Chris Wallsgrove joined us in April and heads up RockWealth Leamington, alongside Owen Williams. He has worked in financial planning since graduating from the University of Liverpool in 2002, where he read Economics and History.
Armed with a broad range of financial planning qualifications, Chris is particularly interested in pensions and retirement planning. He’s excited about the prospects for mixing things up and helping clients find profitable fun in financial planning.
We catch up with Chris to learn more about his approach to financial planning, his ambitions for the business, and what he gets up to away from the office.
What were you doing before joining RockWealth?
I have been in financial services in differing capacities since graduating in 2002. Most recently, I was working as a Chartered financial planner providing services to my clients through a partnership with a local firm of financial planners. I really enjoyed this partnership, learned a lot, did some good work and made some great friends.
What attracted you to RockWealth?
My plan was always to build a business of my own and I have been working towards this for some time. Planning towards this has been like a job in its own right, and I’ve spent many hours making it happen.
I had very clear ideas about how I wanted to structure a business, what the proposition should look like, and how we should engage with, and charge, clients.
I spoke with and sought advice from as many people as I could during this process and ultimately came across RockWealth, who already appeared to be doing things almost exactly as I intended.
We spoke, and it was clear from outset that we were extremely well aligned. The opportunity arose to partner with Owen in the new business, and this cemented my decision. He’s an impressive chap and we’re building a great business together with the support of the wider RockWealth alliance of businesses.
Do you have a specialist area, or is there a particular aspect of financial planning which you most enjoy?
My primary area of expertise has always been pensions. This takes two forms; retirement planning with private clients and workplace pension consultancy for businesses.
I enjoy both aspects of this work, and they are rewarding in different ways.
Helping someone visualise their retirement plans and successfully plot a path to and through this is really rewarding. And so is the knowledge that the work you are doing with businesses is having a notable positive impact on the retirement prospects of hundreds of people, even if they don’t always realise it!
What are your upcoming plans and what are you most excited about?
Owen and I have a clear vision for what we want our business to look like. We are focused on building a quality financial planning practice that serves its clients with expertise and care, makes a sensible profit, and hopefully has a bit of a laugh along the way.
We aren’t looking to take over the world, but we will be looking to bring in an additional financial planner or two to work with us and grow the support team.
Owen and I want clients and colleagues to really enjoy working with us.
I’m very much looking forward to consolidating the business in the coming months and then pushing on. I think the profession is ripe for disruption and we are keen to do our bit.
The quick-fire round
When I'm not at work...
I’m a family man and love being out and about with my wife and children doing anything vaguely active.
I need a bit of time for myself, and I do my best to fill that time with anything to do with football or boxing. Lately golf is also creeping in although I can’t quite seem to get to grips with it!
Favourite food?
Easy, any variety of egg or Nobby’s Chilli Nuts.
Top of your reading list?
Sadly, I haven’t read for pleasure for some time. I need to rectify that. I really used to enjoy Irvine Welsh books, I thought they were extremely well written as well as funny and challenging.
Top of your bucket list?
Top of my “achievable bucket list” is to drive a sports car round the west coast of Scotland, go sailing and to drink whisky in pubs overlooking the lochs.
It’s my 10th wedding anniversary later this year, and since I spent my 40th in my garden because of lockdown I’d love to do this sooner rather than later. You never know your luck!
What makes you laugh?
My kids make me laugh a lot. I’m not sure if it’s me or them that should worry, but I feel we’re on the same wavelength a lot of the time! In terms of TV, I love The Inbetweeners and Peep Show.
