New Technical Planners at Alan Boswell Financial Planners

We’re pleased to announce the promotion of Jak Smythe and Ollie Whittaker to Trainee Technical Planner positions at Alan Boswell Financial Planners. Jak and Ollie joined Alan Boswell Financial Planners in 2022 and 2021, respectively, and have each built a strong foundation in financial planning through their previous roles in administration.

"Jak and Ollie’s progression into their new roles reflects their dedication and the experience they’ve gained since joining," said Sally Key, Director at Alan Boswell Financial Planners. "Having worked closely with our team across both administrative and technical functions, this new role is a natural next step in their development.”

We spoke to Jak and Ollie to get an insight into their career’s so far in financial services.

How did you get into financial services?

Jak: “I completed a Master’s degree in Physics at the University of East Anglia. Although I knew I didn’t want to pursue a career in that field, I wanted to apply the analytical skills I had developed in a different context. Toward the end of my course, I began exploring graduate opportunities across various sectors. A conversation with my friend Jacob [Hemmingson], who was already working at Alan Boswell Financial Planners and spoke highly of the culture, led me to consider a role here. A graduate administration position became available, and I joined in June 2022 - just a week after finishing my degree.”

Ollie: “I’ve always been drawn to financial services but initially applied for a business course at university. I soon realised it might not be the right fit and decided to defer my place. I began looking into apprenticeships instead and was accepted onto the scheme at Alan Boswell Financial Planners in October 2021, starting out in an administrative role.”

Since joining ABG, how have you developed in your careers?

Jak: “Both Ollie and I are close to completing the Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, with full support and funding from ABG. We’re fortunate to have a diverse team with a wide range of experience in financial planning to learn from. Since joining I’ve worked closely with the administration team and collaborated with the technical team and advisers on everything from wealth management to corporate and individual protection.”

Ollie: “My apprenticeship lasted about 18 months, after which I moved into a full-time administrative role while continuing my Diploma studies. I’ve been clear from the start about wanting to progress to become an adviser and have worked alongside the advisory and leadership team to develop the technical skills needed for that transition. I’ve gained experience in areas like cash flow modelling, valuations, and understanding the considerations involved in making client recommendations.”

How has Alan Boswell Financial Planners supported your career progression?

Jak: “Working with the different advisers has given me insight into different aspects of financial planning, like retirement planning, tax efficiencies, and wealth management. In my new hybrid role, I’ll be focusing more on the technical side of financial advice — developing problem-solving skills and independent thinking that will support the advisers in delivering client-focused solutions. My long-term aim is to become a Financial Planner, and the combination of administrative and technical experience will be a strong foundation for that.”

Ollie: “The support from the advisers and directors has been excellent, particularly with exam preparation. ABG has a real culture of sharing knowledge, and the openness of our advisers has made a big difference to my growth and continued development. I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned through the Diploma to this technical role and use the experience as a foundation toward becoming an adviser in the future.”