CEO sets out his stall for the business
A short read and a 42 minute listen.

In one of our last big interviews before the end of the year, Stephen Gazard, CEO of Quilter Financial Planning updates Sam Shaw on the current state of play and future plans for the business, three years since its IPO.

Steve shares how the business is now more simply positioned for accelerated growth and productivity, will adopt greater digital enhancement – including plans for a hybrid advice model to help offer clients greater choice, while addressing the advice gap and explains his support for the restricted model, particularly when underpinned by the “robust scrutiny” of its third-party research partners.

He rejects the idea of scale for its own sake and insists on “quality assured” across all touchpoints in order to deliver a consistent service – both to Quilter’s advisers and, ultimately, their clients, irrespective of model or location.

Praising the agility of the adviser population “to deal with whatever the world or the profession throws at them”, he says: “It’s tough going out there… I talk to enough people running directly authorised businesses who are really feeling that pressure from the regulator… sensing their frustration as they just want to get back to what they joined the profession to do – ie, see clients. On the flipside, it’s no bed of roses in network and national land.”

“I’ve always held the view that there is no right or wrong model. I think what’s important is that everyone goes into whichever model they choose with their eyes open, as to the pros and cons of each. But my view is that we will probably still be here in five or 10 years’ time, having the same conversation and it will continue to ebb and flow as it has always done.”

On recruitment, he says the most striking difference between advisers graduating into the profession now, versus the previous generations is that they are choosing it, rather than falling into it.