An interview with RockWealth Brighton’s Steven Williams

STEVEN WILLIAMS is the founder of RockWealth Brighton, which is part of a growing network of client-focused financial planning firms across the UK.

Here he explains how the financial advice profession is undergoing a hugely positive transformation — and why he wants his firm to be at the forefront of change.

Steven, you’ve launched RockWealth Brighton during a pandemic. That seems like a bold move!

Now is actually a good time to launch a new business with a simple and authentic value proposition. The impact of lockdown has been felt in so many ways. Brexit has also caused uncertainty. People are looking for vision, clarity and transparency.

What do you aim to achieve?

I want to create a legacy. I want a sense of fulfilment and pride in my business. I want to go the extra mile for my clients, beyond the so-called “suitability standard” the financial services sector typically works to. There’s a growing band of advisers, like ourselves, with a client-focused, or fiduciary, ethos. So it’s an exciting time to be an adviser, and RockWealth Brighton will be at the forefront of that movement for change.

How and why did you become a financial planner in the first place?

I became a financial adviser by chance. I came to realise that selling financial solutions is not enough. Good financial planning is about asking the right questions and, most of all, listening deeply to the answers given with a clear and unencumbered mind. Over time, my experience and technical expertise allowed me to help people identify their true purpose in life. That’s the reason I do it.

RockWealth is a strong advocate of ESG (or sustainable) investing, as indeed you are personally. ESG is growing fast. Do you see that continuing?

Yes. People are increasingly conscious of the impact of their purchasing decisions. There is a growing interest in plant-based and organic food, especially in the younger generation. Awareness of the acute situation with climate change is now almost universal. So yes, ESG is going to be a critical factor in people’s investment decision-making.

2020 was a difficult year on so many levels. From a personal finance standpoint, what would you say is the main lesson to learn?

We need to work on becoming more resilient, and financial resilience is a vital part of that. I want to work with whole families, not just individuals, to ensure that all the generations are working effectively together to maximise their opportunities and security. Financial planning is about being prepared to absorb not just market shocks but personal shocks as well.

Something else that RockWealth emphasises is the importance of managing behaviour. Why is that important?

The heart leads the head. It’s a human condition. That’s the way we’ve evolved. One of the most valuable things I do for clients is that I help them understand their emotions. That then allows them to make meaningful and effective financial decisions. I’m also there to support them during periods of extreme market volatility, like the one we encountered in March last year.

Because of the pandemic, more and more financial advice is being provided online. Do you think this is a permanent shift?

There’s no substitute for real-life meetings. For a start, it’s easier to identify the emotions that underpin most financial decisions in a face-to-face situation. With video meetings, the quality of the questions becomes even more important, as does listening to, and clarifying, the answers you receive.

That said, online advice is very much here to stay. Technology will allow everyone to do more and more online, and we will certainly be offering clients who want it the option to work with us remotely.

CONTACT STEVEN

Would you like to find out more about the benefits of financial planning and what working with a skilled and experienced professional like Steve Williams could do for you?

Call Steven on 01273 699 267 or drop him an email at brighton@rockwealth.co.uk to arrange a meeting.