Meet the Clarion Family: Jacob Hartley

Meet Jacob Hartley, an Associate Financial Planner with Clarion Wealth Planning, who has been with us since 2019. Here, we find out how he took his first steps into financial planning, who has inspired him in life and what he thinks makes Clarion unique …

What is your role at Clarion?

I’m an Associate Financial Planner. I work very closely with John Winstanley throughout the advice process, with our clients’ financial goals and objectives being the focal point throughout. As part of my role, I sit in on every client meeting alongside John, ensuring that we maintain the high-level service that clients of Clarion have been used to over the years.

How did you take your first steps into financial planning?

I started out working for a firm as an office junior back in 2015, which involved me answering the phones, scanning paperwork, doing the post and most importantly, brewing up! From there, I moved to the mortgage department where I completed my first Level 4 exam. I soon got a few exams under my belt and, along with my work efforts, I earned myself a place on the company’s graduate scheme, despite not having a degree.

Being on the graduate scheme meant I moved away from mortgages and my new focus was financial planning. I quickly developed a passion for this and carried on completing my exams whilst in an administrative role. I then became a Paraplanner at the firm, which helped push my knowledge on to complete the advanced exams required to make me a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society.

What do you think Clarion offers its clients that makes it unique?

The main thing that makes Clarion stand out to me is the company-wide focus on true financial planning. Through the use of cashflow software, we provide important answers to clients and identify what is required for them to maintain and sustain their desired lifestyle. The in-depth planning we provide helps inspire clients to make key financial decisions throughout their lifetime and creates confidence that they have the financial freedom to do the things they want to do.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your role?

The biggest thing I have learnt, and what we often tell clients, is ‘life is not a dress rehearsal’. At Clarion, we inspire clients to spend their hard-earned wealth and to live the lives they desire, both now and in the future. This attitude is definitely reciprocated in how I now live my own life, with having a clear focus on what I want to do and set out to achieve, whilst also living for today.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Like the majority of boys did in school, I always dreamt about becoming a professional footballer, or at least having some sort of career in sport. However, this wasn’t meant to be. I was never very academic at school (mainly due to being lazy) but one thing I was good at was working with numbers. It therefore only felt right that I pursued a career in finance.

Who has inspired you in your life and why?

My family and the people I have had around me from a young age have been my inspiration without a doubt, in particular my parents. They both have a great work ethic and have shown me that you need to work hard for the luxuries in life. Not only this, they have provided me with endless support in everything I do.

Spring, summer, autumn or winter?

Summer. The combination of warm weather (albeit this is a rarity in the UK), and the long days do it for me.